General Motors pleads with unions to reduce medical costs .....

[Hieronymus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/business/economy/17auto.html?hp

Better support Universal Health Care ... it's not a problem in any country that has Universal Care.

[Maru Kitteh]

1. They should be pleading for UNIVERSAL SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE.

ETA, and instead of asking for bailout money, why not put the screws on the house and senate to join THE REST of the industrialized world and provide healthcare for our citizens, freeing industry to pay it's workers a living wage and focus on INDUSTRY.

??

[Hieronymus]

5. Yes, I'm glad you agree with my post.

[HughBeaumont]

2. You would think with all of the "health costs" this and "legacy costs" that, they would embrace UHC.

Is it really about not screwing over their fellow wealthmongers in the Insurance conglomerates? Or is it that they don't see the forest for the trees? Why aren't automakers supporting Universal Health care?

[ogneopasno]

3. Well, the unions were in talks with them about the Big Three using their clout to lobby for

single-payer health care years ago...what goes around comes around, I guess.

[silverweb]

4. We'll get UHC when corporations demand it.

The pressure is building to the point that business may well get on the bandwagon for UHC.

If it's seen as necessary for corporations to succeed it can't be socialism -- so then it'll be okay.

Let's hope the cacophony builds.

[BlooInBloo]

6. Somebody help me out here: where are GM execs on executive compensation?

[SharonAnn]

7. And where are GM execs on their own health care plans? Eh? They usually don't

like to talk about their benefits. And they are significant.

[Hieronymus]

8. I'd love to know those figures too .. no doubt, they get great coverage, like

our congress.

[exboyfil]

20. With my employer the union health care plan is so much better

than the salary plan. Except for annual physicals, my employer and I have to pay $16,500 for a family before one dollar is spent by the health care provider ($12K for premiums and $4.5K for a deductible).

I think unions will fight tooth and nail if a plan comes around to force them into some sort of common Universal Health Care. Right now they are living in the land of low copay and no portion of the premium.

It is too simple to say that the only reason that large companies don't back Universal Health Care is to preserve the profit margin for the insurance carriers. The best explanation that I have heard, and it still does not make sense is that it is a matter of differentiating them as an employer????

I am ready to sign up for a 8%/8% payroll salary for some sort of Universal plan. If the Germans can get away with 16% withholdings on their Universal plan, we should be able to as well. The trick will be for employees to get back a portion of their 8% if they already have insurance through their employer (some of the percentage is already contained in the Medicare portion though). The next issue is how good will the insurance be compared to what I already have? Will my family get decent access to doctors etc? I may have to right a $100 check each time I go to the doctor, but at least when I have an ear infection I don't have to wait a week to see one.

[GreenTea]

9. Better support Universal Health Care, absolutely!!

[no_hypocrisy]

10. GM's list of entreaties to the Union:

1. Please don't get sick.
2. Please remember to wash your hands after you use the bathroom.
3. Please try not to get hurt on the assemblyline.
4. Please don't use your salary to buy cigarettes and beer.

[deaniac21]

11. GM is going down. Maybe in the end, that will be a good thing.

[blue_onyx]

16. Oh, yeah....it will be just grand for the millions who lose jobs

It will be good for my state to lose more jobs. We've only been in recession for 8 years...what's another 10.

:eyes:

[deaniac21]

21. We can all join hands in the global community and find a better

way!:grouphug:

[FreakinDJ]

12. Why ask the Unions - Ask the Insurance Providers

Stop raping America for 30% profit margins

[GiveMeFreedom]

18. Here! Here! off with their heads!!! n/t

[Donnachaidh]

13. Note to GM -- it AIN'T the patients that set the prices

It's the patients that SUFFER due to the pricing though. THAT is never mentioned EVER.

GM should be getting behind UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE -- instead of trying to foist the problem off on thier workers. Go after the insurance companies you contracted with -- go after the HMO's who told you they would take care of these people!

[4 t 4]

15. GM can suck it go

somewhere else for the cuts- Not to the people They really suck

[PurityOfEssence]

14. Conservatives will give us socialized medicine yet

It's a global economy.

[pansypoo53219]

17. they SHOULD have been working for Gov.

single payer system health care. with them maybe harry & loise don't matter. idgits.

[defendandprotect]

19. Why don't they plead with Obama to get started on Single Payer Health Care???

Meanwhile, we've just had news that a large car dealership in our town is closing --

one of the three or four main reasons cited was the costs of employee health care.

How stupid is this industry that they didn't join the call for Single Payer ????

Evidently they didn't think that corporatism/capitalism would also bite them on the ass??!!

Let's just remove the age restrictions on Medicare and get going -- !!!