[atomicfiredoll]

My current read of the situation is similar. If you go to other countries, there are slews of small shops, even in run down areas. On top of that, in places within Asia, the malls are also open and full of regional chains. It also feels like there's such a wider variety of certain goods available, because the little bakeries are doing their own thing, while in the U.S. seemingly everybody is eating Costco danishes.

"Passive income brain" people are not the only one's trying to "build revenue engines," that same sort of talk exists in corporate America. There are already people that that own companies which are there "to generate passive income for me," right now--there's a whole class of millionaires and billionaires that don't have to work. Passive income people didn't ruin the "content quality of the entire internet" and are far from the only ones doing so. Many of these folks are likely the ones that would have owned a hardware store if America didn't ignore it's regulatory duties while preaching about how "important" small business is.

In the U.S. situation really seems to have fossilized into a few big players/platforms, and they continue to freeze up through the process of things like private equity roll-ups. There's a thread on the front page right now about Amazon's alleged price-fixing tactics, which hurt customers and small businesses. Further: Real-estate is an investment, so for most being able to pay commercial rents is a pipe dream. Healthcare is tied to employment, so people are less free to try and start something other than "on the side."

American's choose "convenience" when shopping and to put people in power that serve these large companies or their owners, not small businesses or communities. Dropshipping, creating a "sweaty startup," etc... it's all just people trying to make do within the system they're trapped in.

[lotsofpulp]

>Healthcare is tied to employment, so people are less free to try and start something other than "on the side."

It has long been easy for anyone to buy health insurance without an employer in the US. If you are self employed, you can even pay for it with pre tax income.

The problem is it costs $500 to $2,500 per month per person plus $10,000 out of pocket maximum per year, which means you need a high income to be able to afford it.

[atomicfiredoll]

I think we're saying the same thing. Most people don't necessarily [functionally] have the option (or at least don't think they do, there are sometimes ways through.)

But, public hospitals with low or no cost care exist in some of these places, and from my observation, I do currently think it's a contributing factor to why small businesses are more likely to exist. But, it's only one knob to turn.

[bawolff]

I live in canada with free health care. People are always complaining about how we are much less entrepreneurial than our southern neighbours.

Maybe free health care would help, but i think its kind of minor compared to other factors.

[circumcised]

That's a naive statement.

What do you think happens when you get sick as a self employed person? Do you think a health insurance company pays claims? Self-employed health insurance = Orwell's 1984

At least when you work for a corporation you don't have to see the truly ugly side of health insurance claim denial. Many people don't see this until their 50s/60s when they lose employer health insurance.

[lotsofpulp]

That’s a naive statement.

> Do you think a health insurance company pays claims?

Yes, see exhibit 2:

https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2025/may/...

> At least when you work for a corporation you don't have to see the truly ugly side of health insurance claim denial.

I cannot tell if I am being trolled. The only logical conclusion to this statement is you think “corporations” instruct the managed care organizations they pay to pay all claims. To which…lol.

[circumcised]

A health insurance company can easily manipulate claim stats by paying claims to doctors/healthcare companies owned/operated by the health insurance company. Essentially moving money from one subsidiary to another.

First-principles. ____

A Fortune 500 company has teams of lawyers, HR departments to ensure that a basic cholesterol blood test doesn't need to be approved or fought to be covered. When you are no longer "protected" by the corporation you are fighting on your own.

It doesn't seem like you have any real world experience dealing with health insurance companies.

[lotsofpulp]

> A health insurance company can easily manipulate claim stats by paying claims to doctors/healthcare companies owned/operated by the health insurance company. Essentially moving money from one subsidiary to another.

No, they can’t. They don’t even own hospitals, where a good portion of the spending happens. Nor do they own the medicines that are the highest profit margin item in the whole healthcare chain.

> It doesn't seem like you have any real world experience dealing with health insurance companies.

You would be wrong, but to avoid appeal to authority, you can explain why the managed care organizations are terrible investments if they deny claims willy nilly. It is one of the wonders of the modern world, all 7 publicly listed managed care organizations are simultaneously pilfering their customers and their shareholders. And they have the same insurance prices as the non profit insurers, who all have to get their prices approved by 50 different state insurance regulators.

https://totalrealreturns.com/s/CVS,ELV,UNH,MOH,VOO,CNC,HUM,C...

If the health insurance executives can pull off that kind of coordination to achieve that kind of theft, they deserve it.

> A Fortune 500 company has teams of lawyers, HR departments to ensure that a basic cholesterol blood test doesn't need to be approved or fought to be covered. When you are no longer "protected" by the corporation you are fighting on your own.

A fortune 500 company is likely self insuring. The managed care organizations wouldn’t even be affected by approving or denying the claims, the employer is the one paying. Smaller businesses are buying the same ACA compliant insurance as an individual would from healthcare.gov.

[circumcised]

Take United Healthcare for example. They own...

Optum Health: Delivers care directly to patients via local medical groups, urgent care centers, and surgical facilities. Optum Care: A major component of Optum Health, this network employs or partners with physicians across the country to provide value-based care. Optum Rx: Pharmacy care services. International: Owns and operates healthcare facilities in South America and Europe.

It's not difficult to see how a Health Insurance company with 4,000 subsidiaries could easily move money around and manipulate claim stats.

[naryJane]

While I agree with the sentiment, I need to point out your numbers are exaggerated. There are calculators available on these healthcare marketplaces. The calculator for my state shows I would owe less than $130/mo unless I earned above a particular amount ($36k IIRC). The next “bracket” would have me paying around $240/mo up to around $90k earnings IIRC.

If you were earning above six figures then your numbers may be correct but let’s be honest and not dissuade folks from doing their own research. Everyone’s goals are different.