When I entered the work force as a reporter out of college, the only viable model for farming was to get bigger and specialize.
All these years later, smaller farms are able to succeed through Community Supported Agriculture which requires a more direct relationship between farmer and consumer.
That tighter relationship, having your "own" farmer, comes at a premium and the C.S.A. means consumers pay up front and share in the success or failure of the various crops.
Large factories employed machinists, but mostly relied on assembly lines to put out lots of product at a low cost per item.
Now, there are folks carving out a living as a craftsman with an emphasis on hand-made and locally sourced.
Those are the silver linings behind the dark clouds of closing factories and reduced employee numbers. Jobs changed to technical and service. The good news is in the past 30 years manufacturing jobs are slowly moving back to the United States. They don't look like the huge plants we might remember, but it seems like a positive step.
And on Labor Day, we think about living wages. Low rates of inflation have kept many pay rates low; supply and demand forces at work. I think the idea of $15/hour minimum wage is interesting, but I wonder about all those workers making between the $7 dollar and something minimum wage and $15/hour. Those folks can't just go to $15.
Where this election cycle takes us in terms of the economy and jobs remains to be seen. Most of the time, the person in the White House benefits or fails because of forces behind their control. I think that likely continues.
In any case, let's thank the hard working men and women who labor so we can live in good homes; eat good food; and travel safely. More than machinery, it's their collective heartbeat which built America.
Happy Labor Day.
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