The unsung heroes who go to work every day are the backbone of America's economic engine. They work day and night to put food on the table, with no guarantee of returning to their families.
In a quiet little sleepy island in the middle of the Florida Keys lies Islamorada, a city built on the fishing business. What makes this island a fisherman's paradise is how it sits right on the roadway between deep sea and shallow, flats fishing. This means you have folks who can be deep see fishing within thirty minutes of the dock and on the other side of the road are miles and miles of flats teaming with tarpon and red fish.
Most of the attention on the island is focused on the luxurious yachts and the wealthy people who flock to the Keys every year to embark on fishing adventures of a lifetime or visit their grand house on the water.
But, I would like to address the profound role blue-collar folks partake in order to make the island run. There's the bait guy who gets up at 4 a.m. to catch mullets in the shallows, so, he can be at the docks by 7 a.m. to sell them to the fishing guides. Let’s not forget about the poor young woman working at the gas station, who also supplies the fried chicken. See, smart people figured out that the fishermen who stay out on the water need fried chicken because it stays fresh throughout the day. As a result, this fried-chicken selling industry sprung up to open before the boats leave for the day.
Then there are the real hero's of the island, the fishermen and their crew. Now, this group is the real working class heroes and fuel to the economic engine of the island. Without fishermen the island would die. They don't want a metal of recognition, but instead desire a fair shot at making a living and access to the Everglades. They are fathers, baseball coaches, pilots, cooks and entrepreneurs--many of them making a living doing what they love.
Fishermen don't have a 401k company or health care benefits from their employer. In fact, most of them are self-employed. They plan on having social security when they retire, that is if they are ever able to retire, and pay their fair share in taxes to help fund these programs. Fishermen don't get paid sick leave when they are down and want to stay home, and they certainly don't have vacation time benefits. And if his or her life is suddenly ended by tragedy, there is no life insurance or funeral planning assistance.
Our government and policy makers should never forget the working women and men who make our world go round and round each day. They are the true heroes of our society and the backbone of our economic infrastructure. We must have a government who will protect the rights of these workers and small entrepreneurs in each policy debate.
This blog is dedicated to Captain Brent Johnson who lost his life this month in Islamorada doing what he loved on the ocean.
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