Is Labor Day Passe

In a word, yes !

Labor Day, which started in 1882 to honor "the working man" or "little guy," has dengenerated into one of many meaningless paid employee holidays, and it is celebrated now by sailboat races, family picnics, and shopping sprees.

Labor Day is a marker, signifying that summer is supposedly over, even if it's still 90 degrees outdoors.

Pools must be drained, boats winterized, and summer clothing put away until July 4 next year, Independence Day--the marker indicating the official beginning of summer.

The 1800's leaders of the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor, initiators of the Labor Day concept, would be horrified to experience Labor Day 2005, especially people buying affordable, Chinese made clothes at Wal-Mart.

Clearly, today's shoppers do not "look for the union label" or even know what it is.

The Industrial Revolution brought many abuses of employees, and labor unions were an excellent short-term remedy.

Kenny Rogers' song lyrics, "you gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them" applies to unions.

They're folding due to their own self-destructive approaches as well as workplace developments they cannot control.

Apparently, somebody failed to tell union leaders that the Industrial Revolution had ended and we're returning speedily to the historical normalcy of nearly universal (about 80% plus) self-employment.

As a result, labor unions are outliving their usefulness and relevance. They're anachronisms with little clout, far fewer members, but lots of money (provided by members) for political mischief, funding election campaigns of unelectable candidates.

This is their Forrest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does" unsuccessful political strategy.

Union membership has shrunk-and continues to shrink dramatically. And, in most cases, employees vote resoundingly against union representation, and even worse for unions, the number of union elections is plummeting, too.

So, since Labor Day is passe, since unions are moribund, since more than 100,000 jobs in America per month are being eliminated, since Chinese factories pay 68 to 88 cents per hour, and since few new "good jobs" are being created in America, since only 27% of people with jobs like them, and since job security is now just an illusion, what's an ambitious, serious hardworking person to do?

Self-employment, that's what. There are more small business owners now than union members in America.

And that's the happy ending to this article-- growing, glorious, wealth-building self-employment. This is a joyous return to historical normalcy.

The Industrial Revolution and the concept of secure lifelong employment have ended. Many people are not fully aware of this or are in deep denial, still craving "dream jobs," which are bad dreams or nightmares of 3.5 years duration these days.

Working for yourself is even better than ever now, thanks to the Internet, globalism and the rise of home based businesses. Start up costs are very low, as is risk.

John J. Alquist owns and operates Alquist Enterprises, which advances self-promotion through its professional services and also by two network marketing opportunities.

John had 24 years of corporate marketing management experience in large firms, mainly in banking, and has been self-employed since 1987 as Alquist Enterprises.

How to Have the ?Perfect? Christmas

"This year will be different. I vow I won't get... Read More

Home For The Holidays: Heirloom Stories Are A Perfect Gift

Selecting the right gift for a special someone is sometimes... Read More

Virtual Assistants... Even Santa Needs One!

Trying to fit all the planning and preparing and celebrating... Read More

Strategies for Surviving Holiday Dinners, Family Events and Other War Zones

No matter how well we may have weathered our basic... Read More

10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a day for remembering those who have... Read More

Thanksgiving

I was not planning to write this article. Instead, I... Read More

Christmas Matters

Every year I vow to make Christmas easier, simpler -... Read More

Its Party Time - Lets Decorate!

Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying.... Read More

Choosing Childrens Birthday Party Supplies and Decorations

Birthday party supplies and decorations can bring that necessary magic... Read More

Are You Truly Thankful For Everything?

Thanksgiving is the time of year when we stop and... Read More