I & I Editorial BoardEditor’s Note: As are millions of other Americans, we are honoring Labor Day by not laboring on this day. So, in lieu of an editorial, we present the words Ronald Reagan delivered on his last Labor Day as president.
August 31, 1988
Each Labor Day, we pause as a nation to honor some of the greatest heroes of the American story. On this 94th Labor Day, I ask all Americans to join me in offering heartfelt thanks and praise to working men and women.
We salute working people because they have built our land with skill, energy, and resourcefulness, transforming raw materials into a shining edifice of freedom and prosperity. On Labor Day we recognize these achievements and reflect on the meaning and dignity of work and on the values it protects and strengthens — the values we as a nation hold most dear.
In both peacetime and time of war, American workers have always offered each other and the world their very best, affirming their liberty as individuals and as members of a team and promoting the ideals of free enterprise and democracy here and around the globe.
America’s workers continue to display the spirit, ingenuity, and adaptability to new conditions that labor and employers alike need if our economy is to continue to grow. This willingness to meet every challenge speaks volumes about the health and vitality of our way of life. Let us always remember that so much of what we are, we owe to working men and women.
God gave us this land, but, under His good graces, the labor of our people has helped it flourish and pour forth its plenty for ourselves and the world. For all these reasons, America celebrates Labor Day, 1988 with fresh gratitude and pride.
It is always very nice to be nice, as in the I & I comments above, but the labor situation in the US is quite another story. And it is not nice nor fair at all!
The high cost of the labor unions and the intractability of their bosses cost us millions and millions of jobs not too long ago; they went overseas for labor cost that was and still is at least 10 times less expensive, and often at a higher quality of workmanship.
For some long ago, now obsolete reason, our labor unions were exempted from the Sherman Antitrust law, that was enacted to counter the economic, cultural and national security damage of monopolies. The unions, all monopolies, inflict far more damage to our local, state and national businesses and governments, hence taxpayers, than the merger of any two private corporations. Plus, they criminally and flagrantly are allowed to discriminate against most of our own American workers, who do not want to be in any union. The non union salary, benefits and freedom from counterproductive union work rules are just fine for non union workers.
This must be remedied ASAP to have fair competition, to strengthen and to protect the USA. Remember: there is nothing wrong with any union as long as every union is required by law to compete fairly with non union providers of the services needed, especially if any public funds, everyone’s taxes, support that job or contract.
That is fair, inclusive and it is our America Way.
Happy All Laborer’s Day
Very nice speech. Very nice memory (one of many) of President Reagan.
May he Rest In Peace.
Thank you, I&I