Monday through Friday I deal with different subjects in this blog. I also post my blog to my Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld. Monday’s I try to focus on issues. This week I am taking a look at Labor Day.
What is Labor Day?
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
As a former union member in good standing I celebrate workers, both unionized and non-unionized. American industry is built upon the dedication and hard work of millions of men and women. Unfortunately the Labor Movement is not the same as it was when I was a young factory worker.
Although the politicization of unions was well underway back then they at least tried to maintain a public persona of being neutral. Today the union movement is dying because leaders have become more involved in politics and less involved in the workers themselves.
Unions came into existence because the average worker didn’t feel they were being recognized for their work. Working conditions were bad, pay was week, and abuse appeared to be rampant. And unions were able to use their leverage to accomplish much good.
But along the way they changed.
Like I said it was already underway when I was a young man, but today’s unions are a far cry from what I knew back then.
Will There Always Be a Need for Unions?
Good question. It is possible that unions will disappear altogether. But it’s also true there may be a continuing need. I believe most businesses have awakened to the fact that a happy, healthy, well paid work force is a productive workforce. I am sure there are some businessmen and women who haven’t gotten that memo yet, but they are few and far between. Only time will tell if the need continues.
One of the reasons people want to come to our country is the freedom to work, to invent, to explore the unknown, and to make their mark. Not to mention to provide for their families. Legal immigration is one of the backbones of our work force. So many people have come here from other countries and contributed to America’s well-being. Illegal immigration has yet to prove it has any such benefit to the country or to the illegal immigrant.
America Remains a Free Country.
And as long as it remains free people will want to come here. I’ll admit that I haven’t studied the issue in depth, but it seems to me that Legal Immigration should be expanded with higher numbers of immigrants allowed into the United States. I think a balance approach with the Wall as a necessary deterrent to illegal immigration plus a wider door to come through would be a fair and equitable plan. Immigrants would also need to be vetted since we live in a violent anti-American world.
I tend to think that politicians complicate matters. Especially so, since dealing with the existing illegal immigrants has become the cause célèbre of politics. But isn’t it putting the cart before the horse? Before dealing with those already in the U.S. we need to first stop the flow into the United States. Let’s plug the leak through the Wall, increased border security, and reformed Legal Immigration. Once that’s done then deal with how to treat the illegal immigrants.
Do You Favor Amnesty?”
Let’s face it. Although a strict ‘no’ sounds very responsible it isn’t. Because past administrations, especially the Obama Administration, turned a blind eye to or actively encouraged illegal immigration we now have an astronomical problem. We now have children and grandchildren of illegal immigrants living in the United States. Something has to be done. The so-called dreamers, as I understand it, have grown up with only knowing America as their home.
So I favor a slow process of integrating them into the United States. There must be a limit, a cutoff that reflects that after a certain date of entry they can no longer be integrated. And whatever plan is adopted should be administered with compassion.
I also favor legislation that is not all encompassing. If history is any teacher it tells us that omnibus bills don’t work. A good example is Obama Care, but there are others as well. Let’s do things the way our forefathers did, one step at a time.
ARE YOU A BOOK REVIEWER? I am always looking for book reviews. Whether it is Perished The World That Was (Book One), World of Noah and the Ark (Book Two), World of Shem (Book Three), World of Abraham (Book Four) or Death Ship (Book One), or Pauline A New Home (Book Two) I value your reviews.
If you would like to review any of these books contact me at marketing@tr-indbkstore.com with the subject line indicating that desire. An example of an appropriate subject line would be: ‘Seek to review [book Title].’ In the email make sure to indicate your email address, your name, and the choice of copy (PDF or ePub).
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R Frederick Riddle is the author of several books and is best known for Christian Historical Fiction. For more information on him or his books visit his Amazon Authors Page. He is also co-founder and Vice President of T&R Independent Books where his books are featured. To reply to any blog you have the option of commenting on a blog and/or sending an email to marketing@tr-indbkstore.com. You may also be interested in his Facebook page at RFrederickRiddlesWorld.