EDITORIAL Labor Day

Sep. 1, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The pressures of the tight economy are especially obvious on this year's Labor Day, the holiday when Americans traditionally take a rest from work. Too many Americans don't have a job, as much as they'd like to have one. Those who are working are often doing the work of two people, and fearing layoffs themselves. The next president, whether it's John McCain or Barack Obama, must lead the way in creating jobs and turning America's economy around.

If you can take a break today, you deserve it. We hope you're at the beach, in the mountains or wherever your favorite spot might be, enjoying friends and family. But let's not forget that not all of us are so lucky.

Most Americans want to work, and many of us love our jobs. Hard work is key to our national identity, pride and independence. So the job losses and cutbacks, which have often come as our factories have set up shop overseas, are jarring. When we're working, we want to make at least enough money to feed our families, plan for college for our children and plan for our retirement. Many of us can't do that with the jobs we have now.

And too many of us don't have jobs at all, and struggle to pay for gas and groceries.

Americans don't like to take charity, as much as many others are usually happy to give it. Lately, all the demand on the social-services system has strained it. Many longtime donors need help themselves. Many long-time volunteers, having to work two jobs, are no longer able to offer as much time as they once did.

The health-care crisis has only worsened. Too many Americans have either poor medical insurance or none at all. They're turning to emergency rooms for health care, driving health-care costs up for all the rest of us. Older Americans struggling to get by on pensions and Social Security cut back on food to pay for medicine.

As the troubled economy drives all these ripple effects, many in Washington seem all but oblivious to the crushing economic pressures their constituents face. We'd like to see this fall's candidates pay more attention to the plight of working people.

Enjoy today if you can.

And when Election Day rolls around, get out and vote. In local, state and national races, think about who can do the most to turn the economy around.

Something's gotta give. By next Labor Day, let's hope a lot more of us can really relax.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0222-27804642