It's not quite Labor Day, but this morning I realized I didn't know much about the holiday or its origins. Parades, barbecues, picnics -- getting out of work for a day! These things are what I associate with Labor Day.
Surely this is not the founders' original intent. :)
Here's what
Wikipedia has to say on its origins:
The origins of the American Labor Day can be traced back to the Knights of Labor in the United States and a parade organized by them on September 5, 1882 in New York City. They were inspired by an annual labor parade held in Toronto, Canada. In 1884 another parade was held, and the Knights passed resolutions to make this an annual event. Other labor organizations (and there were many), but notably the affiliates of the International Workingmen's Association favored a May 1 holiday. With the event of Chicago's Haymarket riots in early May of 1886, president Grover Cleveland believed that a May 1 holiday could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots. Thus, fearing that it might strengthen the socialist movement, he quickly moved in 1887 to support the position of the Knights of Labor and their date for Labor Day.
I've never belonged to a union nor been in a profession where it's been an option; although living in La La Land I certainly have enough friends who belong to SAG/AFTRA. Because of them I've never knowingly crossed a picket line, which was especially difficult during the supermarket strike of 2003. But I found the local farmer's market because of that strike, so good things come out of inconvenience.
As I read today I found that I had much to thank unions for:
The 5 day work week
The 8 hour day
Paid holidays
Minimum wage
The end to child labor
Worker safety practices
The right to strike
There's much more out there; I've started a list of things to read over the weekend to better educate myself. But I thought I'd share what little I've been able to look at between mining comments today; I'm glad to know a little more about why I get this day off. And given the current administration's complete lack of respect for the things listed above, to know why we need to keep fighting.
Here are tonight's comments! remember -- this is a purely subjective list. Feel free to add your own finds below. And as always, if you come across a gem during the day, submit it to topcomments at gmail dot com. Remember to include your user name so we can credit you with the find!
First, contributions!
From Cronsense:
From georgia10's front page story titled: A Liberal Walks Into A Bar...:
A comment thread that lipris starts regarding 'survival' methods for Americans overseas
A comment thread started by FLDemJax relates how small groups of female 'soccer, security and minority moms,' are turning on Bushco and how that has him optimistic about the future.
A comment by gpm about giving right-wingers enough rope
A comment by chumley relating how his approach to conversing with his dad has grown more successful as he matured out of his teens. This young man is a very well spoken individual that gives me great hope for the future. Give him some love!
My own finds:
Louise has this to say about misdirection in Rummy's latest outrage
alizard proposes this litmus test
teacherken illustrates yet another bad point about NCLB
Yellow Canary on Bush's legacy and his response on being called to greatness. Good discussion in what follows.
RFK Lives points out the press' burden of shame in Bush's ascendency
robertdfeinman opines on the prevailing attitude in America
Take19 helpfully adds this list of publically traded payday lenders to davidsirota's GOP Bankruptcy Vote Comes Back to Haunt US Troops diary.
equern adds this idea regarding ideological wars to the Open Science Thread.
chumley has this to say about fighting the Repugs on matters of national security
ends with space makes a good point regarding Rummy's "I was misrepresented by the press" defense
TheCrank with employment opportunities for Jimmy Carter
edrie comments on the expendability of the old, sick, poor, and infirm
Much excellent commentary from Devilstower's This is When They Get Dangerous diary:
Greyhawk on preparing for audacious behavior
Richard Carlucci on when we should start expecting nastiness
howd on "wrong" vs. "corrupt"
lecsmith on the real reasons behind the war on terror
MA Liberal on American complacency
thinkdouble on Fighting Dems
...and Akdem to round it all up, with this short observation
AaronBa on bloggers' Patron Saints
strobusguy provides a lovely quote from Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette
QuarterHorseDem has this to say about natural selection
oldhousepoor replying to forwarded right-wing emails
LithiumCola's Operation Mind-Crime, Chapter 73
And finally, the top 25 of the day, using jotter's search method:
1 Thank you by workingmom OH 84
2 In addtion to boycotts by dkmin 82
3 so true by georgia10 64
4 My little angle has died by Bouwerie Boy 56
5 child torture by righteousbabe 55
6 Terrifically well-focused and understood. by Yellow Canary 49
7 Ha by bluerevolt 47
8 With his opening line combined with his jewelry by John Campanelli 46
9 So a NeoCon walks into a bar by Fred in Vermont 46
10 Our drug companies ALREADY import drugs... by daulton 46
11 As ever, laziness is my problem. by MissLaura 44
12 Learning to use my new camera and photobucket by Agathena 44
13 Well, isn't this a surprise by TDW 43
14 Greetings from the Minnesota State Fair by Kayakbiker 43
15 I actually heard Bill Frist say one night... by mem from somerville 43
16 Saturday morning butterfly pics by billybush 42
17 At Your Service by FLDemJax 41
18 My FP -- I don't feel like doing a FP today by CSI Bentonville 40
19 Alcohol by bumblebums 40
20 I'm hoping that every one of the Dems by vigilant meerkat 40
21 Felines by barbwires 39
22 of course! by georgia10 39
23 yeah, well I OUGHTA.... by Buffalo Girl 38
24 Actually by bluerevolt 38
25 Your comment reminds me... by strobusguy 37