Labor Day! Wha???

Hey?  What are YOU doing here? 

Shouldn't you be at work? 

Oh, that's right, today is Labor Day! 

Today is the National Holiday President Grover Cleveland set aside to celebrate the existence of Unionized American Workers, Labor Unions, and Political Cronies!  
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But let me ask you this:  Do you know WHY you're home from work today? 

Do you know the reason for Labor Day, and why it's celebrated in September? 

Did you ever think about those questions?  Hmm, did ya, did ya???

If, however, you are at work today, or this evening, please accept my sincere apologies.  My wife is a Nurse, and since she has a 'real job' (defined here as 'Saving Lives, Administering care to the sick, caring for the dying, Counseling Families, and giving sponge baths to 'large, and sometimes odoriferous people') she often works Labor Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, Ground Hog Day, Thanksgiving, Arbor Day and other MAJOR national holidays.

As for the rest of us?  Oh yes, Labor Day is a day of 'leisure'. 

It is a day in which Americans celebrate "stickin' it to the man" one last time by NOT showing up for work during the waning moments of summer.

So let's take a moment to do an EXCLUSIVE Moos Room Investigation of:


"THE ORIGIN(s) OF LABOR DAY"! 
(Feel free to add your own 'Echo' as you read the prior CAPs section (above) in your mind)

Okay, we're going in...

Q.:  Who was the 'Founder of Labor Day'?

A.:  Great question, please ask another!

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEBSITE:  "More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.
.Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic."
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Moos Translation:  "A Demonstration and a picnic" = Dinner AND a show! 

Unions adopted the Labor Day 'concept' to prove that they were united, they could get together to drink beer, eat chicken, and get disorderly WHENEVER they wanted to and there was 'nothing' their employer could do about it. 

In 1883, a union member was quoted as saying, "BRRRRAAAAPPPP...  Oh yeah, AND we're gonna work on getting FREE health care so we don't have to pay for nothin'!"  (Sorry, I made that part up - but you know one of them was thinking it...)
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Q.:  Can you tell me about the First Labor Day?

A.:  I could, but then I'd have to kill you. 

Noooo, just kidding...  

OKAY,  SINCE YOU ASKED:   "The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Moos Translation:  "Hey, how come THOSE guys got off for the day and WE didn't?  We're in a UNION too, darn it, and we want a day off!  We WANT a day off, we WANT a day OOOOFFFFFFFFF! 

Oh, and one more thing, we want FREE health care for us, I mean, errr, for all Americans!  Yeah, for ALL American Union members!

Q.:  When did 'Labor Day' become a national holiday?

A.:  On June 28th, 1894

WHAT, NO WISECRACK?  Come on people, it's a 'date'!  'Dates' are not funny things. 

Unless, of course, it's about night I first met my wife in a bar, but that is Waaaayyy out of line for a post on Labor Day.  Plus, as everyone KNOWS, it's been a LABOR OF LOVE ever since.

Q.:  Hey, how come so many other countries celebrate their 'International Worker's Day' in May (a.k.a.:  May Day), and we're stuck with the first Monday of September?

A.:  President Grover Cleveland didn't want blood in the streets of major U.S. cities while he was in office... 
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 

According to Wikipedia:  "In countries other than the United States and Canada, resident working classes sought to make May Day an official holiday and their efforts largely succeeded.

For this reason, in most of the world today, May Day is marked by massive street rallies led by workers, their trade unions, anarchists and various communist and socialist parties." 

Getting Unions, Anarchists, Communists, and Socialist together to 'throw down' for a day?  Now THAT does sound like a party!!! 

"God bless them," Pelosi said, "for their spontaneity. It's independent ... it's young, it's spontaneous, and it's focused. And it's going to be effective." 

Oops, sorry, wrong century, that quote was Nancy Pelosi talking about the "Occupy Everything" movement...  When you're talking about Socialists, Anarchists, Union Labor, Socialists, and Communists, they all sound alike after a while.

CONTINUING FROM WIKIPEDIA:  "The first Labor Day celebration was held on September 5, 1882, and was organized by the Knights of Labor. The Knights began holding it every year and called for it to be a national holiday, but this was opposed by other labor unions who wanted it held on May Day (as it is everywhere else in the world).

After the Haymarket Square riot in May, 1886, President Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots.

Thus he moved in 1887 to support the Labor Day that the Knights supported."

Moos Translation:  To quote Jim Morrison and the Doors, President Cleveland was trying to avoid the following (which he feared would arise if US Labor Unions celebrated the May 1st date):

"Blood in the streets in the town of New Haven
Blood stains the roofs and the palm trees of Venice
Blood in my love in the terrible summer
Bloody red sun of fantastic L.A.

