American cars are really made in Ontario...know why?

[justinsb]

There are now more cars made in Ontario than in Michigan. Know why? It's not because of wages, wages here are comperable and the employees are unionized, it's not because of environmental or safety regulations - those are actually tougher here. It's because we have a strong national pension plan and universal health care so the manufacturers don't have to fork out for those benefeits. Ontario makes more cars because we are MORE socialist and progressive.


Here is one link..there are others out there

http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/gallagher219.html

[no name no slogan]

1. Ontario cars are American

...as are Mexican cars, Argentinian cars, Peruvian cars...

However, your point still makes sense. Until we have a comprehensive national health care plan, we will continue to lose jobs to countries that DO have them.

[Warpy]

2. corporations are stopping their insurance plans completely

after shifting the costs more and more heavily onto the backs of their employees. Soon we'll have a sick work force and no access to health care of any description, but by gawd, General Motors will be giving their executives bigger and bigger bonuses.

We already know we can't compete with third world countries with depressed currencies. That we can't compete with first world countries with socialized health care should be abundantly clear, too.

But our GOP true believers still think illness is a consumer decision and that anyone who can't afford huge medical bills should just crawl off and die.

[Amonester]

8. That's also one of the reasons why I say **'s regime is a

barbarian one...

And what is more damaging is, the GOP true believers apply constant political and economic "pressures" in order for neighbor countries must "reduce" the size (thus the fundings) of their social programs...

To who's benifits?

Their own, of course...

What else is new. :mad:

[Jackpine Radical]

21. What the hell do you have against barbarians?

They are hospitable to guests, generally independent-minded, kind to their children, and self-sufficient. They provide affordable health care--the shaman works on a sliding scale and will adjust his fees based on how many ponies you own.

[Captain Hilts]

3. VERY good point!

Healthcare is an unfair burdern to business. Even GM can't take advantage of economies of scale that you can on a national level.

[cthrumatrix]

20. ask shrubby what his plan is fo that?

[whistle]

4. Socialist implies that companies how do business there have....

...to pay to support those socialized services. So, it must be you who is confused. Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Canada pension is essentially social security. The premiums are deducted from every Canadian worker's pay check. The Canadian National Health Insurance program is also something that every worker has to pay into in much the same way, correct.

So, do corporations get a free ride by not paying into these plans? Do corporations doing business in Canada pay no taxes at all? The funds to run these programs must come from someplace.

[justinsb]

7. No, they pay taxes - a little higher than the states

and employees obviously pay into the pension plan, as do companies. But the overall cost of taxes+pension+health care is considerably lower here than it is in the states. Plus, because it is comprehensive health insurance - meaning that people can go for checkups, they can go when they first start to feel sick rather than waiting until it is an emergency etc., it means fewer sick days as well.

[spindoctor]

9. No, no, no....think about it....its BRILLIANT

Restructuring our (lack of) health insurance system would lower the average cost enormously.

Currently health insurance premiums are one of the biggest burdens for employers AND a major hurdle in fighting unemployment rate.

A grand social health care system would lower the cost across the board. It's a win-win situation and the debate about it needs to be framed as such.

[justinsb]

12. It's also one of the biggest costs in Health Care

more than 1/3 of the hours worked in hospitals, doctors offices and pharmacies are spent on red tape dealing with the various insurance providers, there are entire rooms dedicated to storing and filing all the various forms used. In Canada there is one insurance provider and one set of forms, most of which are handled digitally now.

[spindoctor]

5. An interesting observation and one you don't often hear

National health insurance and pension plan as a means of lowering the Cost of Business.

Hmmm....

DNC, Dr. Dean, are we paying attention here?

[ArkDem]

6. We don't have the word comperable in america. What does it

mean?

[Pryderi]

10. I believe Dean pointed out that Nat'l healthcare was pro-business during

his 2004 campaign.

[justinsb]

11. One more thing...

the Federal and provincial governments are now laying the foundations for a national child care plan that, when fully implemented will mean that every child under the age of 5 will be able to be in an affordable day care plan - this too will be attractive to companies.

[spindoctor]

13. That is one of the things that Kucinich gets ridiculed for

But you are right, in the end it all benefits society as a whole.

[justinsb]

14. Another thing which you would think would scare them off

But apparently doesn't for whatever reason - maternity leave, AND paternity leave. When a new child comes the mother and the father can each take 6 months off with full pay and benefits and an additional 6 months off at half pay (with full benefits). Even with that companies keep moving here - that health care bill must be huge.

[spindoctor]

15. Coming from Europe myself, I am still fighting a losing battle...

...to explain to Americans that 4 - 5 weeks of paid vacation actually increase productivity :)

And yes, paid maternity leave has long since been established overseas at well. For starters, it means not having to train new workers, which is far more costly than waiting for your skilled and knowledgable employee to return.

Knowledge management.

[justinsb]

16. Here we start at 4 weeks paid vacation

and it graduates the longer you are with a company. Many older workers (say 50+) esentially take the entire summer of (12 weeks or so). So people here esentially move from full time employment when they are young, gradually into full time retirement.

[lastliberalintexas]

17. I've said for years that I do not understand

why Big Business isn't by golly *demanding* universal healthcare, and I still don't. Of course I understand why Pharma and Insurance don't want it, but the rest of the economic sector? :shrug:

[Puzzler]

18. Yeah...

... I've never understood why the big US corporations don't lobby the US goverment for some form of universal healthcare. It's 100% to their benefit (with the exception of the insurance industry).

-P

[justinsb]

19. Unfortunately now that many of the insurance companies

are owned by Banks it's going to get alot tougher.