Politicians love to brag about how much they have done to improve our local, state and national economies-primarily through spending our hard-earned tax dollars while also adding to the debt for future generations. The truth, however, is simple: Government’s role – a substantial one, to be sure – is really limited to two behaviors:

Those elected to serve on our city councils, state legislatures and Congress can keep our taxes as low as possible – or they can add to our burdens, as we’re seeing happen right now. And government can keep the regulatory burden as minimal as practical – or it can bog us down with red tape and unnecessary mandates. Again, weighing businesses down – and hampering their ability to offer more opportunities to workers – seems to be the choice being made today by our elected leaders.

Today is Labor Day, set aside to recognize the engine that keeps the U.S. economy humming – American men, women and often, teenagers who go to work every day, producing the food we eat, the cars we drive, the electricity upon which we rely and everything else upon which we depend, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

They are the truck drivers who sometimes spend weeks on the road, away from home and loved ones, ensuring our store shelves are stocked.

They are the teachers who dedicate their lives to making those of our children and grandchildren better.

They are the factory workers who focus day in and day out on making the best razor blades, hammers, computers, lawn mowers, kitchen appliances and tens of thousands of other products.

They are the men and women who work hard in blistering heat some of the time and in frigid cold part of the year to keep roads passable and water flowing from our taps.

They are men and women who put on a badge when they go to work to protect and serve us, while their families pray they will come home safe. They are the men and women who, without a second thought, enter burning buildings to save lives or property.

They are health care professionals who often work under the pressure of making life-and-death decisions, and have spent the past two and one-half dealing with the extraordinary circumstances we faced through the COVID-19 pandemic.

And yes, they are the teenagers who serve us our hamburgers so they can save money for college.

Americans across this great land are working in a thousand other jobs not just to make ends meet, but to achieve the true American dream – better lives for their children.

Each and every day, including holidays, for many of them, they make our economy work.

Today, then, let us pause to reflect on the real greatness of America: those who provide the labor that is the foundation of any economy.

Parades and backyard gatherings are in order today to celebrate the work we do to keep America moving forward. We do have the strongest, smartest, most well-educated and trained, and diligent workforce in the world. It is good news that there is room for improvement and we know so very well that we are capable of making those gains.

For those who have the day off, it will be back to the job tomorrow. But for today, enjoy the break – and don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back.

You earned it.