A story yesterday in the Washington Post talked about how the idea of forming a “union” for bloggers had been tossed around at this year’s Daily Kos convention. While some media outlets took the topic and approached it more or less as a trivial matter, there was a very good underlying reason for the discussion. The reason is so that those of us who write for a living and spend way to much time with a keyboard under our pillow would be able to group together and perhaps get lower medical insurance premiums as a result. 

Blogger Kirsten Burgard, aka Bendy Girl, was quoted as saying,

“Blogging is very intense _ physically, mentally,” she said. “You’re constantly scanning for news. You’re constantly trying to come up with information that you think will mobilize your readers. In the meantime, you’re sitting at a computer and your ass is getting wider and your arm and neck and shoulder are wearing out because you’re constantly using a mouse.”

She’s right.

But this is no different from writers who have done the same thing for years. Including me. It’s just that bloggers seem to be gaining a bigger “platform” so to speak then that of your typical freelance or independent journalist.

Oh, and for those of you who wonder what this self-employed writer/editor/publisher pays these days for health insurance — with a $10,000 deductible — it’s now $931 a month. And by health insurance standards, I’m in excellent health.

You can spit that coffee out on the keyboard now if you would like.

Just make sure there’s no sugar in it.

If there is anyone out there in the airline industry paying more than I am for health insurance, please let me know.

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