What's Behind Labor Day?

When I think of Labor Day, I think about the end of Summer, Back to School, and the beginning of the holiday season. Lately however, I'm thinking about what Labor Day represents and while I agree that the men and women who are in the labor force and make our country run deserve a day to honor them. I also wonder why it is that our population has yet to advance from this industrial age mentality.

Even in the 21st Century we are training our people from the time they enter school to be industrial workers. We do not encourage them to think for themselves or to be pioneers or entrepreneurs. No, students are sent off to school where they are taught like Pavlov's dog to respond to a bell.

• Bell rings,,,Go to Homeroom
• Bell rings...Go to First Period...Begin Learning
• Bell rings...Go to Lunch...Eat Food
• Bell rings...Go to Recess...Commence Play
• Lunch Lady Blows Whistle...Stop Play
• Rinse and Repeat

It's no wonder that we are developing people with a lack of drive to succeed or to break out on their own and do something new and different. Our children are placed on the assembly line from the time they enter Kindergarten and never escape.

So what is wrong with this? Nothing I guess afterall we need people to manufacture our LCD TV's and other gadgets. But, much of that work gets farmed out to other countries. Because business owners begin to think of their employees as nothing more than an expense. Why is the US economy in trouble? Look how much work is being sent oversees. Try calling customer support for just about any major US company and you're sure to get someone from across the ocean.

Organized labor is not the answer because they just add more cost and bureaucracy to the equation. If anything they add to the problem. They allow bad employees to keep their jobs and and remove the incentive for good employees to exceed. I have experienced this first hand as an employee and as a manager. Featherbedding and time-stretching still goes on today and costs us millions at retail stores as well as in taxes. Unions also discourage workers from seeking promotion. Afterall, once a worker is promoted to Manager, the union looses a dues-paying member. So, it is in the union's best interest to keep the workers down.

So what are the alternatives? Maybe we need to look at our education system and make it more collaborative. More encouraging for students to come up with new ideas and to allow for the free flow of them without the need for competition. Leave the competition to the free marketplace. I admit I don't have specifics as to how to do this. Although, by thinking it through I'm sure there are better alternatives.

For example I have found an alternative to working in the corporate world. I have found a way that by collaborating together with friends and family that you can create a successful company and be profitable. I have found a place where I work with people of integrity, who mentor me and genuinely want to help me to succeed. If this idea intrigues you, click the social networking ad at the bottom of this page to find out more or click here.