The American labor movement began as a way to recognize the contribution of workers to the development of the United States.
It was proposed by trade unionists late in the 19th century and in 1894 became a federal holiday celebrated in 30 states.
Imagine, a holiday not only honoring workers in unions but also giving them equal credit – with corporate leaders – for this country’s achievements.
Is that socialism?
Is it communism?
I don’t think so.
Once upon a time this was the American way.
We still celebrate Labor Day in 21st century America but these days it’s more about the long weekend and the sales being offered online. The latter corporately curated for our shopping pleasure by an elite, profit-driven tech oligarchy of owners.
They are said to be innovators but what they do remains a mystery to most of us. It’s not like they are constructing bridges, buildings or cars.
Instead they create methodology behind-the-scenes and deliver it to us.
Not primarily in the form of a cool phone or easy-to-use computer anymore.
But in platforms of supposed digital connection and technology credited to a very small cadre or mostly bro-y guys who take the lion’s share of the bows for the societal changes they’ve wrought and the many billions they’ve earned.
But that seems apt.
Because if it felt as if they were bringing us together at one point that is no longer the case.
More recently the overbearing reality of “artificial intelligence,” whether we like it or not, not to mention the brazen algorithms that shove whatever product you clicked on last down your throat in endless ads and variations each time you scroll one of their platforms, have made us pretty much loathe their product and them.
And made us prouder than ever to be a mere laborer.
It’s true.
Almost no one else can compete with the lavish homes and grand ballrooms they party at all across the world.
And often with interchangeable versions of each other.
They launch themselves into space, get married in over-the-top gazillion dollar weddings for the world to see and hopefully envy, and endure a series of state-of-the-art cosmetic procedures and makeovers that change them physically but make them no more attractive to anyone with what we used to refer to in my younger days as a moral conscience.
Case in point on the latter score: The many millions contributed by each to the construction of an almost half a billion dollars’ worth of ballroom no one asked for that will replace the historic east wing of the White House.
Rest assured they didn’t do it so they could have an event to celebrate their workers one Labor Day in the future.
They did it….
…Well, we know why they did it and for whom they did it.
The question is, what the heck is the point of being a billionaire if you can’t say no to something you don’t want to do?
Which leads us to only one conclusion.
Their actions are exactly who they are.
As for we workers, it’s always good to remember there are A LOT more of us than there are of them.
And that we Americans built the country too And have a holiday named after us.
They don’t.
There is no Federal Oligarch Day.
Yet.
So this weekend, and week, have a barbecue and ponder that.
And know that you don’t have to just accept a data center in your backyard or listen to a fake new computerized songstress whose talent was illegally stolen, I mean programmed, from every great singer who ever lived, on your Apple Music or Spotify playlist.
Yours in power,
Chair-y.
notes from a chair 