Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins
No one in that day could possibly have foretold the enormous increases in both health care costs and retired worker lifespan. They have to pay exponentially more for health care for employees and retirees, and pay for retirees longer than ever.
In light of that, they (corporate America) now wants out of the deal. They can't afford the decision they made back in the '50's.
So, today, they are effectively inching out bit by bit, by simply not providing adequate coverage. Most folks do not have any way to fight this; we are stuck with the health plans our employers offer. The unions do, however, have the capacity and gumption to fight it. They want industry to continue to hold up their end of the bargain. In the face of that, corporate America has engaged in one of the biggest propoganda campaigns in the history of our country: they have convinced working Americans that Corporate America does not, in fact, owe them health care. Or retirement.
So who is going to scream the loudest when this whole house of cards comes crashing down? Granted, the folks with compromised health care are screaming already. For socialized health care. Eventually, they will win. Then who will be screaming the loudest? The corporations that get taxed to pay for it, exactly as proposed over 60 years ago.
It's coming full circle. The UAW only appears to be a pariah on this because they expect the Big Three to hold up their end of the bargain, made oh so many years ago. The rest of us no longer expect them to hold it up. The propoganda campaign has been that successfull...
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"Corporate America" (at least the automakers) aren't trying to convince anyone they don't owe health care or retirement obligations. That would be silly. These are written obligations, they cannot be denied.
But as you say, given the costs, they simply cannot afford it. Period. They would, I'm sure, love to be in a position to hold up their end of the bargain. But they are not. Can't get blood from a turnip.
There is no propaganda campaign necessary. They have fulfilled their obligations to the point of driving them out of business. They will continue to keep paying out all the UAW obligations until they are bankrupt.