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by euroclydon 5195 days ago
Some people aren't in a position to take on the risk of entrepreneurship. Counting those with significant medical conditions among them doesn't strike me as abnormal.

If society is geared to reward risk takers who succeed, it seems that if society were then to eliminate a good deal of that risk, something in the arrangement would be lost.

How is universal healthcare any different to start ups than a government funded insurance policy that pays a modest amount when your startup fails?

My friend drives a nice sports car. He's outraged at the cost of dental work. He thinks dental care should be free to Americans. How is that any different that government subsidized sports cars?
2 comments
mmastrac 5195 days ago
Seriously? You can't compare a luxury item like a sports car, or a magical "government startup insurance" with medicine. Neither of those other two items realistically reduce actual pain and suffering, while providing health care universally can definitely be shown to.

I'm a Canadian and quite happy with our socialized health care. It's one of the reasons that I've been able to make the leap into entrepreneurship - I'm on my third product now. I have no pre-existing conditions, but I know that I'll receive no life-ruining bills from the government if something does change in my health situation.

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merrick 5195 days ago
The average age of a tech startup founder is 39, and a % of those have families. They should not have to risk financial ruin as a tradeoff for starting a company that could provide jobs.
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mmastrac 5195 days ago
Exactly. I'm in this position now: a single breadwinner with a child. As a Canadian, I don't risk financial ruin for any health-related issues (unless I travel to the US without health insurance, of course).

This was a big factor in me making the jump to founding a company from up here in Canada. Hiring folks with families in the USA was a huge pain for us, specifically because of the health care issues. We were paying a lot for them to extend their current health care from their previous employers, and one had the added stress of having a pregnant wife at the time we brought him over, with all the complications that brings to the health insurance story.

Hiring a fellow Canadian was basically a cakewalk.

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