Tomorrow is Labor Day 2011. Those who have jobs will probably enjoy a much-needed day off.
But for those who are currently without a regular paycheck, there is little to celebrate. No light at the end of the tunnel. No silver lining.
It began with Friday’s news that the U.S. economy added no new jobs in August. Zip. Zero.
Employers have been slow to add to their payrolls and have taken to reducing hours for current staff.
Wall Street responded as expected, sending stocks tumbling for a second straight day.
If that weren’t enough, the U.S. Labor Department issued revised job numbers for June and July. The bottom line: an average of 35,000 jobs a month were added over the last three months – a mere pittance in the larger unemployment picture.
As our country continues on this uncharted course, the populace looks to President Barack Obama and Congress to collectively provide a road map to restored prosperity for all. In light of the recent debt ceiling debate, we doubt either will stray far enough from their own party line to reach a consensus. That is a tragedy for those worried about putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads.
The time has come for voters to stand up and demand action on a bipartisan jobs bill. As we teeter on the brink of an election year, it is time to contact your elected representatives and spur them to compromise.
If they can’t, they need to step aside and defer to someone who will.