When I'm contracting and have to take my own insurance into account, I estimate 1800 hours a year. $462 a month translates to $3.08 an hour. If I can't bill an extra $3.08 an hour over a full time gig, why would I contract? If I can't make more than $462 a month being self employed than I could make by being a corporate drone, why would I be self employed?

Playing devils advocate, your saying just make more money then? That doesn't seem very liberal and progressive.

I'm saying take that into account if you decide to be self employed. If you're not prepared to pay your own insurance when you decide to go out on your own, you're probably not expecting the extra 9% in self employment taxes....

I'm not a liberal or progressive - I'm a bleeding heart libertarian. For instance I don't believe in the minimum wage (libertarian) but I think the Earned Income Tax Credit should make up the difference and it should be a monthly credit so people can have a livable wage if they work (bleeding heart) and don't have a problem paying taxes if it helps people to help themselves.