Bwild: Guess the memory of the writers forgets what caught the Republican wanna be pres in the talks in TV.. small business are exempt. McCain tried to score a point with this and got wedged by the reply that small business are exempt, big businesses pay.

Guess they rely on people not having a memory.

(V): exempt from what? an excerpt from a speech means nothing to me, as I rarely commit them to memory. maybe if you were to show us the context of your meaning, it would be a little more understandable.

Bwild: exempt from paying towards healthcare costs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao5V66m5FaA

Will make it clear.

Ferris Bueller: So basically, small businesses are penalised by the current health system for being small. They may want to provide health insurance, but the cost is higher than medium/large firms pay thanks to extra charges by brokers, etc... on average 18% more per employee.

So, if small businesses have access to a greater market then the cost goes down, the % of small businesses that provide cover would be higher.. hopefully.. as the cost would be less.

Makes sense.

(V): but in the real world...thats not how it works...it forces a raise in expenditures lowering the already slim profit margins.

Bwild: ONLY if you choose to have health insurance for your employees and in the current type of market. You will not be fined for having no employee insurance, but hopefully with a BIGGER FREE market, where like with car insurance, etc you can shop around .. .. we have sites that compare the market here for you on car/home insurance, etc. .... .... and hence get cheaper insurance policies.

You at least have a viable choice, instead of no choice due to cost.

The alternative.. private health insurance as the primary health care system which has been pricing health insurance out of the range of small businesses for a long time, with no real control over pricing.

I hear that a prescription for paracetamol can cost $20 dollars via a docs... strange for something (if true) that I can buy basically anywhere for less than 50c

(V):  That's what I understand also.  More small businesses will be able to afford insurance for their workers under the new system.  Large business will pick up a lot of the tab.

Artful Dodger: I think you need something like the Tax Payers Alliance. No party allegiance, just the desire to expose government hogwash.