Labor Day in Bush America: What It Really Means

Happy Labor Day!

Alas, however, for many of us, Labor Day isn't quite what it once was: a holiday on which you appreciate the many benefits provided you in exchange for your very hard effort in the workplace.

We are about to reach the point where the U.S. has gone the longest period possible (about a full decade) without any increase in the federal minimum wage act. That would be all fine and good IF relatively few, like new job seekers and teenagers in "nothing" jobs to earn money toward tuition and other expenses, for example, were about the only ones earning the minimum. But this is hardly the case.

Statistically speaking, many long time workers in the workforce earn less than a "significant" percentage over minimum wage. In fact, except for the Depression of the early 1930s, America has not seen so many employees being paid or otherwise rewarded so minimally.

Consider, too, that the current hourly minimum wage is supposed to cover a LOT higher expenses than when it was first raised more than nine years ago. The average cost of a prescription drug is up between 50 and 135% during that time period and many doctors' fees per visit have nearly doubled in this time period. A gallon of gas costs you far more than it did then, as does milk, meat, vegetables, and other necessities.

Factor in also that far fewer workers receive real benefits as part of their work. A record number of Americans have NO health insurance whatsoever and many who do work 40 or more hours at a near minimum wage job are very fortunate if they quality for "welfare" type coverage; in some states, WalMart has more employees on Medicaid for health benefits than employees who get coverage through WalMart. Way to go, corporate welfare!

Unemployment levels only appear low because the Bushies long ago decided to eliminate many categories of people from being counted. It's easy to make the numbers look good when you can cheat every which way.

Factor in also that in America, there has rarely been a time when the percentage of Americans working two or more jobs has been so high. In Bush America, a husband and a wife each working a full time job often does NOT mean an income satisfactory to meet rising mortgage and tax rates, out of control drug and medical costs, skyrocketing fuel and grocery pricetags, and fewer programs to help the Middle Class and poorer to send their kids to college.

Indeed, the Bushies have been far more successful in its War on the Middle Class and its War on the Poor than it has in Iraq (and you know what a horrific mess that is) or its global War on Terror.