Are you "essential?"

In the days of Covid, your answer is critical

Any one who has worked in one of our ERs is essential. Of course that’s true. And they should be first in line for a vaccination.

But think about these past bleak days, and the people who kept the wheels turning — sometimes without proper protection, and often for small paychecks. What about the bus driver? The kid who bagged your groceries?

Maybe we should expand our definition of who is “essential” and once — just this once — let the last become first.

I wrote this column for Hearst newspapers.