Universal Health Care would free the working class and reduce gender based

[thunder rising]

pay discrimination.

Employer Provided(?) Health insurance is the last resort of the executive class to keep the population indentured. As long as insurance is unavailable outside a set of groups, working class people will be (very) less likely to look for other employment. I have come across many instances in my life where people absolutely refuse to leave a bad situation for fear of losing that benefit. Even being thought to look for other employment may bring the "eye" of the HR dept upon you.

I suspect that the fear of going without insurance is particularly worrisome to single moms; last on that list is young single males. So, employers that are large enough to provide health insurance are able to keep a large segment of their workforce present by putting the health insurance carrot (and stick) before the employees. Since males are less likely to view the lack of health insurance as a life threatening issue they have to be enticed with money and perks; hence, pay discrimination.

What do you think?

[havocmom]

1. Seems it would also be a HUGE help to small businesses who want to keep good peeps

and big businesses who keep blaming worker pay & BENEFITS for their woes.

[Captain Hilts]

2. It would help labor mobility and relieve businesses with no specific health threats of the burden

of providing health insurance.

It will also make employing older workers more attractive. The NYT ran an article on trying to find work above the age of 45. Not easy - because employers don't want to provide healthcare for older workers.