You are herecontent / Insurance Companies at the Table, Single Payer Not
Insurance Companies at the Table, Single Payer Not
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
- Login or register to post comments
-
- Email this page
- Printer-friendly version
Tags
Can someone tell me why big guns such as Wal-mart, General Motors, Exxon, Citigroup, and the AFL-CIO are not lobbying heavily for single-payer health care?
by busting unions and eliminating healthcare as an employment benefit?
Without guaranteed health insurance my labor union would be less powerful. That is to say, with single-payer the union would lose out at the bargaining table.
EW
"EVERY gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953
Are you suggesting that your union and its membership is more important than health care as a right for all?
In this country, unions serve themselves first, workers second. Check the history. Canada has universal health care today because Canadian unions BANDED TOGETHER for the common good. On the other hand, US unions used a health benefit as a sales tool to get workers to organize, esp public workers in the 1960s. I was there. They didn't give a crap about health care as a universal right - and most don't now.
Chomsky calls our democracy "atomized." The unions' behavior regarding health coverage is a great example of it. I challenge you to get your union to back healthcare for all. I bet it won't, because of its own greed.
Now that's a sick system....
GREAT VIDEO! I'M SHARING WITH OTHERS NOW.
The question was why isn't the union for single payer. Swanson's commit opened a new venue for me. As a union supporter it had not crossed my mind that the union could use healthcare for leverage. My union keeps the pressure on the insurance companies just like they keep pressure on the corporations. I am union and proud of it and the only reason I have insurance today is because of the union ... through Obama and COBRA.
EW
"EVERY gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953
is one of the reasons almost 50 million uninsured have been left out in the cold. The union response to this is, "You uninsured should join a union so you, too, can have insurance companies control your medical care."
Your point is good, though. "I got mine. That's what really matters, and I thank my union for getting me what everyone should have." Hmmmm.
(Sorry for the paraphrasing...)
So here are your words:
"My union keeps the pressure on the insurance companies just like they keep pressure on the corporations."
Of course, unions "keep the pressure on." Good for them. What do insurance companies do when unions are successful? They COST SHIFT! I pay almost $2500 for a routine colonoscopy out of pocket. Why? I have no coverage because I cannot get into a group plan of any kind. True.
Because one American (you) gets the benefit of cost shifting while another American (me) gets the shift.
I'm a former union steward (40 years ago) who started his own very small business - in a state that does not allow small businesses to create pools of insured. I'm now old enough to get Medicare. It's heaven on earth. Everyone should have it!
You need to get your union to GO PUBLIC in support of single-payer - and that's for continuing this colliquy...
this is not about discussing unions. Your points are well taken. I am unemployed. Spend more than I take in. The problem is no work. I am facing having to pay a high premium when my COBRA runs out and medicare kicks in. (3 yrs). My point is about using healthcare as leverage. Like, for instance, government jobs all have excellent insurance policies ... take care of your own self and the hell with everybody else.
EW
"EVERY gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953
WTF?
We've made some modifications to the website, and everything is being qued for awhile. After you make a few more posts, I think it will settle down, and you won't be qued.
This is a transitional thing, so please bear with us. Thanks! :) ~Chip :)
I tried to edit my recent post by adding a word, only to have my initial post and the edited copy BOTH disappear! DRUPAL!! You have powerful medicine, mum-sab...
and did let some of my paranoia in. I imagined someone took over ADS!! It lasted a minute or so and my post showed up sometime later. Don't like being kept out from what feels like home.
Just noticed a new captcha feature below. Almost missed it.