Traditionally this was the start of political campaigns and the end of summer vacation for school age kids. Now politics goes all year long and nearly every aspect of our lives has been politicized by the right, including how we choose to use our own bodies and what we believe or don’t believe spiritually. Kids have been in school for weeks now. No doubt the 12 month school year is probably on the horizon.

Labor is having somewhat of a resurgence, but is far from recovering from the blow delivered by the Gipper, one of America’s worst presidents ever.

Many of today’s questions will focus on labor, to remind us that labor has never had an easy row to hoe.

1) In a meeting that just came to light this week, Tea Party senate candidate Joni Ernst paid homage to who for making her campaign viable?

2) 1842 is crucial to labor history in the US. In the case Commonwealth v. Hunt settled the legality of what entity?

3) An American was killed last weekend fighting for ISIS in Syria. He had what patriotic sounding name?

4) Samuel Gompers is one of the most recognized names in Labor history. What Labor organization did Gompers head?

5) A reclassification by the Drug Enforcement Administration will make it much harder for patients to get what popular and addicting pain killer?

6) What Iowa born Labor leader was head of the mine workers union from 1920 to 1960 and helped form and the lead the CIO?

7) The largest university in Iowa welcomed over 34,000 students last week. Which university is Iowa’s largest?

8) Governor Branstad, in an odd linkage, blamed layoffs at Deere on who?

9) In 1955, a merger of major Labor unions brought together what two unions?

10) In what may become known as the “Branstad Tax” the governor proposed what to replace the gas tax?

11) A poll commissioned by two Republican groups found what demographic thought Republicans to be “stuck in the past”,”intolerant” and “lacking compassion?”

12) A proposed merger will join what Canadian fast fooder with what American fast fooder?

13) Of all the silly things to cover this week, ESPN had a segment on the after work showering habits of what person?

14) Can you name the 3 largest unions in the US based on number of members?

15) Using government powers to make sure an organization does what it says it will. What Iowa elected official wants the government to monitor the ALS foundation to verify it uses money raised by the ice bucket challenge for research?

My project for this weekend is to get all available immigration documentation about my grandparents in case Republicans win both houses. I am only 3rd generation American and I am not sure if that will be enough under their auspices. If they cut the date off at 1900, I may have a problem.

1) Charles and David Koch and the group of funders they put together.

2) unions

3) Douglas MacArthur McCain

4) American Federation of Labor (AFL).

5) Vicodin

6) John L. Lewis

7) Iowa State

8) the EPA. Odd for many reasons. Remember Joni Ernst has signed on to oppose renewable energy with Exxon.

9) AFL and the CIO

10) a sales tax on gas.

11) Women

12) Tim Horton’s (Canada) and Burger King (US). This is so Burger King can avoid US taxes. So I avoid Burger King.

13) Michael Sam, the rookie pro footballer who came out as gay.

14) The NEA, the SEIU and AFSCME

15) Charles Grassley. Look out for the Tea Party with attitudes like that, Chuck!