ObamaCare is just a small part of it. There are the soon to expire tax cuts, and who knows how many tax increases that will be coming down the pike to raise revenues.
I talked with our local FedEx driver a few days ago, and he said that he may have to sell his route that he purchased, because of how FedEx is being made to jump through hoops thanks to Obamacare. Remember, the potential healthcare laws are different for businesses hiring contractors vs. direct employees.
Basically, if you only own one route, you perform all of the duties of the route yourself, and not have to hire anyone else. Many drivers do just that. Now, the independent contractors that have less than three routes are basically being forced to sell out to the other drives who can afford the initial 160K cost (per route), so that FedEx can continue to still have independent contractors. Since one driver cannot perform the work of three routes, presto, they now have to hire someone, and they become an employer, not just someone who owns a route.
My local driver scrimped and saved, bought a modest home, and lived well within his means, so that he could have the down the bank required (his home as collateral, and $40K cash) to purchase his route.
Thanks, Obamacare! Any of you DUmmies want to defend how this is helping out the "little guy" you purport to represent?
Bueller? Bueller?