Republicans claim this as "jobs lost." Democrats counter that these are voluntary decisions to stop working. Both sides are referring to it as "reduction in the work force, and neither side is saying what to me seems so obvious:
With unemployment still high, won't these now-open jobs simply be filled by people looking for jobs? And won't that decrease the unemployment?People can afford to stop working at jobs they don't want to keep (for various reasons); people needing jobs will take their places.
Even our most stalwart progressives at MSNBC aren't making this argument. What am I missing? This should be the lead story here.
Ralph
Here are some of the rational reasons for dropping out of the work force once affordable, private health insurance is guaranteed to everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
ReplyDelete1. Both parents have been working in order to afford health care, perhaps for an uninsurable dependent. Now one spouse can now afford to stay home with the kids.
2. Those who have delayed retiring because they were not yet eligible for Medicare and they couldn't afford to be without health insurance.
3. People who have held on to jobs they hated simple to retain health benefits.
4. A few low income people who figure that they can do just as well without the extra job income once they get subsidized health care.
5. Others who have been working more than one job without health benefits can now make ends meet with just one job.
All of these are rational choices and should not be denigrated.