I've been working as a contractor for the last year and a half, so I speak from experience, but only anecdotally. Regarding the notion that the flexibility of a

I've been working as a contractor for the last year and a half, so I speak from experience, but only anecdotally. Regarding the notion that the flexibility of a contracting position might cause stress for those w/ children, I've found the opposite to be the case. When my child is sick, I simply take a day off and don't bill for that day. I don't worry about sick days at all. This sort of flexibility is a huge plus at this point in my life. If you have a spouse who is employed and you can gain health coverage for him/her, and if this sort of child care flexibility is important to you (because, say, your toddler gets sick all the time), then working as a contractor can make sense. At the same time, I generally agree with you regarding the precedent it sets in the aggregate. I also realize that the case I've described is somewhat special.