I must say whenever I read a title that says may or might when it comes to bad news, I just assume it is fait accompli. Furthermore I just assume the headline is nowhere near negative enough.
Why must GM’s bankruptcy and future viability be tied to nationalized healthcare? It wasn’t terribly competitive throughout most of the 90’s and certainly wasn’t in the 80’s when the Japanese starting eating our lunch. I personally feel that too much emphasis is being placed on healthcare costs, and how to continue to offer those benefits, when the realization should be it was a dumb idea to offer them and they cannot be continued.
After GM goes through a bankruptcy and has its cost structures aligned with what the market can absorb, then we could have a national debate about the costs and benefits of nationalized or employer provided care. I just don’t see these issues as being tightly linked to GM’s future, so much as its past and the unrealistic expectations that its employees and retirees have.
Josh
