Distributive Justice

Review this week’s lecture (excerpted below) and the ethical principles that support distributive justice.

Consider our explorations of discrimination, inequality, and economic justice. We have seen that the rich can simply flee the pandemic. We have seen that the poorest, the most vulnerable, are not only left behind in the most dangerous conditions (small, confined spaces, limited access to healthcare) they are often the ones considered ‘essential workers’, expected to go to work in the poorest-paid positions, yet put their lives and their families lives at the most risk. This is not a ‘bash the wealthy’ view, this is the reality in a pandemic world. Minimum wage workers are not allowed to shelter in place, lock out the virus, zoom to work. They are expected to stock the grocery shelves, check out the register, care for the sick, deliver the packages, cut the meat. Already living from paycheck to paycheck they are hardly in a position to quit their jobs.

You may be one of the essential workers. You may know an essential worker.

Express your feelings about the current state of distributive justice in a pandemic world.

Include the following aspects in the assignment:

·         Define distributive justice

·         If you are not an “essential worker” interview one.

·         Summarize the “essential workers” feelings about being in this category. Is the biggest risk being born by those who have the fewest resources?

·         Include your thoughts about the lack of personal protective equipment

·         Do you feel essential workers should receive hazard pay?

·         Cite any references used. Use proper grammar, sentence structure, and spelling at all times. Use your own words. Copying and pasting is not allowed.