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Is Labor Day Passe


In a word, yes !

Labor Day, which started in 1882 to honor "the working man" or "little guy," has dengenerated into one of many meaningless paid employee holidays, and it is celebrated now by sailboat races, family picnics, and shopping sprees.

Labor Day is a marker, signifying that summer is supposedly over, even if it's still 90 degrees outdoors.

Pools must be drained, boats winterized, and summer clothing put away until July 4 next year, Independence Day--the marker indicating the official beginning of summer.

The 1800's leaders of the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor, initiators of the Labor Day concept, would be horrified to experience Labor Day 2005, especially people buying affordable, Chinese made clothes at Wal-Mart.

Clearly, today's shoppers do not "look for the union label" or even know what it is.

The Industrial Revolution brought many abuses of employees, and labor unions were an excellent short-term remedy.

Kenny Rogers' song lyrics, "you gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them" applies to unions.

They're folding due to their own self-destructive approaches as well as workplace developments they cannot control.

Apparently, somebody failed to tell union leaders that the Industrial Revolution had ended and we're returning speedily to the historical normalcy of nearly universal (about 80% plus) self-employment.

As a result, labor unions are outliving their usefulness and relevance. They're anachronisms with little clout, far fewer members, but lots of money (provided by members) for political mischief, funding election campaigns of unelectable candidates.

This is their Forrest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does" unsuccessful political strategy.

Union membership has shrunk-and continues to shrink dramatically. And, in most cases, employees vote resoundingly against union representation, and even worse for unions, the number of union elections is plummeting, too.

So, since Labor Day is passe, since unions are moribund, since more than 100,000 jobs in America per month are being eliminated, since Chinese factories pay 68 to 88 cents per hour, and since few new "good jobs" are being created in America, since only 27% of people with jobs like them,and since job security is now just an illusion, what's an ambitious, serious hardworking person to do?

Self-employment, that's what. There are more small business owners now than union members in America.

And that's the happy ending to this article--growing, glorious, wealth-building self-employment. This is a joyous return to historical normalcy.

The Industrial Revolution and the concept of secure lifelong employment have ended. Many people are not fully aware of this or are in deep denial, still craving "dream jobs," which are bad dreams or nightmares of 3.5 years duration these days.

Working for yourself is even better than ever now, thanks tothe Internet, globalism and the rise of home based businesses. Start up costs are very low, as is risk.

John J. Alquist owns and operates Alquist Enterprises, which advances self-promotion through its professional services and also by two network marketing opportunities.

John had 24 years of corporate marketing management experience in large firms, mainly in banking, and has been self-employed since 1987 as Alquist Enterprises.


"Holidays" in the News:

Kansas City Star

Shofars will ring in Hebrew holiday
Newberg Graphic
For observant Jews across the world, sundown Wednesday will mark the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the high-holidays kicking off year 5771 on the Hebrew ...
Recession prompts synagogues to lower high costs of High HolidaysKansas City Star
A Stirring New Prayer Book for the High HolidaysWall Street Journal
New local Jewish congregation hosting first high holiday servicesFrederick News Post (subscription)
Willits News -The Jewish Week -Ultimate Pearland (blog)
all 222 news articles »


Kansas City Star

Millions expected to hit the road for Labor Day
msnbc.com
"During summer holidays, it's much more fun to cook a meal outdoors with relatives or with your friends," said Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association ...
AAA predicts jump in Labor Day travel from 2009Dekalb Daily Chronicle
Labor Day travel forecastWink News
Labor Day travel to rise by 9.9 percentAltoona Mirror
UK Today News -ThatsFamous (blog)
all 271 news articles »


Glenbrooke News

Recognize Labor Day locally
Oneonta Daily Star
"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country. All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with ...
Labor Day and May Day share American rootsHULIQ
Honoring the American workforceCatskill Daily Mail
Recommended: Top 10 events shaping the midterm seasonmsnbc.com (blog)
Co.Design -Gainesville Sun
all 193 news articles »


WHMI

AAA Says Labor Day Holiday Weekend Travel Forecast to be Up 10%
WDEF News 12
The Automobile Association of America says says travel is forecast to be up for the Labor Day holiday weekend. The organization expects 34.4 million people ...
More people will be on move during Labor Day weekendReno Gazette Journal
Party Time! Americans Traveling, Spending More This Labor DayTonic
Gas prices up this Labor Day over lastAlton Telegraph
South Carolina Now
all 305 news articles »


The State

State agencies promote safe, sensible holiday weekend
Chillicothe Gazette
According to the patrol, the Labor Day holiday weekend is traditionally one of the deadliest holidays on state roads. Last year during the holiday reporting ...
FHP Labor Day Crackdown Helps Keep You AliveCBS 4
Troopers out in full force: Highway patrol prepares for Labor Day weekend ...The Morning Journal
Extra troopers on the road for Labor Day weekend looking for impaired driversSun-Sentinel
The Commercial Dispatch
all 246 news articles »


Guest Column: High Holidays right on time
Cuyahoga Falls News Press
Almost every Jewish person I talk with mentions that the High Holidays seem so early this year. ...
Broadcast new yearWinnipeg Free Press

all 3 news articles »


Reminder: Post Offices Observe Labor Day Holiday
WGCL Atlanta
ATLANTA -- Atlanta-area Post Offices will be closed on Monday, September 6, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. There will be no regular mail delivery, ...
Most Denver city offices closed Friday, MondayDenver Business Journal

all 68 news articles »


Bus schedules altered for Labor Day holiday
Las Vegas Sun
The Regional Transportation Commission said buses will use a Sunday schedule on Monday for the Labor Day holiday, when there are typically fewer riders and ...

and more »


Live Trading News

US Retail Sales Top Estimates on Tax Holidays, Discounts
Bloomberg
Photographer: Jack Plunkett/Bloomberg US retailers reported August sales that beat analysts' estimates as back-to-school discounts and tax holidays lured ...
US Retailers' Sales Beat Estimates on Tax HolidaysBusinessWeek

all 10 news articles »


The Virginian-Pilot

Labor Day is Monday. Will you work or play?
The Virginian-Pilot
We like holidays. That's when we catch up on paperwork. The phone doesn't ring, and we don't have to go to court. I lock myself up in my office and don't ...

and more »

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