Blood screams the pain as they chop off her fingers
Blood will be born in the birth of a nation
Blood is the rose of mysterious union

There's blood in the streets, it's up to my ankles
Blood in the streets, it's up to my knee
Blood in the streets in the town of Chicago
Blood on the rise, it's following me"


As an aside, I found the 'Official DOL Labor Day Poster of 2009'.  You can view it by clicking HERE.  

I mention it because I'm sure you'll want to print out a copy and stick it up on your wall today (make sure you have a few darts handy)! 

I couldn't find the 2010 - 2013 DOL Labor Day Posters, perhaps the guy who drew the last one from 2009 was laid off? 

Whoa, can you SMELL the irony???

In conclusion:

If you have a good day today, hug a Teamster!

If you have a bad day today, keep it to yourself, I'm on vacation!

If you are a Union Member, THANKS for the day off, Comrade Worker!

If you are a Non-Unionized Employee, thanks for doing your job every day and not whining about it!

If you work in a mixed work environment (in a Management AND Craft (a.k.a.:  Union shop)) like I used too, well, you have my sympathies!  Don't get a grievance filed on you!  Smile and just say 'thanks' to the Shop Steward for not writing you up!

If are an SEIU Member planning on attending a Town Hall Meeting, here's your sign!



If you are Jim Morrison, I'm sorry that you're not with us any more, although those lyrics dude, what was up with those lyrics? 

If you are looking for someone to thank for all the "Hope" and "Change" which you've been living through lately? 

Just look below, look for the Union Label!



And while I'm thinking about the Union Label, how could I possibly leave out 'The Ladies International Garment Workers Union'?  (Although, isn't MOST of the clothing we buy today manufactured off-shore in third-world countries?  Huh, I wonder why that is?)

Maybe the 'Union Label' just cost too much?  Boy am I GLAD that the most successful Unions remaining are building our cars (for the government) and teaching our kids! 

There's some peace of mind for you to end the post with..

Frances Fox Piven Agrees With... Me?

I came across and article headline this morning that was 'kind of, sort of' familiar.  When I clicked over to the actual article referenced, I realized why it sounded familiar.

Because I wrote about it months ago in:  Fringe back on October 17, 2011 

Of course, back then I was CRAZY. 

Well, like they say, "Craziness LOVES company..." (I believe this should be 'misery' but with the amount of misery in this country over the past three years?  Yeah, let's just say 'crazy'.)  Here comes my special friend, my co-conspirator, my bestest ever favorite author and all-around great Socialist...

Frances Fox Piven! 

Come on, let's be givin' it up for her!!!

[Silence]


Found on TheBlaze.com:

According to Frances Fox Piven:

  

• The Occupy Movement is made up of “All parts of the Left.”
• That includes proudly: “Democrats, Socialists, Communists, Anarchists.”
• Must all work together because of the “Huge task of transforming America and the world.”
• “We are all together”

  

At last weekend’s Left Forum 2012, the annual pep-rally for liberal thought, renown leftist professor and activist Frances Fox Piven shown some light onto the makeup of the current America Left.  In this minute  of audio, Piven tells the packed auditorium which worldview philosophies embody their movement:
 
“There is room for all of us. Religious leftists, people who think peace is the answer, those who think that wholesome food is what we really need, ecologists and old-fashioned Democrats,  Democratic Socialists, Socialists and Communists.”

Piven goes on to discuss the major undertaking that the leftist movement is working on and why these ideologies must unite:

“We can work together because we have a really huge task before us, transforming America and the World.”

Both statements were met with applause and agreement from the audience of over one thousand.


I had never heard of the Left Forum 2012 (or any other year).  Being a curious cow, I decided to check it out and see what all the fuss was about. 

Yeah, I went there.  Now I need another shower...

Courtesy of THE NATION: 

Each spring the Left Forum convenes the largest progressive gathering in North America in a rambling, lively confab unlike anything else in the United States. Originally established in 1981 as the Socialist Scholar's Conference, the event was renamed the Left Forum in 2005 after a split in the ranks forced a year's hiatus and a reconstituted organizing structure.


Continuing a tradition begun in the 1960s, intellectuals and organizers meet to share notes, perspectives, strategies, experience, vision and, of course, drinks! [Kool-Aid?] 

Last year's conference, led by the LF's energetic director, Seth Adler, saw a record 3,500 activists attending more than 300 panels and workshops. This weekend's proceedings, invigorated by the Occupy movement, are expected to beat these numbers.

This year, the Left Forum will focus on the $64,000 question of how best to confront global capitalism:

How can American leftists best support the many revolutionary struggles abroad that took root in 2011?

How can the Occupy movement be sustained and nurtured in the US?

How can new technologies help foster social change?

What needs to happen for new chains of solidarity to bloom between workers in the West and their counterparts in the global South?

