Source: Hewitt Associates

While you and I argue over mandates, tax hikes, the public option and, yes, even abortion, let's keep in mind (at least for today) why we're able to do so.

Employees are bringing their financial issues to work, and it's affecting their employer's bottom line.

Average annual premiums for 2009 are on the rise, but, bucking a long-standing trend, premiums for single coverage showed only a slight increase over 2008. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation's annual national survey, conducted jointly