The thing about employers not wanting to pay for their employees’ health care is that it exposes the absolute hollowness of the right’s thinking in several areas, like personal responsibility and the free market.
I mean, does John Schnatter think that his own Papa John’s employees are all lazy people who need to quit slacking off and get a real job? Does he think that in working for him, they are failing to take responsibility for their own lives?
Here’s how it works: when you employ someone, you take on the responsibility of paying for their basic needs. That’s the bare minimum. It’s a tautological necessity. If it’s not happening, that’s a sign that there is something seriously distorting the “free” market.
And in fact, there are many things distorting it… and one is the mental gymnastics that have taken place over the years to the point where our national discourse is so contorted that “Should people be able to afford health care?” and “Is it right to make employers pay employees a living wage?” seem like questions that can be debated.
(via whineandbeer)
