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I've been wondering why industry has not been screaming loudly to unburden them from the shackles of health insurance, which puts them at a competitive disadvantage internationally. And why small business, the creator of most new jobs in the country, doesn't do likewise.

Recently I had the epiphany that industry is fine the way it is with a work force in virtual slavery because of the need for health insurance. What employee can leave if they lose their family's health care? How can an employee, with any creative, entrepreneurial thoughts, afford to strike out on his or her own to create a small business if they lose their family's health care? 

I hope this legislation helps us become more competitive. But I also fear there is too little addressing the underlying costs of health care. As John Kitzhaber once said, giving health insurance to everyone only adds more deck chairs to the Titanic. But maybe it will buy us time to really and truly address the faults of the system.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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