As we celebrate Labor Day, it’s vital to reflect not only on the achievements of American workers but also on the origins of this significant day and the ongoing struggle to ensure that its ideals are upheld.
Our Labor Day holiday was made official 130 years ago as a tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It grew out of the labor movement's efforts to improve working conditions, secure fair wages, and promote workers' rights. This movement was instrumental in building a robust American middle class, one of the most remarkable achievements in our economic history.
Yet, even as we honor the labor movement’s legacy, we must confront the reality that our country is no longer home to a truly robust middle class. The wealth divide in the United States has grown exponentially, with economic benefits increasingly concentrated in the hands of the ultra-wealthy while working families struggle with stagnating wages and rising costs. This growing divide starkly contrasts with the vision of economic fairness and prosperity that Labor Day symbolizes.
Disempowering Workers: Dusty's Political Courage #FAIL
I’m running for Congress to represent the needs of South Dakota’s many, not ensure that power and wealth remain forever in the hands of a privileged few and continue to be unattainable for the rest. My opponent Dusty Johnson, a career politician who has been climbing that ladder his entire adult life, trails a long and troubling record of disconnect between who he claims to be working for and the policies he pursues.
Dusty spent the week running up to Labor Day weekend rightly condemning exploitative labor practices among companies like Temu and Shein in China. That’s a no-brainer of a “courageous” moral and political stance.
The domestic policies that he continues to push, however, tell a different story.
It’s one thing to criticize labor abuses in nations considered geopolitical adversaries. It is another level of bravery to challenge the billionaire benefactors and massive corporations pushing for similar exploitative practices here at home. True courage lies in standing up against those with massive financial power who influence policy decisions and undermine worker protections.
Dusty’s legislative record reflects a pattern of supporting policies that weaken workers' rights, erode protections, and shrink the social safety net for the everyday Americans who truly power our economy.
Weakening Collective Bargaining: Dusty has supported measures that restrict collective bargaining rights, undermining workers' ability to negotiate fair wages and safe working conditions. This not only disempowers workers but also threatens the foundational principles of the labor movement.
Eroding Child Labor Protections: At a time when we should be enhancing protections for children, Dusty has backed legislation that rolls back critical safeguards, putting young workers at risk and betraying the legacy of the labor movement that fought for their safety.
Supporting Disempowering Economic Policies: Dusty’s backing of the 2017 tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy has exacerbated economic inequality. Far from benefiting the broader population, these cuts have primarily enriched the wealthy, leaving working families with stagnant wages and rising living costs.
Adding insult to injury, his easy-road preferred policy path of big breaks for the ultra-rich has ballooned the national debt. Cue the hysterical cries among false “fiscal responsibility” prophets like Dusty to dismantle the crucial programs like Social Security that our retirees rely on after a lifetime of hard work.
“Problem Solver” indeed.
A Vision of Economic Fairness for South Dakota Workers
I have a different vision for South Dakota, one rooted in a genuine commitment to advancing workers' rights and rebuilding a fair economy:
Strengthening Collective Bargaining: I will advocate for the protection and expansion of collective bargaining rights, ensuring that workers can negotiate for fair wages and safe working conditions without undue restrictions.
Protecting Child Labor Laws: I am committed to upholding and enhancing child labor protections, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and learn in a safe environment.
Advocating for Safe Working Conditions: I will push for stronger safety regulations and hold employers accountable for providing secure work environments, reflecting our shared values of respect and dignity for every worker.
Fair Wages for All Workers: No one who works full-time should live in poverty. I will support efforts to raise the federal minimum wage and ensure that all workers receive fair compensation for their labor.
The Broader Context: Addressing the Wealth Divide
It’s past time for South Dakota to fire a politician who’s only brave when it’s easy, whose stance on labor rights is part of a broader pattern of economic policies that have deepened the wealth divide. The promise of “trickle-down” economics has proven to be a myth, with benefits concentrating at the top while working families face increasing economic pressures.
Dusty’s record of careful double-talk highlights a sharp divide between his words and his actions as he supports policies that favor the wealthy and neglect the needs of everyday Americans.
Celebrating Labor Day with Action
This Labor Day, let’s honor the spirit of the American worker by taking action. We need leaders who are willing to confront the sources of exploitation right here at home and challenge the influence of powerful donors. It’s time for a leader with a backbone, who stands up for workers’ rights and ensures that the ideals of Labor Day are reflected in our policies and practices.
Let’s recommit to building an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy elite. As we celebrate the achievements of the labor movement and the American worker, let’s also fight for a future where economic fairness and prosperity are accessible to all.
I will stand for YOUR interests, not special interests, with my SD Mom spine straight and head held high for the good of everyday South Dakotans. For our farmers and ranchers, for our Main Street small business owners, and for all the unsung working heroes who show up day in and day out, punching that clock to keep food on the table for their families, reaching for a better future for their children and grandchildren.
Let’s continue to stand—always braver and stronger together—for the today and tomorrow we all deserve.
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