"the fight by some progressive bloggers to form a labor union."

Yeah, the AP article was a little on the dramatic side. Even if the reality was as stated, I'd hardly call it a "fight", since it would be hard to imagine anyone actually trying to stop them.

I understand the point that people who promote the republican agenda have jobs in 'think tanks' and the like, and they therefore have both incomes and health insurance. I understand that 'grassroots' democratic supporters are not privy to the same types of benefits.

I understand the feeling of injustice, but trying to set up a fund to cover health care for these people is just sad and rather pathetic.

The grassroots bloggers worked hard to put democrats in congress. They did their part, and now there is a democratic majority. Instead of trying to create a fund that maybe the democratic party could donate a little money into, bloggers should DEMAND that their work be rewarded. Demand that the democrats they helped put in the majority use that power and create a single payer universal health care system that will cover anyone that has even thought about writing a blog, as well as every other person in this country.

Kucinich and Conyers have proposed it. It can be done. It will take guts and leadership. It will require our representatives hold higher their commitment to the people than to their own re-election campaign. If they take this as their duty, we the people will deem them worthy of many subsequent terms in office. If they don't, Bloggers should use their power to elect those who will.

Pssst...Dennis Kucinich is a candidate for President.

including bloggers. But the idea that they will be soliciting money from politicians to pay for their insurance is deeply, deeply creepy. Hello? The great, unique thing about independent bloggers is their independence. Please, please, please, form a group insurance fund. But get the cash from your readers, put a cap on the donation amount, and exclude people in certain industries - namely politics! - from giving you money. If you want to work for them, ask them to employ you as part of their campaign. But if you want to remain independent (read: free to criticize anyone who makes poor choices), you DON'T TAKE THEIR MONEY!

Also, it would be in your interest to help elect someone who has a good single-payer health care system. John Edwards comes to mind. But don't take any donations from the man! Help get him elected!

I think melthough has it mostly correct, IC's and SBO's of all stripes need better access to healthcare. And group insurance for members of an association (already available)is a great idea). And the minute you take money from politicians, you're subject to all sorts of limitations, criticism being just one item on the list.

BUT, single-payer is counter to the whole idea of independence and entrepreneurship. First, you're taking away the independence of all who work in the medical industry and putting them on the government payroll.

The problem with medicine in this country isn't too much independence, the problem is their isn't enough independence. Look at cosmetic surgery for an example, it's not covered by any insurance, yet somehow it's cheaper, safer and more accessible than any other form of medical care in this country, solely due to competition.

Going from a few dozen insurers in this country down to just one won't increase competition, it will eliminate competition, making medical care less accessible, less safe and more costly.

Right now, indies like myself have the independence to choose whether to buy health insurance or not. When I was younger and had huge cashflow, it didn't make sense to buy insurance, now that I'm older it makes more sense to have it.

The point is, I made that choice, just like many others who should be buying health insurance have chosen to keep themselves and their children uninsured. For the vast majority making the choice to be uninsured, that choice is NOT dictated by lack of funding or ability to work, but by poor selection of priorities.

As an indie, I'm in no position to help fund somebody else's desire to have a plasma screen TV, an Escalade or a dozen old VW's in the yard, or their desire to spend time on activism rather than productive employment.

The truly indigent in this country already have unfettered access to the best medical care in the world. The rest of us don't need to fund somebody who is too stupid to go to a doctor, clinic or emergency room

The answer is to give indies, small businesses, families and plain everyday individuals the same tax break for buying health insurance that is already available to big business.