Is It Fair?

5/19/20

I got to watch a Senate hearing today, where Steve Mnuchin and Jerome Powell testified. A high point for me was a question by Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio. He set the stage for his question by asserting that many of our essential workers function in the lowest paid service areas. He then asked if that were fair — a gotcha question if there ever were one.

Mnuchin struck the deer-in-the-headlights pose and proceeded to thank all essential workers. Brown would have none of that and pressed Mnuchin on the question. Mnuchin tried to deflect, saying he didn’t know which workers Senator Brown was referencing. Not terribly artful.

Powell was more successful. He didn’t answer the question either, but at least he was more coherent. “All of our efforts are to do what we can to help those people and create conditions so that they’ll have the best possible chance to get back to work.” In fact, Powell is correct that his purview as the Chairman of the Fed has limited authority.

But let’s return to the question: is it fair — or right — that many of those on the front lines are among the lowest paid workers in our economy?

If posed as a yes or no question, I’d bet that few would feel comfortable claiming that, yes, it’s fine. I suppose if you believe everyone has equal opportunity and that people are freely choosing these situations over others, then maybe you might see the status quo as being fair. That supposition, however, is far from accurate.

These jobs may be the best options available, but how can it be seen as being anything but tragic that these people have no better opportunity than to work at low-paying jobs where they and their families are exposed to a virus that could potentially devastate their financial well being if not their lives. If that’s not unfair, I don’t know what is.

The problem is, Brown directed this question to the wrong audience. Whether Mnuchin or Powell see the situation as unfair is irrelevant. They’re not the ones who make the laws. Congress does. This question is critically important, but it’s one that should be asked of the American people. If the American people weigh in on this question, the choice is clear: If they believe the status quo is just fine, leave the Senate in the hands of the Republicans; but if not, throw the bums out.