The Endproduct of U.S Economic Social Conflict: Labor Day

In sociology, one of the main sociological perspectives is social conflict. That is, two major social forces are in a struggle for control. According to the economic philosophers and thinkers, this social conflict was a struggle for the means of production. Those who had the means of production, the capitalists, would often exploit the workers (aka proletariat). By the struggles of the proletariat and the capitalists, the proletariat has been able to constrict the economic gap with threats of strikes and the creation of unions. This has resulted in employment benefits such as paid vacations, health insurance, retirement pensions, sick leave, and employment termination restrictions. These benefits have developed over time to help appease the workers because without the workers, those who had the means of production would end up bankrupt. Simply put, the capitalists need the workers. Thus, another way the capitalist try to appease the proletariat is the National Holiday of the Labor Day. Most employers give this day off to their workers. I know that I don't have the best job in the world or for that matter the best paying, but I am very fortunate to have a job at all unlike the millions and millions of people in the U.S. and in the World who have no job, no money, and no place to reside.

My reason for explaining this very sociological implication of Labor Day was not to bring attention to Labor Day per se, but merely explain why it exists. It may be noted that I have not stated the historical origins of the Labor Day because well, who cares?

I have failed to write since my week vacation due to high levels of stress and anxiety. My likelihood of writer's block begins to settle in and pretty soon I can't write or think about anything at all. I am working on conquering my stress-based writer's block so that I can continue to update my blog with lots of "stuff".