Thank you for keeping the wheels turning

Thank you to those who show up to work every day, whether you’re a fast-food cook or server, truck driver, mailman, retail employee, teacher, public servant or whatever.

Thank you for keeping the world around us going, despite tough odds.

And thank you for tolerating those who find it necessary to deride you when you’re working short-staffed and doing the best you can.

Thank you for your ambition and responsibility to earn a paycheck and keep the economy going, even in the current trendy environment of hunkering down at home.

The U.S. government released figures recently showing more than 4.4 million people quit their jobs in September alone. Records show that was the highest number since December 2000, and represents 3% of the labor market.

From January through September, an astonishing 34.5 million Americans quit their jobs, and most aren’t leaving for other employment.

Think about that for a minute.

Some blame fast-rising inflation, presidential policy, increasing child care costs, the COVID-19 pandemic and workplace vaccine mandates, government handouts and a myriad of other things for the problem. Regardless, it’s gotten out of hand.

At the same time, businesses have a hard time hiring new workers to provide their services. Small, locally-owned businesses struggle to keep their doors open, and nearly everywhere you look is a “help wanted” sign.

Nobody knows where this is going, but we can certainly hope the situation improves before too long.

Again, thank you to everyone who shows up every day and keeps the wheels of the big economic machine turning.

Paul Davis is the assistant editor of the Daily American Republic. Contact him at pdavis.dar@gmail.com.