Have A Great Labor Day Weekend...

"Remember, on Labor Day thank thee hired help!" - William Shakespeares and George W. Bush

"Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."

"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."

"The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker." <more from U.S. DOL>

"Many believe Labor Day focuses on labor unions. However, the fact of the matter is that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 13 percent of the nation's construction workers currently choose to join a labor union, while 87 percent work in a merit shop, free-enterprise setting." (and make $8 an hour with no health insurance or benefits)

"So this Labor Day, let's remember to thank all the construction professionals, regardless of labor affiliation, whose hard work building America each day improves all of our lives."

Muchas gracias, amigos and Wal-Mart employees (with a special shout out to the new locals being formed in Beijing)