Today, millions of Americans from across this great nation are taking a much-needed respite from the cares of the world, gathering with friends and family, and celebrating Labor Day. On this important day, we must remember what we’re celebrating. And what we’re not celebrating, but should be.
Labor day has become such a quintessential American holiday that many of us would be surprised to learn that it was created to celebrate labor unions. As its name suggests, Labor Day honors laborers. It was declared a national holiday under President Grover Cleveland over 100 years ago in order to appease striking labor unions.
And there’s nothing wrong with giving the workers their due. Laborers helped build this country and make it the economic marvel of the modern world. But that’s only half the story (and the lesser half at that). The other half that we really should be celebrating is capital.
We owe our prosperity mainly to the job creators, not the workers themselves. The efforts of the workers would be in vain without the entrepreneur to create jobs for them to work, or without the investor to put up money to build and grow the business.
So remember this day to raise a glass to the workers who power the economy of this great nation. But don’t forget the innovators, the investors, and businesspeople who had to bleed and sacrifice first before the workers could even get to work. They are the true stars of this show.
Happy Labor/Capital Day!
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About Joel Valenzuela
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I say – “Amen to that”! One can’t work if there is no job (employer) to go to.
Labor day now is just a holiday and not a tribute to the man and woman that worked 8 to 12 hrs a day. But to what about the owner who pays for that day off where is his,her recomp for a lost day of production? I think a day off is great if both sides were to gain from it. We are getting like Europe wanting 16 holidays and personal days. This contributes to the loss of business going overseas due to lower wages and bennies to workers. We must stand up for companies to return to America by having more agreements between workers and companies with out having Unions as the middleman that charges workers dollars just to speak for them. We as Americans can speak up for ourselves both by helping the companies as well as the working man and woman. its called working togeather for the benefit of both.
bmene, very nicely said. I salute you and I salute ALL Americans for their hard work. Being a business owner myself I have seen the hard work laborors put in, as I was once an employee too. I will get my gratifaction from being able to stay in business, being able to increase the pay for my workers and being able to expand my business, thus employing more. Only problem I see in my way is Obama and big government. A Vote for Romney/Ryan is a Vote for a prosperious America…..
The not so funny thing about labor day is only those who don’t labor get the day off.