Well said, Ed - Here's my take on the enemies of Capitalism and business in general: At the top, we have the parasitic ruling elite, who always want their cut (the top gangsters); then we have the socialists (democrats, mostly) that want to micro manage every aspect of our lives through fees rules and taxes, these are the nosy control freaks we all know too well. At the bottom are those with fewer talents, content to sweep up the crumbs. This group tends to envy the hard- working, rather than be motivated by them; typically they feel entitled to free stuff from others. Alas, it appears the public is finally waking up to the fact that we don't have to put up with any of this crap.

uraniuman

St. Cloud, MN Times

there is as much to be scared, or aware, of as there is to be thankful for...

molibs00

Palm Springs, CA Desert Sun

My prayers go out to those who try and escape their lives for a few days in September. Like for the drunks on New Years Eve I leave escaping to the Outdoors to the amateurs this weekend for much the same reason.

Badrockbilly

Great Falls, MT Tribune

[There will be fewer amateurs to shun this year. -ED]

From William J.H. Boetcker; “You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”

Uncle Larry

Austin, TX American-Statesman

How do Unions fit into a Global Economy? This is a very interesting question. A large part of the prosperity of our "middle class" was the result of the union contract that was struck between workers and business. I am from Green Bay and those that worked in the paper mills made a lot more then my folks who were public school teachers. When the Teachers began organizing, my Dad was really upset as he considered this to be Socialistic - as teachers should teach for the "public good" and not for the money. I understood his argument, but (but even as a teen) realized we certainly could have used more money for the support of our family. With the global economy, I do not know what the answer is on how to provide a reasonable living for the "working class" as many of those factory jobs (perhaps most) have been "deported" to areas of the least expensive labor. Not everyone can be a banker, corporate head, stock broker, or (now) teacher...good post.

mostlymalarkey

Wausau, WI Daily Herald

[Since unionistas account for only a small percentage of the population, what we have here is a classic case of "tail wags dog" that is being perpetuated and elevated by yet another relatively small segment of the population -- lefty politicians and outright radical lefties. This is not even socialistic, malark, as your dad may have suggested. This is just plain dictatorial. Glad you liked my rant. -ED]

Unions are 12% of the working people in this country. Thanks for the slam on unions on labor day. Union labor helped build this country and the standard of living we used to have. As unions shrunk so did everyone's pocket books. Unions have built the middle class and people like yourself are hell bent on destroying them. too bad. working peoples wages haven't risen since the decline of union membership and CEO pay has risen ten fold. fair system Yeah right. Welcome to the new world order.

Anonymous

Ashland, OH

[Currently, unions are as responsible for the loss of private sector jobs as any other factor.  They also spawned organized crime and they continue to be synonymous with corruption -- political and otherwise -- cronyism and thuggery.  But they provide Democrat votes, so lefties continue to demonize everything else that might actually promote economic recovery instead of stifling it.  -ED]

So, what i get from most of this rambling, is that republicans don't celebrate Labor Day. If they do, they shouldn't !!

nocturne

Montgomery, AL Advertiser

[What I get from your reading comprehension deficit, nockworst, is that Democrat socialists don't think being grateful for private sector job creators/providers is perhaps the most important element of Labor Day. -ED]

...I will take my steak medium with a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, with a side of stimulating conversation. Here's to those that go to work every day to support (monetarily), a run amok spend crazy Federal Government. Even more importantly, here's to our service people from whom we ask so much, with some giving the "last measure".

KarnakTM

Great Falls, MT Tribune

To the toast I say Hear! Hear! To those who support and defend the Constitution, I call my brothers and sisters. To those who
sail to foreign shores and defend The Republic I say Godspeed.
 

Deserttrek

Palm Springs, CA Desert Sun

It has been more like the Summer of Survival, and if you were able to survive the summer with a job you are fortunate. If the Summer of Survival has taught us anything it's this: government isn't the answer, it's the problem. The second thing many have come to realize over this past summer is that Keynesian economics is in fact the true voodoo economic philosophy.

Wince

Mansfield, OH News Journal

If you are working at all you should be thankful. This political rant about the private sector vs labor unions is really in poor taste to try to stear the pot, especially when most peoples pots are empty. This day is for the workers and those that want to work, please leave politics out in this day of days.

