Fatal Exception's Neil McAllister writes about the no-win scenario facing today's independent programmers: "In a knowledge economy, programmers rank among our most valuable workers, yet the current legal and regulatory climate makes a career as an independent software developer virtually a dead-end prospect." Section 1706 of the 1986 Tax Reform Act, the hurdles and costs of obtaining health care for one's own family, a hostile legal climate in search of accountability for any defects in code - these harsh realities make it "easy to see why software developers would give up on entrepreneurship. For many, the risks simply don't match the potential rewards. Better to keep their heads down, not rock the boat, and hope they can hang onto their jobs until retirement."
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Member since:
2006-01-10
You don't get anywhere unless you organize and lobby.
Do you think Doctors and Lawyers and finance professionals got their exemption because the wisdom of government carefully considered all the options?
No, they lobbied. Software developers need to organize under one big umbrella that represents their interests. I'm not talking unionization. But some kind of professional body and advocate such issues.
We might wish we lived in a world without lobbying, but if you want to play tax laws 
Member since:2006-05-26
Here's the curious thing: there are enough people that are (mis)developing for a living that those that are more competent wouldn't want to be tarred and feathered with the same brush (ok, mixing metaphors for fun!) and stuck in the same boat. However, for such things as health care and health plans, yes, that's a big issue, regardless of competency level. I guess the competency thing for software developers is similar to lawyers, where > 99% of the bad ones give the good ones a bad name :p
Member since:2006-01-11
It's not about competency.
I have an incurable chronic medical condition, though it's completely controlled by a rather pricey drug (about $1K per month). Since I'm in the US, this means that I can't work as an independent consultant or even in a very small business.
Health care reform could fix this.
Member since:2005-06-29
In some states it's not as bad as you say. Some, like Washington and California, have state-supported high risk health insurance pools that accept anyone regardless of pre-existing conditions and cost hundreds per month -- less than the thousands you'd pay out of pocket otherwise.
I'm an independent software developer in the US. I have high medical expenses. I've made it work.
And yes, health care reform can't come soon enough.
Member since:
2007-07-20
Member since:2006-01-12
Member since:2007-04-29
And communists like here in Holland, but at least i got proper health care. It's around 1100 euro's a year, which is even affordable by people on welfare.
But this a social issue and not a programmers issue. As far as i can tell all other non-union workers have thesame problem.
Member since:2005-08-18
Member since:2005-06-29
Member since:2009-05-05
Member since:2005-12-21
Member since:2006-01-12
Yes but other things are. Starting business in Europe is like swimming with 100kg weight on back compared to USA. Taxes, employment costs and negative attidute are just tip of iceberg.
Member since:2009-05-22