Weekly Opinion Editorial
MADE IN AMERICA!
by Steve
Fair
Most people only see Labor Day as a day off work and the unofficial end of Summer, but the holiday's origin is more significant. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City in 1882. More than 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to join the protest for better working conditions.
The New York Tribune reported, "The windows and roofs and even the lamp posts and awning frames were occupied by persons anxious to get a good view of the first parade in New York of workingmen of all trades united in one organization." Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894. Some thoughts about Oklahoma and Labor Day:
Oklahoma's official state motto is "Labor Omnia Vincit" (Latin for "Labor Conquers All"). The motto reflects the strong political influence of organized labor groups during the creation of the state's constitution in 1907.
Well before Oklahoma was the 'reddest state in the U.S.," the Sooner state was a hotbed for powerful trade unionism, and the strongest regional Socialist movement in United States history. Only Wisconsin had a larger state caucus of elected socialists.
Oklahoma's organized labor roots remained influential for nearly a century. The state didn't officially become a right-to-work state until 2001, when 54% of voters passed State Question #695 to make it illegal to require union membership or the payment of union dues as a condition of employment. Three observations regarding Labor Day:
First, the number of working men is declining. According to a recent Department of Labor survey, male workforce participation has dropped significantly from a peak of 86.4% in 1950 to 66.8% last year. Roughly 6.8 million men ages 25-34 aren't even looking for work. Over half of these non-working prime-age men cite physical health issues, serious illness, or disabilities as the main reason they aren't working.
Linkenln, the world’s largest online professional network, claims the reason men are not working is not a declining work ethic, but the mismatch between worker expectations of fair treatment and the realities of modern corporate structures.
President Grant said, "Labor disgraces no
man; unfortunately, you occasionally find men who disgrace labor." In other words, some people just will not
work.
Second, U.S. productivity is up. According to the Department of Labor, nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased +1.4 percent in the second quarter of 2026. In the manufacturing sector, the increase was +2.4%. The obvious benefactors of increased productivity are business owners, but if those efficiencies are passed on to employees and consumers, all profit. If they aren't then productivity will suffer and those profits will dissipate.
Third, everyone works for themself. Employees trade their time, skills and labor for a paycheck, career advancement or personal growth. If an employer is a short sighted, skin flint miser cheapskate tightwad, they have the choice to look for someone who will pay them for their services. Working for an employer is not the priesthood. It is a transactional business contract, not a spiritual calling or a total life devotion. Employers who mistreat their most precious resource- their workers- will not prosper.
American workers are the backbone of the United
States. They have built the highest
standard of living in the world. Everyone
benefits when they are taken care of. For
years, U.S. companies sought out the cheapest labor and many manufacturers
moved them production overseas. The
Trump administration has done an excellent job of getting many companies to
return to domestic production. American
workers, consumers and business owners need to recognize the strategic
advantages in national security having products Made in America provides.
