Sanders writes: "Against overwhelming odds, the men and women of the labor movement changed society for the better. If you've ever enjoyed a paid vacation, a sick day, or a pension, they are the people to thank."
Bernie Sanders. (photo: Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)
Labor Day 2015: Stand Together and Fight Back
07 September 15
abor Day is a time for honoring the working people of this country. It is also a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the activists and organizers who fought for the 40-hour work week, occupational safety, minimum wage law, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and affordable housing. These working people, and their unions, resisted the oligarchs of their day, fought for a more responsive democracy, and built the middle class.
Today we can - and we must - follow their example. It's time to rebuild the crumbling middle class of our country and make certain that every working person in the United States of America has a chance at a decent life.
Against overwhelming odds, the men and women of the labor movement changed society for the better. If you've ever enjoyed a paid vacation, a sick day, or a pension, they are the people to thank. And if you don't have those benefits on your job today, they are the people who can help you get them.
The economic reality is that while our economy today is much stronger than when President George W. Bush left office 7 years ago, the middle class is continuing its 40-year decline.
Almost all new income and wealth is going to the people on top, while millions of Americans work longer hours for lower wages. In fact, wages actually fell for 90 percent of Americans between 2009 and 2012, even as they rose for the top 10 percent. While we have seen in recent years a proliferation of millionaires and billionaires, 51 percent of African American youth are now unemployed or underemployed, and we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country on earth.
As a result of an explosion of technology, productivity has risen in this country, but working people are not sharing in the wealth. For three decades after the end of World War II, productivity and wages grew together. Business profits rose, and the workers who made those profits possible did well along with their bosses. That's not happening today. Productivity has continued to soar, but workers have been cut out of the profits.
The time is long overdue for us to create an economy which works for the middle class and working families of this country, and not just the one percent. It is time for us to have a government which represents all Americans, not just wealthy campaign contributors.
At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, we need a tax system which demands that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes.
With real unemployment at over 10 percent and youth unemployment off the charts, we need a massive federal jobs program to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and create millions of decent paying jobs.
With many of our people working at starvation wages, we need to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next few years, and implement pay equity for women workers.
When hundreds of thousands of bright and qualified young people are unable to afford a higher education, we need to make public colleges and universities tuition free and lower student debt. And we can do that by a tax on Wall Street speculation.
At a time when 35 million Americans lack any health insurance and many more are under-insures, we need to move toward a single-payer health insurance program which guarantees health care to all as a right.
We also need to join other wealthy counties by guaranteeing that all families have paid medical and family leave and paid sick time and vacation time.
Instead of cutting Social Security or disability programs, as most Republicans want, we need to expand Social Security benefits so that every senior citizen in this country can enjoy their retirement years in dignity.
When many businesses are making it harder and harder for workers to enjoy their constitutional right to form a trade union, we need legislation which makes it possible for those workers who want to join a union to be able to do so. We need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
In the wealthiest country in the history of the world we CAN accomplish all these goals, but we can't do it without a political revolution. We can't do it unless millions of Americans stand up and fight back to reclaim our country from the hands of a billionaire class whose greed is destroying our nation.
Here's the good news: we faced challenges like these before in our history, and we won. We won when working people across this country came together - in the workplace, in peaceful demonstrations, and at the ballot box - and said "No more." That victory is part of what we celebrate on Labor Day.
By all means, enjoy the holiday weekend. But this Labor Day let's also honor the men and women who have fought for the rights of working people in this country ever since it was founded - by pledging to carry on with the work they've started.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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He should be reminded of this fact that he demonstrates that he has forgotten, through his ignoring the police state tactics going on during HIS watch.
SHAME on you Mr. President.
Signed,
One of your most ardent supporters since day one.
I, too, encourage you to pick up your phones and call immediately to ask Mr. Obama to do the right thing, to ask him to speak out in favor of peaceful protests and against police brutality that has NO place in a democratic America.
The World is watching, and "WE cannot wait" for him to do the right thing. It must be now.
To President Obama, I beg you to do what you promised: be WITH the people, FOR the people, and be fearless about using your executive power to stop the madness NOW.
Sincerely,
Another of your most ardent supporters since day one.
N.
In this article, this is exactly what I am addressing.
Thank you for your support.
N.
The "cheating" by planting evidence and using infiltrators/ag ent provocateurs is SOP for U.S. government agencies.
Ask Native Americans.
Ask Iraqis.
Ask Afghans.
