Health Insurance for RPT's?

[david at davidandersenpianos.com]

Mark, this is so right on the money----thanks so much for your clarity in
the face of some partial, initally knee-jerk reactions, which I'm
certainly guilty of at times.  Let's calm down and talk like adults. 
We're all literally in the same boat; let's quit acting like we're not,
and attempt a real dialogue.  IMO, this is deeply piano-related, piano
busines-related, and piano community-related.  So there.
Thanks, Mark.

David Andersen


> Dean, this is not about supporting people in self-destructive
> lifestyles. It is about fairness in taxation, and aggregate buying power
> for trade associations. Do you prefer to pay self-employment tax (15.3%)
> on the money you spend for health care? No corporation, including
> insurance companies, pays that tax. For them, health care costs are
> deductible as a business expense. I resent having to pay for my health
> insurance costs out of after-tax dollars. I support legislation to
> correct this unfair situation, and I would think that, if you pay income
> tax, you would agree.
>
> Two, allowing associations such as PTG to access health coverage at
> group rates, which are otherwise not available to its members acting
> individually, is nowhere close to demanding free health care - it merely
> allows trade groups to buy in bulk, the same as larger individual
> businesses and corporations have always been able to do. Strength in
> numbers, you know?
>
> -Mark Schecter
> Oakland, CA
>
> PS I apologize to any and all who might feel this is off-topic for this
> list. My only intention is to bring pending legislation to the attention
> of American technicians who might feel it is relevant to their lives,
> and thus want to support or oppose it. Thank you for your tolerance.
>