Are democracy and capitalism mutually exclusive?

Join an illustrious group of writers, thinkers and activists in this immensely important conversation about the fate of the earth.  [Moos Note:  If I were THIS full of myself, I'd spontaneously combust]
 
Speakers include Medea Benjamin, Michael Ratner, Frances Fox Piven, Barbara Ehrenreich, Cornel West, Wallace Shawn, Marina Sitrin and Nation writers John Nichols, Laura Flanders, Michael Klare, Ari Berman and Doug Henwood.

Panel topics are, to say the least, wide-ranging: This video featuring Barbara Ehrenreich [Moos Note:  Please be sure to watch the following video clip in which Barbara Ehrenreich refers to 'Angry Old White People' - then look at HER.  This is your official 'Moment of Irony' of the day - enjoy!] at last year's opening plenary gives a good sense of the breadth and depth of the conversations you'll find at the LF.

2011 Left Forum- Opening Plenary part 10

Taking place at on March 18 and 19 at Pace University in Manhattan, the Left Forum, which is co-sponsored by The Nation, is the place to be for progressives this weekend. Check out the full, very extensive schedule, read up on the speakers and register your spot in the conversation.   [Moos Note:  Ewwww, so sorry I missed it.  Perhaps next year?!?!]

Since I hadn't stopped in to visit the Communist Party USA website in a couple of months, I figured that I should see what they're up to since they called for the 'Occupation' of everything.

Yes, Communists never fail to make me scratch my head and wonder aloud, "WTF?". 

This morning's headline: 

Was Jesus a communist? — Live Broadcast Mar 27
A new short film by Matthew Modine is making the rounds at film festivals and is receiving positive reviews. 'Jesus Was A Commie' is sparking a new wave of discussion about religion and economics.

Tim Yeager, a dedicated trade union organizer and Episcopal priest, will speak about the economic and social justice message in Christianity in a video presentation March 27.

Today many Christian conservatives have attempted to interpret the message of the Bible to justify a right-wing agenda of division, exploitation, capitalism and inequality. But what if the values at the heart of the gospel were really about equality, justice, environmentalism and collectivity?

What is liberation theology? Aren't Marxists against religion? Is the U.S. a Christian nation? Was Jesus a communist? What's the significance of the Christian right? Should religion influence politics at all? Do common teachings of progressive values (peace, love, equality, justice, the golden rule, etc) provide a basis for broader unity among religious and secular people?


Remember to dial in often to this particular session, I'm sure audio ports will fill up fast!!!

Wondering where Communists, Socialists, Progressives and Liberal Democrats are staking their futures?

With this Guy...

I am staking my future with Him too.  But isomehow I can't help thinking that my belief in Christ is a bit 'different' than theirs...  Well, at least from what I've seen and heard them say in the past. 

Know what I mean?

Por ejemplo:

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

And they marvelled at him.

Please notice that Jesus said to 'render' (a.k.a.:  'give') the things which are Caesar's (a.k.a.:  government's). 

He never said anything about Caesar taking from one man and giving it forceably to another...

Have a nice weekend folks. 

Remember to say your prayers tonight. 

We're going to need them. 

The Wisconsin MeltDown

Smile for the camera...  Signs up...  You with the lab coat, pretend you're a doctor! 
Okay, we're rolling in three, two, one!

Wisconsin!  Our nation turns its weary eyes to you and utters a collective, "Huh?" 

Listening to the folks in the Media (as well as reading some of the signage carried by participants on the ground), you'd think that Wisconsin is in for an old-fashion workers' revolution. 

Well, you may be right. 

Some of the people I've seen, and heard in online video clips are 'revolting'. 

For example, consider the following Revolutionary Ideas:

1.  Teachers 'cutting classes' AND getting fake doctors' notes to excuse them
 
2.  Teachers bringing students to protest on their behalf

3.  Teachers telling reporters that they're "Doing this for the children"

4.  President Obama taking sides (Surprise!  Against state government - again)

5.  Unions bussing 'workers' in from across the US to protest in Wisconsin

6.  Democratic Senate leadership LEAVING the state to avoid the legislation's passage

7.  Embracing of the New Tones of Civility in our Nation called for by top National Democratic Leaders

(You'll need to get the kids out of the room for this one - I am NOT kidding)

Yes, Wisconsin is Ground Zero for the new civility sweeping America.  A 'kindler, gentler' America in which Americans are free to speak their minds and be heard openly and fairly. 

Yes, something like THIS... 

Typical Wisconsin Pet:  "Canine Wisconsinus Golden Retrievius Cheeseus"

We may have a revolution on our hands, all beginning, right there, right now in the Cheese Head State. 

The questions IS:  Who's fueling the revolution?

