> However, programs such as universal health care or legislation that is
> favorable for labor unions threaten vital interests of capitalists as
> a class - it crowds them out of some most profitable market niches or
> limits their control of the means of production. Consequently, they
> will fiercely oppose such programs - an popular demand is simply not
> enough to overcome that opposition. One needs power that will break
> the backbone of the capitalist opposition, and only government can do
> that.
I'm not sure it's about profitable niches, although of course the relevant companies will lobby to continue the practice. Other companies may in contrast decide it's economically useful, which is why we are having a debate about this in Congress. If all economic power groups were against it no politicians would be talking about it.
In fact, some true believers in capitalism actually want universal health care for efficiency reasons:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2009/0905.gruber.html
Job lock is a serious problem for our society, because one of
the bedrocks of our long-term economic success is our fluid
labor markets compared to other nations, like France and
Germany, that make it expensive and administratively burdensome
to hire new employees or to fire unproductive ones. Job lock
diminishes our international advantage in this area, since other
nations with universal health insurance coverage do not have
this problem. In addition, individuals will be less happy and
less productive in positions that they would prefer to leave but
for the loss of insurance. Employers will lose, because the
workers they retain through job lock are those who value
insurance the most, not necessarily those who are the best
long-term fit for the company.