[lbo-talk] Question from La Botz interview on Behind the News

[Campaign for Peace and Democracy]

An important reason why corporate America doesn't get behind single payer 
national health insurance is their antipathy toward "entitlements." They 
fear, not without reason, that if people feel entitled to health care, next 
thing you know they will want to be assured of a decent pension, housing, 
etc. Beyond this, the corporations have been busy shifting costs of health 
insurance to their employees, through higher deductibles, co-payments, etc. 
-- and I'm sure we will be seeing more of that way of responding to 
increased health care costs. Finally, fewer and fewer employers offer 
health insurance, and many new jobs don't come with health benefits.

I believe the corporations may be compelled by a mobilized labor movement 
and broader  movement to endorse single payer universal healthcare -- but 
it will take a lot of pressure to get them to do it. And Obama has already 
signaled that he will try other options, based upon the private health 
insurance framework.
--Joanne Landy

  At 10:32 AM 11/26/2008 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>I was in part motivated to sign up for this list to further explore
>the question posed by Henwood to La Botz about why the big 3 auto companies
>and other industries have not advocated for a national health care plan.  In
>addition, it would seem that a national health care system would benefit
>a range of small businesses and other big ones like Walmart as well.
>
>So I wonder, is what is standing in the way purely an adherence to a
>dogmatic ideological commitment to oppose anything remotely "socialistic"?
>Setting aside of course the interests and influence of the private for
>profit insurance companies.  I would be interested in hearing peoples
>opinion on this.
>
>I also wanted to mention to Doug that I have been enjoying the mp3 files of
>your Behind the News show immensely.  I have been downloading and listening
>to the past shows as fast as I have time to listen to them.  I find your
>pre-interview commentary very useful.
>Thanks,
>Sheldon
>___________________________________
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