Happy Labor Day

By Rick Morris

[NOTE: This is a column that we publish every Labor Day.]

 

In the world we live in today, Labor Day may seem like the most anachronistic of holidays today, certainly more so than Independence Day, Memorial Day or anything else that still seems completely relevant -- but there are still people left to remind us of the importance of the day.

As an example, I would cite my great-aunt Josephine, who worked very hard at her job for decades and who helped unionize her workplace when abusive conditions became completely rampant. Now, I'm no fan at all of what many affiliates of the modern labor movement do to workers -- taking money out of their paychecks so that they can hand it to politicians who advance causes many workers oppose like abortion and gay marriage -- but that doesn't change at all the heroism of those who in an earlier day and age put their own well-being on the line to help build a more humane workplace and society.

To my great-aunt Josie and all of the other heroes who helped to build a better America, Happy Labor Day.