Yet Another Reason Why US Needs Universal Healthcare

Friday, July 24, 2026

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" does not apply to nearly one in four US workers (24%) who suffer from "job lock." Approximately 23m Americans stay unhappily in their current job, even though they want to leave, because they are afraid of losing their health insurance.

Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 05:33 PM | 8 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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About 24% of U.S. employees stay in unwanted jobs just for health insurance, a report out Wednesday finds. Up significantly since 2021, the uptick in "job lock" is a concerning sign for the U.S. economy. n.pr/4gQIY5E

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-- NPR (@npr.org) 12:32 AM Â· Jul 22, 2026

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Job lock is on the rise amid broader healthcare affordability challenges. About half of Americans report difficulty consistently paying for needed medical care or prescriptions, and 51% say they are worried about their ability to afford healthcare over the next 12 months, the highest level in five years. Because of the Republican Party "BBB" and expensive health insurance premiums, many Americans are cutting back on basic necessities or opting out of the ACA (Obamacare) altogether.

But some lucky Americans receive excellent healthcare with little or no cost to them, so their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness in America is going along just fine, thanks for asking.

#1 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-07-23 02:44 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

imo, it is not "yet another reason."

There is one reason, and only one reason, why the US needs universal health care.

What is that singular reason?

Simple: It helps US citizens to stay healthy, happy and productive.

What other reason is needed?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-23 03:48 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

We can't afford it after giving billionaires massive handouts, a billion dollar ballroom, hundreds of millions for Bribe Force One, $38 billion on Iran Trumpstein files distraction, $180 billion for ICE to murder Americans, tens of millions for a reflecting pool liner, and so on and so on and so on.

It's not that the US can't afford it.

It's that the GOP doesn't care if you get sick, exhaust your life savings, lose your house and die.

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2026-07-23 08:36 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

'Always Enough Money for War' - James Talarico Speech (a la Corky's OP)

#4 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-07-23 02:53 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Most Americans are one hospital visit away from bankruptcy.

Best healthcare system in the world is a lie we're fed by the insurance industry.

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-23 03:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Yes indeed, Clownshack, and a method to perpetuate medieval serfdom -- feudalism -- on Americans in the US.

"But I must the till the land, milk the cows, and barrow the goods for Milord or else where would I go?"

Decades ago I knew someone who was quickly hired because she was pregnant out of wedlock and the boss knew her.

She was competent, but then "IK" went out on maternity leave so we picked up her workload anyway.

That's no way to run an organization, but we are channelized into this survival mode approach to life, like people in the former USSR and today's Russia.

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-07-23 03:22 PM | Reply

It's that the GOP doesn't care if you get sick, exhaust your life savings, lose your house and die.

#3 | POSTED BY NIXON

You are being too kind to them. It's worse.

They actually WANT half of America to suffer, get sick, exhaust their life savings, lose everything and hopefully die. So that they cannot resist Trumpy's evil plans any longer. Apparently.

Exhibit A:

"We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want to put them in trauma."

-Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and key architect of Project 2025

#7 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-07-24 01:01 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Prior to 1973 health insurance was non-profit.

#8 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-07-25 09:22 AM | Reply