Happy Labor Day, America! You're the most productive workers in the world! I heard this story on NPR this morning, so I went looking for it online. Keep working, America!:

American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations, and they produce more per person over the year.

They also get more done per hour than everyone but the Norwegians, according to a U.N. report released Monday, which said the United States "leads the world in labor productivity."

The average U.S. worker produces $63,885 of wealth per year, more than their counterparts in all other countries, the International Labor Organization said in its report. Ireland comes in second at $55,986, followed by Luxembourg at $55,641, Belgium at $55,235 and France at $54,609.

The U.S. employee put in an average 1,804 hours of work in 2006, the report said. That compared with 1,407.1 hours for the Norwegian worker and 1,564.4 for the French.

So, where's my cut?

Real wages have declined since Bush seized power in 2000, and after being flat for a generation**.

Hillary? Barack? John? Any answers?*

I don't care about "the" economy. What about my economy? And those like me?

NOTE *Please don't run the "education dodge" on me, although I know the lenders would like you to.

NOTE ** In fact, real wages flattened when the VRWC was starting up in the 1970s and the Conservative ascendancy began. Coincidence? You be the judge.