Who's a hero? Some U.S. states, cities still debating hazard pay

“It’s a bad position for us to be in because you have your local government trying to pick winners and losers, if you would, or recipients and nonrecipients. And hence by default, you’re saying importance versus not important”

The US Government picks winners and losers all the time. You didn't care when billions in subsidies were given to banks or oil companies, but now that working class people deserve recognition for their extraordinary bravery in difficult circumstances, all of a sudden it's a "bad position to be in"? Get lost, idiot.

Minnesota Senate Republicans want to offer a tax-free bonus of $1,200 to about 200,000 workers who they say took on the greatest risk, such as nurses, long-term care workers, prison staff and first responders.

But House Democrats want to spread the money more widely, providing roughly $375 to about 670,000 essential workers, including low-wage food service and grocery store employees, security guards, janitors and others.

When people talk about bonuses, stimulus, handouts and subsidies; these are all the people that should be getting them.

Complain and bicker about the defense industry pork and bloated corporate welfare to political cony companies.

The US Government picks winners and losers all the time. You didn't care when billions in subsidies were given to banks or oil companies, but now that working class people deserve recognition for their extraordinary bravery in difficult circumstances, all of a sudden it's a "bad position to be in"? Get lost, idiot.

Well said! And lets not forget the 9/11 volunteer first responders and how they were left to die after they went down to help rescue people or the people of Flint Michigan where many people got sick and died or developed long term illness thanks to gov policies about water distribution.

The US gov has a habit of throwing its most vulnerable under the bus.

America has developed a culture in which everyone gets a trophy. This gets picked up by politicians who seek to stay in office by giving away money from the public till and take credit for their generosity essentially buying votes so they can stay in office.

If everyone is a hero, no one is a hero … period!

So very true. During extraordinary times such as war or during a major disaster such as a pandemic, many people do things that would in normal times be considered extraordinary. In other words, the extraordinary becomes ordinary. The hero isn’t someone who does the ordinary during extraordinary times. It’s respectable but not quite heroic. Throwing money at people for doing what there jobs says they should does more harm than good.

Or is this just your opinion?

Opinion.

Oh, ok, well I think doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, police, firefighters/EMTs et al are putting their selves on the line for the greater good, so they qualify as heroes.

Yes. I would agree.

US border patrol members are definitely heroes.

Americans use the word 'hero' incorrectly. A hero is someone who puts their own self on the line for the greater good, or for another individual.

StrangerlandToday  01:30 am JST

Americans use the word 'hero' incorrectly. A hero is someone who puts their own self on the line for the greater good, or for another individual.

Where is the evidence or proof? Any peer-reviewed studies?

Or is this just your opinion?

StrangerlandToday  02:27 am JST

Or is this just your opinion?

Opinion.

Oh, ok, well I think doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, police, firefighters/EMTs et al are putting their selves on the line for the greater good, so they qualify as heroes.

In my opinion.

If everyone is a hero, no one is a hero … period!