Labor Day

This year, labor Day is going to be a strange one for a lot of people. The official unemployment rate stands at 9.6%, although some estimates put the real figure at more than 16.7%. That would be a minimum of 14 million people out of work - maybe over 20 million. Many of the jobs they've lost are not going to be replaced anytime soon. A jobless recovery is no recovery for those left behind.

For many at the top, especially bankers, business is returning to normal and the bonuses are flowing again. For those at the bottom, final demands and foreclosure letters are all they can expect. Back in 1911, a US anti-capitalist poster was produced, which clearly shows a Communist view of the system. Yet, at times like this, similar viewpoints are difficult to avoid.

More and more, it seems that we are on our own, just as people found themselves on their own after the Katrina disaster. Has globalization and outsourcing resulted in the obsolescence of many of the currently unemployed? If so, this reveals the ugly side of our system.


Happy Labor Day. Spare a thought for those who are struggling.