Today is May Day

Yes, this day is May Day. In many countries around the world, this is a day to recognize laborers and the working class. 

Here in the United States, this is often frowned upon. Anything that far right-wingers even hint at as possibly socialist or communist - regardless of whether it bears even a remote resemblance to those things - will nevertheless be treated with unreasonable paranoia.

However, this is a day when we might want to recognize the sacrifices of those who worked much under much harsher conditions, and also often worked far many more hours than we do today in typical jobs (although not every single job). The efforts by workers in the earlier part of the twentieth century to establish better working conditions was one of the greatest triumphs in all of human history. It allowed people to work more reasonable hours (40 hours has more or less become the norm), overtime pay beyond regular 40 hour work weeks, to enjoy some free time on weekends as well as vacation time, to have health and dental insurance, and safer working conditions. Also, and perhaps most importantly, it provided for some job security.

These have been attacked since, especially again in the United States.

Still, some of us will not allow everyone to forget our hard won gains quite so easily. These huge benefits are now often taken for granted by far too many people. We have had prominent, mainstream politicians literally criticize Americans for not being hardworking enough, as well as to attack the idea of time off on weekends, or to claim that the minimum wage was actually too high, and that workers these days are too lazy and enjoy too many benefits here in the United States. Unions have been targeted particularly hard, especially since the rise of Reaganism. It seems that since more or less that time, instead of being remembered for these huge gains that changed the lives of most people, they have instead been labeled as corrupt and lazy and privileged - often by special interest, moneyed groups and individuals who themselves tend to embody corruption and laziness and excess privilege and a false sense of entitlement more than anyone else around. 

So today, I wanted to figuratively tip my hat in remembrance of those people who fought for better working conditions and greater workers rights, something that we benefit from all of these decades later. I know that I am personally very grateful for all of this, and have benefited personally from it. 

Let's celebrate May Day, and remember the workers who improved our lives on an everyday basis, even when they themselves faced literally violent reactions and a system that was well and truly rigged against them at the time. It is a beautiful day, and a beautiful time of the year. Thank those workers and those who sacrificed to allow us the privilege of enjoying it.