Happy Labor Day.
Today we honor the working men and women of America.
They who built it, maintain it, preserve it, continue to build it, and improve it.
They serve in the public sector, and labor in the private sector.
We honor those before us who worked to build unions, and to strengthen labor rights, and to achieve collective bargaining and representation.
Their contribution to the American middle class was immeasurable. At times the price was paid in blood.
The 1886 Haymarket Riot helped bring about the eight hour workday. A hundred years ago miners revolted against horrible working conditions at Matewan and the Battle of Blair Mountain.
And we should honor their work and sacrifice through efforts of our own, to similarly assure our well-being.
Just as we should remember the sacrifices of our service members on more than just Memorial Day, we need to remember the American worker on more than just Labor Day.
For all practical purposes, Tuesday begins the next 364 days of “Management Days”.
This
is indicative of neither a thriving economy for workers nor of a functional
democracy.
We the people also need to work to preserve what remains of our democratic republic.
We all have to defend our freedoms, our rights, our safety and well-being, if we all want to be free.
Free from bigotry, lies, hate, and fear.
Free from corporate economic power over government, free from injustice, free from civil unrest, free from foreign and domestic terrorism.
We
want to be free from those who want to dismantle or undermine our
constitutional public education, social safety nets, and public health.
We want to be free from those who want to dismantle or undermine constitutional equal justice under law, fair representation, voting rights, reproductive rights, free speech and a free press.
This is what patriots want for a more perfect union.
But freedom isn’t free. Rights cannot be taken for granted. Consent of the governed must be a guiding principle of our government, or we have a failed republic.
Private interests are dictating public policy. Public policy should serve the public interest, not that of the privileged and economic elites. Our constitutional general welfare and our Individual freedoms and rights become suppressed by private control of public policy. Constitutional regulation of commerce and fair representation for the general public are not in the interests of private wealth and corporate power.
As the wealthiest of Americans enjoy greater tax cuts, the greater burden falls upon the workers’ shoulders. Too many corporations pay a lower federal income tax than school teachers or truck drivers.
It’s
up to the working men and women of the country to claim fair and livable wages, and to demand freedom as
our birthright, as well as the means to defend our rights from all threats. We of the working
class need to vote in greater numbers and participate more in self-government,
or others will do it to suit their own political purposes and economic ends.
Only the American working class can restore and preserve our democratic republic.
We face the most urgent and critical job of preserving the republic.
Now, and from now on.
"Labor
is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor,
and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. Labor is
superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." - Abraham
Lincoln
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