Thanks DK, for opening your site to individuals and small business owners telling their stories of the effects the economic meltdown is having on them (us). I can relate, and I think it would be beneficial to see more such diaries posted on your site. I am a part owner of a small newspaper and internet service company in the Texas Hill Country. During serious downturns, Texas usually lags behind the rest of the country by one or two years. Not so now. We're in real time, and feeling it in our "Little Piece of Heaven," believe me.
Even before this juggernaut arrived, the cost for our employer based health care was spiraling through the roof. We don't have much bargaining power as we are only 11 employees and we are weighted more older than younger. We simply cannot keep up with the cost. Under present conditions, this may be the last year our company can make its generous contributions to our employees' premiums.
My Christmas wish: That President-elect Obama is able to deliver the smack down to the health care industry he promised and make health care more affordable for ALL Americans.