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WEEK OF AUGUST 24, 2025
** This Week on The Labor Movement
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** Forgotten Lessons of the New Deal Era ([link removed])
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Governor Mitch Daniels and historian Amity Shlaes explore the Great Depression through a reassessment of Presidents Coolidge, Hoover, and Roosevelt, alongside a discussion of the “Forgotten Man.” Their conversation highlights the pivotal role of the labor movement during this era, emphasizing its contributions to advancing worker protections and broadening economic opportunity within a changing national landscape.
Listen Now ([link removed])
** How does understanding the labor movement deepen our appreciation of Labor Day—and what can individuals do to support the dignity of work and civic life?
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** “The labor of the people is the foundation of all prosperity, and the respect for their rights must be the foundation of all free government.” — James Madison
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The labor movement underscores the fundamental importance of work in affirming individual dignity and sustaining economic freedom in a free society. By exploring the history of labor and its interaction with social and governmental institutions, we deepen our understanding of the principles that uphold voluntary association, personal responsibility, and opportunity for all. As we observe Labor Day, it is essential to recognize how honoring the contributions of workers supports the broader values of liberty and civic engagement.
** Articles
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** Adam Smith on the Interests of Labor and Business ([link removed])
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Alex Aragon, Adam Smith Works ([link removed])
While labor's collective efforts are often visible—and loudly debated—Smith cautioned that business interests, though quieter and more coordinated, wield considerable power. Understanding this dynamic is essential to grasping the full picture of economic tension in a commercial society.
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** A Labor Day Program for Freeing Labor ([link removed])
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John O. McGinnis, Law and Liberty ([link removed])
In this essay, John O. McGinnis argues that while work is essential to human flourishing, modern policy increasingly impedes it. He outlines a reform agenda—including tax restructuring, revisiting minimum wage laws, disability reform, and licensing liberalization—to restore the freedom to work and align labor policy with both personal dignity and economic vitality.
** Faucher on Property ([link removed])
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John Lalor, Online Library of Liberty ([link removed])
This article explores how early economists treated property as a foundational assumption rather than a subject of inquiry. As industrialization progressed and questions of wealth distribution became central—particularly through the rise of the labor movement—the origins and justification of property came under renewed examination in economic and political thought.
** Labor Day Reflections: Banking, and Working, in America ([link removed])
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Michael S. Greve, Law & Liberty ([link removed])
Michael Greve considers the intersection of labor, regulation, and financial institutions in the years following the 2008 crisis. Using Labor Day as a lens, he explores how complex legal and economic dynamics affect both workers and the broader economy.
** Of the Division of Labor ([link removed])
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Adam Smith, Library of Economics and Liberty ([link removed])
This excerpt from The Wealth of Nations highlights how the division of labor boosts productivity through specialization. These insights later informed key labor movement debates about efficiency, worker roles, and the structure of industrial work.
** If Not Labor Exchanges, Then What? ([link removed])
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Gary Chartier, Online Library of Liberty ([link removed])
Even with an informed citizenry, democracy faces structural challenges and collective biases, highlighting the limits of civic education in ensuring effective and responsible governance.
** Podcasts
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** Charles Murray on Dignity and the American Dream ([link removed])
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The Future of Liberty ([link removed])
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** Men (Not) at Work ([link removed])
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The Law & Liberty Podcast ([link removed])
** Videos
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** A Conversation with Max Hartwell ([link removed])
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The Online Library of Liberty ([link removed])
Max Hartwell explores how industrialization improved living standards and expanded economic opportunity, challenging the narrative that it primarily harmed workers. His insights provide essential context for understanding the economic backdrop of early labor movements and their long-term effects.
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