May Day

The only two countries that do not recognize International Worker's Day are Canada and the U.S.A. Interesting considering the holiday has its roots in the US labor movement, more specifically Chicago. Haymarket Riot. The fight for an 8-hour workday. 1886. May 1st was the first day of the activities that ended in the Riot (May 4th).

Why do we not celebrate this holiday here? Workers rights need to be recognized here in the States as much as it does in emerging nations around the world.

Random train of thoughts begins now...

There's this Hyundai ad I saw yesterday. It shows happy assembly line workers. Happy, WHITE AMERICAN line workers. The ad tells us that Hyundai opened a plant in Alabama, providing thousands of jobs, etc etc etc. (their 1st U.S. manufacturing plant). The voiceover sounded like the guy that used to the Country Time Lemonade ads -- something so wholesome and midwestern.

Well Hyundai, thats wonderful and awesome that you are giving U.S. workers jobs but what about the quality? Are the workers unionized? What about benefits? Are you just another company feeding off the corporation-friendly environment of the South?

What has been accomplished since 1886? Tons, I'm sure. But practices are still pro-business and anti-worker (anti-human, anti-family, anti-life).

This is why I need to escape this country. If just for long enough where I can see for myself that the rest of the world does not operate under American capitalism. (I'm talking basics -- there are many different kinds of capitalism. We could sit forever and a day discussing the state of american hegemony, etc).

Time for me to study for tomorrow's test. *sigh*