• jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    If Republicans actually gave a shit about small businesses, they would pass Medicare for All yesterday. Healthcare being tied to employment (with orgs that offer health insurance as part of compensation) is one of the biggest barriers to entrepreneurship in the United States.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      12 hours ago

      I disagree with the specific argument, but agree with the principle.

      I think this is more palatable to Republicans:

      • require businesses to offer the cash value of any benefits a business offers if the employee refuses it
      • remove any tax benefits employers get for offering benefits, as well as any group discounts
      • make emergency care free - ambulances, ER, airlifts, etc
      • pass a negative income tax in lieu of welfare programs and Social Security - get cash up to the poverty line for no income, and the benefits drop up to some multiple of the poverty line (NIT, similar impact as UBI)
      • expand medicare for those traditional insurance won’t cover for a reasonable amount (basically caps medical costs, while keeping the market competitive)

      Basically, this preserves the private medical care system, strips any leverage companies have over you, and ensures everyone can afford it. Since unemployed people get cash, they can choose to try starting a business instead of being a wage slave if they can’t get a good job. The benefits would be low enough it would encourage people to work, but high enough that you’re not screwed if you can’t find work.

      The goal should be for everyone to afford medical care regardless of means, not to have the government in control of medical care. I think this option is more palatable to those who want less government, and it also shouldn’t impact taxes too much.

      • TexasDrunk@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I’m a one person LLC. Health insurance is my biggest expense outside of my house payment. If you extrapolate over the last three years, those are the only two things that I’ve put more money in than retirement.

    • The Picard Maneuver@piefed.worldOP
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      1 day ago

      Seriously. Think of how many people would do something amazing if they could risk a gap in their employment without losing healthcare.