Obamacare has come under intense criticism for harming businesses, which will see their employee costs rise as a result of the ACA employer mandate. A recent New York Times article reported that complying with Obamacare regulations would “cost about $1 per hour per employee” for agricultural companies paying people to work in the fields. That is a big increase in the cost of doing business, an increase that will lead to some combination of higher prices and lower sales, and therefore fewer jobs.
To this terrible news I say: Hurrah! It is about time for agricultural companies—and anyone else not providing health insurance to their employees—to start paying the full price of doing business.
I am a fan of efficient markets. I believe that in most circumstances, the world is better off if people have transparent information about the price of consumer goods, and the freedom to decide whether to part with their hard earned money in order to purchase such goods. It is wonderful that I can go to the grocery store and decide whether or not I want to buy strawberries priced at $4 a pint.
One result of efficient markets, often, is that the price of goods is brought down by competition, making life better for us consumers. I’m a fan, in other words, of low prices.
But I’m also a fan of fair prices, and here is where I get bothered by companies that free ride on the nation’s healthcare system… (Read more and view comments at Forbes)