When University of Texas economist Daniel Hamermesh released a book arguing that society may owe “ugly” people a sort of affirmative-action policy because they tend to earn less money than “beautiful” people, The New York Times gave him space to explain himself.

Is Hamermesh right? We wanted to ask ordinary Americans on the streets of Washington, D.C. Are we ready for government assistance for the unattractive? You be the judge.

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