sounds like more bulshit folklore stats coming from nowhere. BAck up the 73$ figure....I bet its more like low 20s, if even. Amazing how people here are willing to jump on unions for 15bil but are silent when it comes to crooks at aig getting what ,20x that much? BTW,management signed those contracts and has been unable to build quality and efficient cars for 30yrs. And gm's healthcare costs are a perfect reason why we should have national healthcare.Private healthcare doesnt work and is bankrupting corporations and individuals.Healthcare is the cause of 50% of bankruptcies in this country.
But why is healthcare so expensive, in a privatized is it suppose to be lower then in socialised because of competition, but that is not the case. Apparently it has also something to do with the malpractice lawsuits insurance that have to be paid. And the reason the malpractice insurance is high is because people who successfully sue get alot of money, and that's because there's no general social security in the US.
greed and corruption? how imorral is it that you live in modern country where the healthcare system can deny you service if you have "pre existing conditions"? Your life has a cost to them.If your illness is too expensive to fix they will do anything to let you die. I think i read some where that our healthcare or life expectancy ranks 37th in the world-below slovenia.
I too have seen those $73 vs. $48 labor cost/hour figures in a major publication, but I can't put my finger on it right now. However, the difference is the benefits to retirees. Base wages and benefits to the workers actually working in the plant today aren't that different.
Bighog...funny you typed this!!! I was online checking out the new 2009 F-150 XLT CrewCab 4X4 Lariat last night (while thinking about dumping one of my Audi's.....LOL!!!!!!). I have NEVER yet owned a pick up truck in my entire life (several SUV's though) as I have driven sport sedans for many years as my primary vehicle. I was recently looking at an H3 (which they are DUMPING these days) but the new F-150 looks like a better all around vehicle for my future needs.
Has nothing to do with social security and has EVERYTHING to do with our legal system which is like winning the lottery, and is designed to benefit the lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits in order to get settlements because it's cheaper for the insurance, hospital and pharma companies to settle baseless lawsuits than take them to trial. Compare to the legal system in Japan, where a) the number of lawyers is 1/1000th of the U.S., and b) their system requires the losing side to pay the other sides legal costs. Poof! There go all the lawyers running away with their frivolous lawsuits. Of course, we'll never seen meaningful reform in this country because a) the majority of congress are lawyers, and b) the tort legal industry is the primary $ suppporter to Democrats (right there with the unions).
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/wm2162.cfm UAW Workers Actually Cost the Big Three Automakers $70 an Hour Now who was saying that the $70/hour figure is made-up or that it includes retiree benefits? Please put up or shut up.
Smartest thing Congress has yet to do. No need to bail out the Auto Makers unless the Unions give in. This market is going to 6000 as needed.
I think everyone in this country should cancel their health insurance policies, put the health insurance companies out of business, so we have to chance to see national healthcare paid by tax dollars. No copays or deductibles, where one can see any doctor they want and the doctor submits the bill to a single payor, Uncle Sam. Fees would depend on the procedure of course and be fixed at the same price for all doctors.