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September 1, 2014 at 4:13 pm #612521
wakefloodParticipantEvery year, I feel compelled to post some words from RFK on Labor Day. It always makes me think and above all, act on those thoughts, as I can find ways to do so.
Maybe you haven’t read this before? Maybe you have and forgotten? Are things better than when these words were spoken in 1968?
“Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product… if we should judge America by that — counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman’s rifle and Speck’s knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.
Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it tells us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.”
September 1, 2014 at 4:28 pm #812877
waynsterParticipantPerfect wake just beautiful…….
Now some labor day humor…..
September 1, 2014 at 4:50 pm #812878
wakefloodParticipantSeptember 1, 2014 at 4:56 pm #812879
waynsterParticipantI did lmao…..
September 1, 2014 at 4:59 pm #812880
JoBParticipantwaynster
too much truth in that cartoon to hit my funny bone
or.. maybe that’s just where it hit because it hurts like h…
September 1, 2014 at 5:02 pm #812881
JoBParticipanti recently read a biography of Frances Perkins..
the woman who pushed and shoved the New Deal through the beuracracy of our nation’s capital.
interesting read from several viewpoints….
September 1, 2014 at 7:16 pm #812882
miwsParticipantThanks for this, wake, and to waynster for the ‘toon.
Also, thank you to everyone that is working their jobs today, and for your hard work all year round.
Mike
September 1, 2014 at 9:46 pm #812883
JanSParticipantMike…unfortunately, the one’s who decided to work in my neighborhood this morning were the construction workers putting an addition on the house across the alley. It was hammer, hammer, hammer at 8am this morning :- – lol…
glad they are working, though…now, the heavy metal they were playing for a while…not so much ..hehe
September 2, 2014 at 12:44 am #812884
mark47nParticipantLabor Day makes me think about my brothers and sisters who sacrificed their lives for my right to safe working conditions. My favorite Labor Day story is about the Ludlow Massacre. I’ll not spell it out, but but many miners and their families were guided down by the army. I’m simplifying brevity, but that it in a nutshell.
September 2, 2014 at 2:47 am #812885
JoBParticipanttoo many died for what we take for granted
September 2, 2014 at 4:00 am #812886
pupsarebestParticipantThank you for your post, wakeflood.
Oftentimes, when I feel my job is unrewarding drudgery, I think of the harrowing depictions of life in Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”, for perspective.
On Labor Day, it is incumbent upon us to recall the work, fighting, and dying of those who struggled to bring us what too many take for granted.
Constant vigilance is required to retain these hard-earned prizes—the Robber Barons, old and new, will NEVER do the right thing without the voice and persistent insistence of we, the people.
September 2, 2014 at 4:44 am #812887
wakefloodParticipantSo true. Which reminded me of this Frederick Douglass quote:
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
September 2, 2014 at 6:23 am #812888
JanSParticipantwake…speaking of that….saw this earlier today:
what gall…hoping the Pope tells him to f&*k off – lol
September 2, 2014 at 12:00 pm #812889
mark47nParticipantWeekends.
40 hour work week.
Overtime.
Health care
Paid vacation
Family Medical Leave Act
OSHA
MSHA
Abolition of child labor, under the law
A middle class
These are but a few of the things brought to you by organized labor. Say goodbye to them. The systematic destruction of unions is almost complete, only 16% of the workforce is unionize as opposed to 30% or better in the late 1950’s.
September 2, 2014 at 3:26 pm #812890
JoBParticipantDon’t say goodbye
support unions and what they stand for
you can start by exercising your right to vote
September 2, 2014 at 3:26 pm #812891
wakefloodParticipantIt’s the story of humankind throughout history.
The good of the few outweigh the good of the many. Until the many say differently.
September 2, 2014 at 3:35 pm #812892
JoBParticipantsigning this petition would also be a good place to start..
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/sjres_19?t=4&akid=11553.7011734.ruULKt
I don’t think the current bill will make it through the Senate let alone the house.. but it’s a good time to give our elected representatives a heads up that we mean business…
September 2, 2014 at 3:48 pm #812893
wakefloodParticipantYup. Signed it early on and post it on FB page several times. :-)
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