WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.Editorial: Labor Day

Editorial: Labor Day

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By Collin Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Friday, May 18 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-18 23:20:53 GMT
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident. The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident.  The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are the other motorists on the roadways.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-15 23:20:31 GMT
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments: "If the budget is passed at this severely cut rate, the shortage of physicians, hospitals, and clinics
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments:

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-01 23:20:35 GMT
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"

  • Friday, April 20 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-04-20 23:20:42 GMT
    For the next sixty seconds I want you to give yourself permission to push pause on whatever you are doing and listen and reflect for a moment. I did this recently after reading an article titled "Top five

  • Wednesday, April 18 2012 7:27 PM EDT2012-04-18 23:27:31 GMT
    Representative Christopher John England (Tuscaloosa) has sponsored a bill in the Alabama legislature that would allow convicted felons of drug crimes to receive food stamps under certain circumstances.

Labor Day, the first Monday in September each year, constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.  That's the "official" definition of this day by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor Day to the rest of us is the representation of the end of summer, back to school or one last neighborhood barbeque.

How about those that are out of work here in Alabama – have you thought about what Labor Day means to them?   There are approximately 216,000 Alabamians needing jobs right now that will not be looking forward to yet another day off on Monday. 

So while it's important to pay tribute to our vital workforces each year on Labor Day let's not miss an opportunity during this day to also reflect on our current state of unemployment here in Alabama. 

Governor Bentley - following this long Labor Day weekend let's re-energize a plan that supports job creation, encourages entrepreneurial spirit, cuts red tape and allows Alabamians to put Alabamians back to work.  With state unemployment rates at 10% it will be hard enjoying time off knowing so many are struggling – let's change this.

We appreciate your feedback.

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