[MD] Down the road of mediocrity

[Arlo Bensinger]

Ron,

Platt is not correct. Plain and simple. Do we pay smokers more than 
non-smokers because we expect non-smokers to live (and thus work) 
longer? Should I go upstairs and ask for a raise because I changed my 
diet to cheeseburgers from salads? Or, like you correctly point out, 
should Native Americans receive more pay because they have a lower 
life expectancy?

More importantly, do we set a lower age for retirement for men than 
women? I mean, if women are expected to live/work longer, retiring at 
the same age would make that "annuity" bunk quite transparent. So we 
demand that while men can start receiving retirement/SS at, say, age 
65, women are not allowed to collect until they turn 70.

Quite simply, Ron, you are correct. It _is_ discrimination. The 
historical "justification" given to women receiving less pay has been 
their "undependability" in running off and squeezing out puppies. But 
even this is simply fabrication to justify discrimination when one 
wonders if a woman tells her company she's had a hysterectomy if they 
would up her salary. Do you think? Nope.

Women receive less because they are valued less. That's the market 
reality. Same for any salary inequities.