Thank you, Fair. Nice of you to remember! (I guess I mentioned it, plus Facebook gives a notification - I'm still learning about Facebook, old lady that I am).
I think I may have mentioned this before, but I wish the pundits/experts on TV or online would make this connection: the cost of health care insurance for everyone AND the cost of health care for workers and retirees that adds $1000 or so to the cost of every U.S. car manufactured in a union shop. It is no coincidence that one reason domestic auto manufacturers are in such dire straits is that they have health care commitments to honor. Oh, I have seen plenty of "experts" spout off - before I switch the channel in disgust - that it would be great to see GM, Ford or Chrysler go into bankruptcy - for, among other reasons, the chance to BREAK THE UNIONS! Get rid of those awful, bloated contracts, which include health care insurance. But wait a minute - since when is health care insurance such a luxury, to be made available only to the most well-off, rather than to the rank-and-file union members working at an auto factory?
The point is - if affordable health care insurance was available to everyone, perhaps it wouldn't have to be included as part of the UAW contracts. Thus, the cost of domestic autos could be brought down, more on par with those produced in non-Union shops. The unions may be responsible for some things, but don't blame them for wanting their members to have health care benefits - benefits that should really be available to everyone, regardless of work status.
Welcome back to the Senate, Sen. Kennedy - hope you have better success with health care reform than your predecessors.
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