I’ve started watching the PBS News Hour on YouTube. My favorite part comes when they cover some money-related issue like the minimum wage. They usually have an interview panel, and it’s a total David-And-Goliath scene. The guy defending the entity with all the money and power is often late-middle aged and white. And he’s usually going up against some younger, passionate person.
Last week I watched a guy representing fast-food franchise owners try to defend pay practices that keep people impoverished. He had all sorts of dodges and deflections for his industry, including blaming Congress. He, of course, invoked Freedom. But the young woman debating him was armed to the teeth with facts. She talked about the percentage of fast food employees that require government assistance (huge). She discussed working full-time but barely being able maintain shelter. She had truth and progress on her side and was even smiling while she talked.
The guy was not smiling. He was somber and his answers were robotic. With heavy-lidded eyes, he looked like he was answering police questions for a DUI. He was there for a paycheck and was going up against a woman who was there for justice. He looked miserable.
I’m waiting for the day one of these industry-defenders totally blows it. The interviewer will ask him a question. But instead of droning out some boiler-plate industry talking-point, he’ll say what he’s actually thinking. His eyes will suddenly get glassy and he’ll zone out for a moment with a faraway look. And then he’ll blurt out “I cannot wait until the mortgage is paid off and Little Jenny is out of college so I can stop doing this garbage!”
The money’s good, but being a pawn of the powerful can’t be easy on the soul.