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I don’t disagree with you. But also, attaching benefits to employment sucks. EDIT: by benefits, I'm was intending to refer to health insurance

eganist 6y ago
> attaching benefits to employment sucks. I don't know that this is something I can agree with. Benefits as value-adds from employers stems from what's effectively collective bargaining power. This is the thing most people can't articulate about their desire for benefits tied to employment - they know how much more expensive it'll be for individuals to negotiate the same rates regardless of how much more they might make directly.
- chadash 6y ago
  Yes, in the current environment, you are in a much worse position for negotiating as an individual. But if benefits were never attached to your job, then everyone would be in the same boat and better options for individuals would emerge. Better yet, let the government take over payment.
- blahbhthrow3748 6y ago
  The most powerful collective negotiator should be the government which represents the entire population. But the Republican stance since Reagan has been that the government should be small enough to drown in a bathtub.
  - Frost1x 6y ago
    If its not small enough, they do their best to crank up the water and tie weights to the government.
- nicoffeine 6y ago
  > they know how much more expensive it'll be for individuals to negotiate the same rates regardless of how much more they might make directly I think he was referring to public health care systems. Dependence on employers for access to healthcare is the opposite of collective bargaining power. Every year, half a million Americans [1] file for bankruptcy due to medical issues. It's a lot easier to quit or switch your job when your family's financial future is not on the line. [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/this-is-the-real-reason-most-americans-file-for-bankruptcy.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/this-is-the-real-reason-most...
jon-wood 6y ago
Attaching benefits to employment is fine. What seems to exist in the US is attaching basic rights such as health care to employment, which is what makes this so fraught.

eganist 6y ago

> attaching benefits to employment sucks. I don't know that this is something I can agree with. Benefits as value-adds from employers stems from what's effectively collective bargaining power. This is the thing most people can't articulate about their desire for benefits tied to employment - they know how much more expensive it'll be for individuals to negotiate the same rates regardless of how much more they might make directly.

chadash 6y ago
Yes, in the current environment, you are in a much worse position for negotiating as an individual. But if benefits were never attached to your job, then everyone would be in the same boat and better options for individuals would emerge. Better yet, let the government take over payment.
blahbhthrow3748 6y ago
The most powerful collective negotiator should be the government which represents the entire population. But the Republican stance since Reagan has been that the government should be small enough to drown in a bathtub.
- Frost1x 6y ago
  If its not small enough, they do their best to crank up the water and tie weights to the government.
nicoffeine 6y ago
> they know how much more expensive it'll be for individuals to negotiate the same rates regardless of how much more they might make directly I think he was referring to public health care systems. Dependence on employers for access to healthcare is the opposite of collective bargaining power. Every year, half a million Americans [1] file for bankruptcy due to medical issues. It's a lot easier to quit or switch your job when your family's financial future is not on the line. [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/this-is-the-real-reason-most-americans-file-for-bankruptcy.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/this-is-the-real-reason-most...

jon-wood 6y ago

Attaching benefits to employment is fine. What seems to exist in the US is attaching basic rights such as health care to employment, which is what makes this so fraught.