"I thought that having adequate health insurance and a decent wage for ALL employees was sort of basic"
Jay, iz yew sum kynd a soshulyst?
I think I only ever had two jobs that offered health insurance, at one the co-pay was exorbitant (about of 40% the take home pay), at the other (a union shop) you were eligible after 90 days CONSECUTIVE ACTIVE service, so you'd work for 89 days, then they would lay you off for a while.... Try being self-employed, then it's even worse trying to get anything. I know that there are an awful lot of people out there with either no insurance, or Medicaid green cards. Both options suck.