Steve Robinson’s opinion piece on April 11 accuses liberals of lying about pay-equality statistics, then blames those unequal pay rates on free-market forces. His points are, at best, misleading.

The American free market that he advocates is highly regulated in ways that create pay inequality. There are many different ways to correct those policies, and examples abound in Europe. Most developed countries provide national health care, paid maternity and paternity leaves, mandatory annual vacations, and affordable child care, to name just a few. All influence career choices in ways that reduce or eliminate gender pay differential by expanding choice for families.

The attempt to reduce this important and complicated discussion to nitpicking about individual statistics is facile.

Mark MacLeod

Ogunquit

Copy the Story Link

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.