Yes, the history of tying health insurance (and thus health care, in the US) to employment is an interesting series of political compromises and deals -- and it

Yes, the history of tying health insurance (and thus health care, in the US) to employment is an interesting series of political compromises and deals -- and it has such extensive effects on day labor and the gig economy and entrepreneurism. For folks who have health conditions (mental or physical) which mean they can work intermittently, the tie between employeeship and health care is really detrimental. For entrepreneurs, the tie between being and employee and having health care is detrimental. For public health, the tie is detrimental! Rooming houses had a variety of functions. My grandfather lived in one while a young adult; he was also a butcher at the co-op grocery, and made sure to get his landlady good cuts of meat since he knew he'd benefit at meals ;) There is some interesting history, too, of how rooming houses run by Respectable Matrons facilitated the entry of young women into the labor force and the migration of labor from rural areas to the cities. Sylvia Plath might be the most famous recent writer about this... but see [1], [2]. Last, I'm very happy to see near me a lot of development with first-floor commercial and living above that. The most recent development near where I live has 5-6 floors, of which most are apartments, but street level has a pie shop, a restaurant, dry cleaner, etc etc. I am delighted! It increases our quality of life. [1] https://www.thecut.com/2015/03/why-i-live-in-an-all-women-boardinghouse.html https://www.thecut.com/2015/03/why-i-live-in-an-all-women-bo... [2] https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/02/brief-history-of-co-living-spaces/470115/ https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/02/brief-history-of-co-liv...