The problem with this is that it screws people who don't have very high income and don't own a house. They get their taxable income jacked up, but since they don't have very high state taxes or a house the deduction may still not be higher (or just a little higher) than the standard deduction.

As a member of this group, I just seem to be getting more and more screwed, frankly. Also my university, which currently pays for my single plan health coverage, and deducts the same amount from those with a family plan, has decided that no ones health care coverage should be free because it "is not what other companies around us do". Except for the whole reason to work as a staff member at a private university IS the benefits, as the pay for comparable jobs at a) business and b) public universities is quite a bit higher. We are not certain that this will actually happen, because they have a committee and are doing a study, but I imagine it is a done deal. And what it means is that low income people are going to have to elect not to have healthcare-- I can't afford, franly, a $100 cut per month in my take-home pay

The problem with this is that it screws people who don't have very high income and don't own a house.

Which would be me. And if I have to pay taxes on my health insurance, I probably won't be keeping my health insurance because I won't be able to afford it.

Uh huh.

Oh, ita, I just realized I misrepresented my local lunch trucks to you -- the one with the curried goat and oxtail is not the one with roti -- that one's Trinidadian.

In less political news, Leif has apparently discovered sarcasm. This morning when I left a room and didn't turn off the light (he was still in the room when I left, so it wasn't empty) he out a bit latter and said "Way to leave the light on Dad".

I can't wake up. If there were a bed next to me in my cubicle, I would climb into it gratefully and not care what my coworkers thought of me.

I can't wake up.

Yeah, I hear you. At this point, I'll settle for not feeling like my brains are leaking out of my ears.

Leif has apparently discovered sarcasm.

Excellent!

My university charges for health care. I pay $120-150 a month (I disremember exactly how much, because they just raised it again). Good thing is that there's no copay though. (the majority of my care occurs at the onsite medical center) Also psych coverage is to laugh at. But at least it exists.

Excellent!

It's a good skill to develop, but it's also a little weird to get zinged by a four-year old.

Except for the whole reason to work as a staff member at a private university IS the benefits, as the pay for comparable jobs at a) business and b) public universities is quite a bit higher.

I guess I should say this is true for my local area, which has 4 public universities/colleges, and 5 private (which is sort of insane considering that Rochester is a small city)

Which would be me. And if I have to pay taxes on my health insurance, I probably won't be keeping my health insurance because I won't be able to afford it.

I think that's about everybody I know.