At least in 1939 a disgusted Congress rebelled and enacted legislation barring federal workers from such political activity.

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Most productive activity was small enterprise, often family conducted and sometimes with a few other workers.

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These declines pre-date the current recession, and besides, startup activity has always held up well in past recessions as unemployed workers try entrepreneurship as a path back to prosperity.

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He thinks new nonresidential construction activity will progress much more slowly and unevenly this year, offering less demand for workers than residential.

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"We believe that there is a policy to punish union representatives for union activity and that must be changed, " said Steve Bell, of the Communication Workers' Union.

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The reason for this buzz of activity is a fear that Britain's low-skilled workers will fare worse and worse as globalisation intensifies low-wage competition.

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By a happy accident, this concentrated industrial activity in the regions where coal was readily available, and a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories.

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The proposed reforms could help spur entrepreneurial activity by increasing the incentives for talented Americans to launch their own companies, and could increase the pool of workers willing to work for small firms.

WHITEHOUSE: THE WHITE HOUSE