ObiJuankanobi

Palm Springs, CA Desert Sun

[It is in poor taste for the ruling class to tell Americans that this has been a 'Recovery Summer' and that their plan to spend us into oblivion is working when we know that the exact opposite is true. Your moral outrage tells the whole story about the dwindling cling-on lefty minority and their workers' paradise. -ED]

I' m curious. I hear the term "working man" or "working families" used all the time. I believe it is used to refer to the non-management workers of the world.

My question is this: I would be considered "rich" by President Obama as I make in excess of 250K per year. Am I not a "working man" as well? I report to my senior partners and shareholders. I work 60 hours per week on average, more during tax season, and yet I get this feeling that I wouldn't be included in the "working man" group.

Can someone help me out here?

LarryBudMelman

Des Moines, IA Register

[You ARE a working man -- uberworker, at that -- and a living proof that the system -- and its perpetuators -- need to be scrapped before they kill the goose that lays golden eggs. I salute you! Except it sounds like you got "wealthy" because you have studied the governments tax system and probably hope it gets even more complicated to keep you in the chips (lol) -ED]

I was listening to a union leader on tv over the weekend and he was bemoaning all the human rights violations occurring in the US because there are some workers not allowed to join a union. A clear violation of a workers human rights. Give me a break!!! If I wanted my union dues to end up in some politicians pocket, I'd put it there myself, not have a middleman do it for me.

Wbjagain

Wausau, WI Daily Herald

I think one of the points just casually mentioned in that article [a recent column by Robert Reich] that should have gotten greater emphasis was foreign made goods. We can tax the rich to provide better benefits to the working class, we can tax the business for their ‘carbon footprint’ to help pay for it too and we can not tax the first $20k of worker’s income. BUT, what income?

As long as we continue to support overseas jobs with our own pocketbook we put ourselves out of work.
Oh we like to blame everyone else who makes a buck off overseas operations but we save a buck by buying those overseas goods. What’s the difference? Both groups are only looking out for themselves.  If you tax imports it raises the price, exactly what the consumer is trying to avoid paying. If you tax carbon, prices will reflect that tax. Again the consumer will be asked to pay more for the goods thereby making foreign goods even more attractive.
 

To quote Pogo, “We Have Met The Enemy and He Is Us!”
That is part of what Robert Reich fails to see. What may have worked in 1928 won’t now because first you have to get people a job and unlike 1928, those jobs are gone not just idled.

aspyder

Wausau, WI Daily Herald

I think this useless "holiday" should be abolished so people can work on on this day. Why waste another day when we have more holidays right around the corner? At the very least, it should be renamed Labor Union Thug Day. Or perhaps Socialism Day.

MypalBalok

Montgomery, AL Advertiser

I personally know of a Green Bay firefighter who has been on the job for 29 years, each of the last five his pay has decreased, his union settling for less in benefits and pay for the greater good of saving the tax payer money. You Mr. Donath have fallen for the left [rhetoric] of unions causing job loss, as have many others. The death of our ability to speak as a group for safety in the work place, a living wage, and job security is the death of the middle class. On this Labour Day perhaps we could toast those who gave their lives in the fight for the right to unionize, they are surely turning in their graves.

Anonymous

Geen Bay, WI

[Somewhere along the way the corruption, political manipulation and greed supplanted "safety in the work place, a living wage, and job security"...for which we are all paying the price under Obama. -ED]

We must suffer through another "recovery summer" and two winters of discontent before we are rid of the "street organizer" from Chicago, perhaps the most corrupt city in the land. If the mass media had done its job as the 4th estate, we would not be in this economic mess. On the other hand, there is still time. The right optimist can turn this ship on a dime. Enjoy your steak.

Who can say the UAW did great things for Chrysler and GM workers. Add Detroit if you dare. Union organizers (like street organizers) are slick talking salesmen who promise to take care of the gulls. The gulls are looking for someone to take care of them. The outcome will be ugly if individuals aren't allowed to take care of themselves. etc.

GreyCaravel

Montgomery, AL Advertiser

A drink to the living and a toast to the dead has always sufficed for me. My grandfather was one of presidents of the coal miners during the depression and before he died he told me unions have outlived their usefulness. For Gotti, Jr. to basically threaten the Elephants and continue to be supported by the Donkeys speaks volumes as to where we are headed...

boned