Federal policies aren’t the answer to ‘gender pay gap’
The opinion of the editor in the April 15 edition of the Maryland Independent [“Equal Pay Day underscores chronic gap”] was that there is a chronic pay gap between the sexes. The editor suggested the solution is national policies “... like wage subsidies, early-childhood education and safe and affordable day care to help strengthen households in general.” National policies, of course, mean more federal intervention in the lives of people.
It is a false assumption and, indeed, a major mistake to think government can solve all the problems of society by passing more legislation. The Great Society initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson has been a miserable failure, even though hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent. We have today a higher percentage of people on the government dole than ever before in U.S. history.
I suggest the responsibility for much of society’s dependence on government assistance can be attributed to policies enacted by liberal legislators. They want a portion of the voting public to remain beholden to the government. And they are increasing this dependence by allowing the unchecked entrance of illegal immigrants into the U.S.
There are many societal problems; however, government is not the solution. Gloria Hawkins, in a recent letter to the editor, identified the problem in one word: “ignorance” [“Ignorance is destroying America,” March 25, The Calvert Recorder]. People are ignorant about so many fundamentally important things. When it comes to our nation, ignorance about our nation’s founding, our Founding Fathers, our Constitution, our political process, what each political party stands for, etc., jeopardizes our very existence.
There is no excuse to be uninformed in our society, where resources are available to everyone to research and identify the truth on any issue. In fact, it is our responsibility and duty as citizens to be cognizant of truth. It has been rightly said, “The truth shall set you free.”
Our nation was not established by government. It was not built by legislation. It was built on freedom by moral and religious people working hard day after day to achieve their dreams. Government can legislate, but legislation cannot bring about the fulfillment of dreams. There are things in this life that people must do for themselves.
History is a wonderful subject, and it provides invaluable lessons for those who take the time to study and learn from it. History teaches us that socialism and communism both fail to bring economic and social equality to the masses. Instead, they enslave the common people to a ruling class. Our nation is not perfect, but it gives everyone the freedom and opportunity to achieve.
Finally, to address the chronic pay gap between the sexes — I believe it is a myth. It is also difficult, if not impossible, for some people to acknowledge and admit that we are male and female and will never be equal.
It is far better to educate one’s self to the truth by diligent research before making judgments and decisions. Remove the ignorance and uncover the truth behind this great nation we live in. Ignorance of the truth will almost always produce the wrong result.
Donald E. Strawser, Huntingtown