A New Deal for American Business
No one's going to sell the idea of a single-payer health care system in this country by arguing that it would be good for the tens of millions of poor people, including the working poor, who have no health insurance.
That's their problem.
But lately there have been rumblings that a single-payer system would be good for American business as well. Well ok, now I'm listening.
The president of the United Auto Workers, who says the auto industry has lost 200,000 jobs in the last five years, makes a compelling point:
The United States spends $1.9 trillion on health care — yet 46 million people have no health insurance. Without comprehensive, universal, single-payer national health insurance, we will continue to shortchange our citizens.
Yadda-yadda-yadda. Let's cut to the good part:
And without the effective cost controls that accompany a truly universal system, we're imposing huge health care liabilities on U.S. businesses, impeding their ability to make job-creating new investments. Honda, Nissan, Toyota and BMW don't have this problem — because most of their employees and retirees are in countries where universal health insurance delivers high quality care at a much lower cost.
Bingo. That frames the argument in a way that I can understand. By overburdening American businesses, the health-care mess affects more than just a few million poor people — it affects me.
Maybe it's time to give this single-payer thing some thought.
Comments
Well I've heard this argument, and it has resurfaced since the headline layoffs. But there are also other very practical, financially sound arguments as well. We spend quite a bit already in misguided ways- without really advancing the standard of living for the uninsured.
Posted by: Lily@LoseTheNoose | February 6, 2006 09:02 PM
Right. But what I'm trying to say is that there are a great number of people who don't much care for any argument that doesn't affect them. My fictional friend Farleigh is one of them.
I don't think the Farleigh's of this world believe that single-payer is financially practical and sound. But they are more likely to understand that what's good for GM (and the rest of the auto industry) is good for America (ie, them).
Posted by: abi | February 6, 2006 09:32 PM