You know, it's funny that you should ask the same question I did just seconds ago! 

I did some 'Googling' earlier today and found some Inconvenient Truths regarding the folks amping up the volume of discontent in Wisconsin.

Since it's ALL about Teachers and Public Sector Unions, let's take a look at who they are and where they spend their workers' dues!

According to Wikipedia, the NEA:  "Describes itself as a professional employee organization,^[1] is incorporated as a professional association in a few states and as a labor union in most. The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code. It is not a member of the AFL-CIO, but is part of Education International, the global federation of teacher's unions. The NEA is a major funder of liberal organizations and the Democratic Party, and is a frequently criticized for opposition to efforts for education reform.^[2]"

According to Wikipedia, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT):  Is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals. It is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

The AFT is the second-largest education labor union in the United States, representing about 1.5 million members as of July 2010, of whom 250,000 are retired.^[1] Unlike the largest U.S. education trade union, the 3.2 million-member National Education Association, the AFT has since its founding been affiliated with a trade union federation (the old American Federation of Labor until 1955 and the AFL-CIO since then).

All rightey then...  Since we know the players, let's try to understand HOW they play in all of this. 

First, let's take a look at what the NEA and AFT spend 'Members Dues' on.  It's like my ex-girlfriend used to say, " I may be cheap, but I CAN be bought !" 

(Note to self:  NOT a good expression to shout loudly in a packed bar)

In 2009 - 2010 these unions were the number 2 and number 3 contributors to political parties in the US respectively (Source:  http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=P)


In politics, follow the money - the above charts how member's dues are spent by Union
BLUE buys Democrats - RED buys Republicans
Unions seem BLUE lately...

For future reference, www.opensecrets.org is a Wonderful site to visit when you're trying to figger stuff out by 'following the money'...  It's definitely a 'keeper'

Since Teachers' Unions represent ALL American children (and they're doing this for the kids!) they must support ALL political parties equally, right?  You know, 'spreading the wealth around' evenly? 

I'm thinking whoever put the chart above was full of 'Hoooey'!  Can we get some detail here to prove out my hypothesis that the above is wrong?  For example, if unions were contributing to say, Members of the House or Senate, certainly there'd be more 'Fairness' here, wouldn't there? 

Great!  Let's take a look!

Once again, BLUE is Democratic Funding, RED is Republican

Okay, so MAYBE that's just the Tsunami of Democratic Support given to the Unions with the election of President Obama?  Let's look back, um, I'm thinking like over the past TEN years to see what it used to look like, you know, when the Republicans were the ones running up the National Debt...

Sheesh, I guess Unions subscribe to the notion of:  'Better Dead Than Red'
When it comes to buying influence in Government?

Speaking of 'Red'...  The Wisconsin Teacher's Strike is getting quite a bit of MainStream coverage, as well as support from some 'Usually We're Quiet Because We Like Staying Under the Radar But We're Always Here' Groups. 

Those groups? 

Oh, the Usual Suspects:



"Workers of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your chains."  -- Karl Marx





Each of these photos above is a Hyperlink back to the source site - click if you want to read more! 
It's fascinating!!!
Not in a 'good way'



So why is any of this a big deal to me?  

• Public Unions BUY political power
• This power is purchased on the backs of workers who have no say as to where their money is spent
• The funding 95+% of the time goes to Democrat law makers
• However, 100% of the lawmaker's paycheck comes from US, you know...  'We, the people'
• But, if Democrat lawmakers are 95% 'as a percentage of interest buying' in the tank for Unions?

Question is:  Do we get our 'Fair Share' of that remaining 5% of Union Influence from Democratic lawmakers?

Oh, and I'd be lying if I said that Anarchists, Socialists, and Communists continuing to stir up 'excitement' in Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states across the US didn't 'Cheese' me off a bit. 

Yeah, you could say that I have a large chunk of "Gouda up my rumpous" over that one...

So everyone out there cool with the A, S, and C groups out there stirring things up a bit?  You know, "Workers of the world unite!"  (or if you're dyslexic:  "Dyslexics of the world untie!")

Everyone good with President Obama tossing out the obligatory "They acted stupidly" kind of quote when referring to state's rights?     

Just curious. 



BONUS:  A few of my favorite photos from the articles referenced above!



Democratic State Senators 'formerly from' Wisconsin. 
Yeah, They're outlaws!!! 
How cool is that?

 


"Ask not what your Union can do for you, er, a, ask what you can do for your Union"

 



"Yeah, all you RICH guys, you've been put on notice!
Hey, can I open my eyes now???"

 


Holy crap, I thought Randy Quaid was in jail, an asylum, or something?  But all this time, he's been
'Organizing for Wisconsin'?  Why didn't I see THAT coming???