> > X shouldn't get paid more just because they have children, sick or not. > What is the moral basis for this claim? Do you also oppose welfare? Those are co

> > X shouldn't get paid more just because they have children, sick or not. > What is the moral basis for this claim? Do you also oppose welfare? Those are completely different issues and I think the above commenter is right. Kids, sickness, mortgages should be as relevant to an employer as my potential affinity for expensive cars, audio equipment or playing golf. Which is to say not at all. The employee's value to the company is the only thing matters in my opinion. Should you be paid less because you opted for cheap living space and your coworker bought a mansion he can't afford? Of course not. And don't get me wrong, I'm not indifferent to sick children - it's just that most other countries use social security systems like health care, financial child support, great public schools or welfare to deal with these issues. It is not the employer's responsibility to decide which misery is worthy to support.