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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: i-node who wrote (258733)	11/7/2005 10:39:01 AM
From: Road Walker	Respond to of 1573211

re: Why, hell yes. Glad to see you concur with Krugman on the problem. But you don't offer a solution as Krugman does... The funny thing is that the solution - national health insurance, available to everyone - is obvious. But to see the obvious we'll have to overcome pride - the unwarranted belief that America has nothing to learn from other countries - and prejudice - the equally unwarranted belief, driven by ideology, that private insurance is more efficient than public insurance. Let's start with the fact that America's health care system spends more, for worse results, than that of any other advanced country. In 2002 the United States spent $5,267 per person on health care. Canada spent $2,931; Germany spent $2,817; Britain spent only $2,160. Yet the United States has lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality than any of these countries. John

To: i-node who wrote (258733)	11/7/2005 11:05:26 AM
From: Alighieri	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1573211

Why, hell yes. Because the freaking unions have decimated the American automobile industry. These companies are both in horrible financial condition as a result of massive payments they have to make for essentially unskilled laborers. And that's BEFORE the billions spent on their healthcare. The American auto industry has become totally uncompetitive as a result of the damned unions. You can't build enough Silverado trucks to pay the healthcare of every GM employee. Sure, American car makers are burdened with legacy costs, but to blame unions for all of their problems is to deny the failure of management to bring these companies in the forefront of technology and quality. Detroit has consistently designed inferior cars, and built lesser quality in them. The American consumer has choices and is not stupid. Al

To: i-node who wrote (258733)	11/7/2005 4:23:17 PM
From: tejek	Respond to of 1573211

General Motors is reducing retirees' medical benefits. Delphi has declared bankruptcy, and will probably reduce workers' benefits as well as their wages. Why, hell yes. Because the freaking unions have decimated the American automobile industry. Huh? What are you telling us? That GM's woes having nothing to do with the crap they call cars? GM's corporate culture stinks. Don't blame their problems on the unions....blame it on the Republicans who occupy GM offices on the top floors of their corporate headquarter's building. ted