Do you actually think all IEDs are planted by Al Qaeda and Islamic extremists?
Realize we are confronting a collection of amoral sociopaths who will do anything to beat back genuine democracy.
Never forget the Kent State murders on 4 May 1970.
And the legal basis for this was the Patriot Act, which, you might recall, was brought to us George and Dick.
And? Your are saying that he had to keep it?
NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN
It's all of them, Barbara.
( is that feeling enough? ) I can go on. I've been watching for a long time.
As for congress, take a look back to the George W. administration. Review just how much the democrats handed to them. Most of what you see is entertainment, regardless. The show is directed by that 1% we're all protesting.
What you see is not necessarily the reality.
We can only hope that this will be the case, as no amount of "shame on you" seems to be doing the job.
N.
Everyone knows there were slave in North than as the land expanded, slaves went with..south, NorthWest and Southwest.
And many were treated well, many were treated horrendously.
Thomas Jefferson and our Forefathers never said they had no Slaves or House Persons. It is in their memoirs. Many were trusted friends. It was with the growth did Power come and the Slaves treated poorly even killed.
Police didnot cause Slavery Merchants did. Bounty hunters were hired, local thugs to go bring back runaways. I do not remember North being quite so adamant as the South, or as cruel. But Slavery was wrong, and we can thank those Christians who believed those that were not of our color were Heathens and therefore, should be treated as such. Again not a Police Agenda. Police role had already started in Europe, most were to quell uprisings but upsurps, protect the well to do/Political some branched into security, money protection etc. We had the jolly constables most were Volunteer or Appointed in Colonies with Volunteers who later started Fire Brigades, Citizen Brigades etc. Crime was not so large, everyone knew each other. those who did something wrong was treated more with Puritan Cruelty and Mockery than enforcement as we know it.
If they are part of the 1% they don't need any money.
Eventually they will resort to hurting one of their own, in order to change the game. Don't let this happen without photo or video evidence. Be quick to protect the evidence, and be ready to offer copies to the media, the courts, and to lawyers for the defense of those of us who will be arrested.
Even Oakland I get different stories from my friends. supposedly Peaceful than a gorup start shoving the cops, that is not Peaceful.
I think reviews of all Brutality must be looked into, and then start seeing if the same faces in Oakland than went to Denver up to NY because they will, they are on someone's dime setting up to instigate and get publicity.
Take them out...put them in public shackles for what they are. But stay Peaceful, stay warm
NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN !!
Nations we are no better than you, we are being watched daily, listened to, our accounts, lives are all being accounted for by Big Brother. We have Dictators in charge here and they want your Country, your riches, your Land....Do not believe OBama and the USA. We are not to be trusted. Nazis are alive and well here.
YOu see us destroying our water, our air, land. You see us killing our Animals. You see us poisoning towns. You see us selling our jobs overseas. We are Prisoners just like you. Democracy is a Dream. Nazis, Fascists are the Voice in our System not Democratic Ideals. We Kill anything, anyone for whatever reason the Man Tells us to. You are next, first your Leaders than You
But remember: We the People voted in all these cretinous, traitorous politicians, including feckless Obama, who is a slave working for Wall St.
Most important, Scott Olsen is a man of courage and remarkable character. He and the other true OWS patriots remind us that such qualities still exist among us.
Second, yes, each OWS group will be infiltrated by "plants"--under cover cops, people trying to distort the message, and saboteurs. Stay true, know your colleagues, and identify the others.
Third, rubber bullets, tear gas, and batons are NOT "NON-LETHAL" as reported. All have been and can be lethal. In fact, many police and military are taught lethal applications. Believe me, if you teach safeguards to prevent death, many see this as direct lethal instruction.
Stay safe. Stay true. And begin framing your message.
They pretend to help you but they are giving you poisoned candy. Stop taking anything from American Business and their Partners. Your Land is goin to be their Land....
They kill you and your children, they kill us and our children with no food, no clean water, no housing, no jobs, no health care. They Poison our air, Our Water, Our Food, Our Bodies with disease.
they take our homes, our land, our rights.
They go in pretending to protect you, to help you, they pretend to give you money for rebuilding but they are buying you out.
One Day you will no longer be Iraq, Iran, Libya ... you will Be MonsantoLand, KochLand, GELand. Beware the Powers of the USA are playing with their Puppet Politicians to wipe you out just like your leaders. You will either work for them or die of some new disease, or dumping their chemicals, bad food seeds. Welcome to Democracy the New Wave