And that really is a priority discussion.
Universal healthcare, say Medicare for All style, does not have to mean higher taxes. And it would make a big difference to gig workers and the ones working for the likes of Walmart.
A very high percentage of Walmart employees need government assistance due to their income not actually being enough to pay the laborer what their labor costs them to deliver.
At a minimum, labor needs to exist reasonably and show up for work. Healthcare is a part of that, right along with the basics.
All of us are subsidizing labor for a few of us to put profit, or more peak profit in the bank.
The priority discussion boils down to what makes the most sense for the nation.
Do we cut back on the military industrial complex?
Maybe we decide subsidizing labor makes sense. That would also mean not shaming and blaming people who seek and obtain help from the government. Doing that is baked in right now, in that no matter what those people do, a large percentage of them will need help.
Or, we simply change nothing and yes, taxes are higher, but the national spend is lower overall. Many of us will benefit.
We could prioritize it so employers are more on the hook in various ways. Some of them will not be viable. Even if they all are, we may not have enough jobs. Government could be an employer to make sure everyone has a work opportunity that pays enough to exist and show up for work.
There are many options. Not all mean higher taxes, but all that discussion means a national priority talk also has to happen.
If we do nothing, our priority is not having people make it, exist reasonably and show up for work.
Predictably, lots of people are not making it, may do crime, are homeless, may not have health care, maybe will show up for work, if they can get it.
If our priority becomes about people existing reasonably and showing up for work, we will see that, but will have higher taxes, or back off some other things we currently make a priority.