LABOR DAY

This day was originated in 1882 to honor the working people of America, and their unionization, by the Knights of Labor. More accurately speaking, a day was developed by the trade unions in New York City to create a day without labor, that was hearalded with celebrations, parades, and speeches. And, of course, no work. Somewhat later, the IWA (International Workingman's Association) chose to celebrate the working persons on May 1st, a day associated with the Socialist movements, especially the general strike and riots which are celebrated, worldwide, by Socialists on May 1st.

Labor Day, the first Monday in September (not necessarily September 1st), was made an official holiday by President Grover Cleveland in 1887 to avoid commemorating the labor riots. But it was still rooted in celebrating the working people, although in a "muted" way.

Woe betide America, so terribly, terribly afraid of anything 'social' -- 'socialized' medicine for example. We would rather millions of people die without health care than have any institution be associated with the ideas of Marx and Lenin, never mind that it might actually be of benefit to many people!

We would rather corrupt the world with perverted capitalism, taking advantage of working people, losing all benefit of the labor unions, than help the poor. The economic vision of the past twenty or thirty years have been informed by the philosophy of the writer Ayn Rand, whose great disciple, Alan Greenspan, controlled American finance for that period. We sit here, at the begining of the 21st century, with a collapsing economy, because all trust was placed in the inherent superiority of the individual entrepreneur, the economic adventurer, who would climb financial Everests on the backs of the (genetically?) inferior drone workingclass who were too stupid, too lazy, or too compassionate to plunder their way upward.

Peace begins with compassion. Never forget that.

Economic welfare for all people begins with compassion, and sharing. Never forget that.
Stromek