Althouse: "It's Labor Day At Last. More Americans than ever view Labor Day as it was intended..."

September 7, 2015

"It's Labor Day At Last. More Americans than ever view Labor Day as it was intended..."

"... to honor working Americans - but few still regard it as one of the nation’s most important holidays...."

I regard it as a directive to get serious. Summer's over. Get to work. This is a very strong feeling for someone like me, beginning a new semester after a long summer break from classes.

But I must say that when I read the title of the piece — "It's Labor Day At Last" (at Rasmussen) — my thought was: Yes, finally, we can get serious about the presidential candidates. Everyone can stop saying "silly season" or taking any refuge in the explanation that this is the silly season.

Sometimes it's a relief to have to start getting serious. But there will be no relief if you were trusting that the arrival of seriousness would mean the exit of someone you were sure could not be taken seriously and he does not go away.

19 comments:

rhhardin said...: I assumed it honored garbage men.; 9/7/15, 9:50 AM
Bob Ellison said...: Our men of garbage came on schedule today, Labor Day.; 9/7/15, 9:54 AM
Original Mike said...: "I regard it as a directive to get serious. Summer's over. Get to work. This is a very strong feeling for someone like me, beginning a new semester after a long summer break from classes."

For me, now that I'm retired, it's a reminder that I don't have to teach. I love fall and now I'm free to enjoy it unencumbered with the need to stay in town.; 9/7/15, 9:58 AM
BN said...: Someday after the Singularity arrives, when there are only super rich immortals who have extinguished/sterilized and replaced all plebes with robots, we will celebrate "End of Labor Day."; 9/7/15, 9:59 AM
Leslie Graves said...: Completely agree.; 9/7/15, 10:05 AM
traditionalguy said...: Seriously, the last lap of ObamaDestruction is now under way. The Russkies, the Chicoms and the mullahs of U-235 fame can read a calendar and see the date a real American becomes President and 5th Columnist Barry is no longer going to be CIC secretly inviting them to take what they want.; 9/7/15, 10:15 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: I'm Roebuck. Who's minding the store?; 9/7/15, 10:26 AM
Carol said...: The sight of that desiccated ghoul Lessig made me realize how refreshingly brash and healthy and American Trump looks.; 9/7/15, 10:26 AM
Hagar said...: I think next April or May is plenty soon enough to start worrying.

Or really worrying, anyway.; 9/7/15, 10:45 AM
clint said...: Labor Day is celebrating the last beach weekend of the year, right?

It's the transition from an expectation of outdoor grilling every weekend to the possibility of indoor cooking.

And it celebrates the impending labor of everyone who got pregnant over the Christmas-New-Year's holiday extravaganza.

Was there something else we were supposed to be celebrating?; 9/7/15, 10:59 AM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: My least favorite 3-day weekend. As a kid, because it meant going back to school. As a parent, because the kids are another year older and going back to school. Especially poignant this year because the eldest is off to college.; 9/7/15, 12:40 PM
dwick said...: "But there will be no relief if you were trusting that the arrival of seriousness would mean the exit of someone you were sure could not be taken seriously and he does not go away."

Let's please make that last bit: "...and both he AND SHE do not go away."; 9/7/15, 1:43 PM
Steven said...: All hail Grover Cleveland, who smashed the Pullman strike, and then established Labor Day as a federal holiday to undermine the attempts of socialists to celebrate May Day!; 9/7/15, 4:19 PM
Bayoneteer said...: If Labor Day didnt exist it would have to be invented. The professor is right about the need for an end to summer and all the fun times it entails and getting back to a serious work routine.; 9/7/15, 8:32 PM
Jason said...: Happy Labor Day! If you have a job to take a long weekend from, thank a capitalist!; 9/7/15, 8:43 PM
Robert Cook said...: "The sight of that desiccated ghoul Lessig made me realize how refreshingly brash and healthy and American Trump looks."

?????

Trump looks like the Portrait of Dorian Grey in mid-decay, with his fat, florid face and cobweb of wispy hair. If this is your vision of Americans, what makes you hate us so?; 9/8/15, 8:51 AM
Robert Cook said...: "Happy Labor Day! If you have a job to take a long weekend from, thank a capitalist!"

If you have a five day work week and an eight hour day, a living wage, sick leave, and safe working conditions, among other benefits, thank a union man or woman!; 9/8/15, 8:53 AM
Peter said...: From today's Journal-Sentinel: "Dozens of people on Monday marched from Zeidler Union Square to the Summerfest grounds holding pickets that said “Fight for $15.” They joined hundreds of others in the annual Laborfest parade."

Did they really say dozens of marchers, and hundreds of others?

That's a pretty skimpy turnout on a nice (if somewhat warm) day. Where are the laboring masses?; 9/8/15, 9:48 AM
Nichevo said...: If this is your vision of Americans, what makes you hate us so?

9/8/15, 8:51 AM

Now what could you possibly mean by "us?"; 9/8/15, 12:26 PM