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The Securities Exchange Commission just decided to let corporate shareholders vote on proposals to have their corporations endorse national health care. To be more specific, the vote will encourage public companies to adopt a stand in favor of "principles for comprehensive health-care reform" --- reform that would make health care "affordable to individuals and families, and affordable and sustainable for society."
How we make it happen is the $2 trillion dollar question. Major corporations killed Bill Clinton's attempt back in 1994, because they were certain that it would increase their costs. Today, however, we are competing in a world economy where all other countries spread medical costs over all taxpayers instead of just those who happen to work for companies.
Companies in foreign countries are not saddled with the brunt of medical care costs for all current and retired employees. Stockholders of our major companies are now waking up to the fact that their investments may do better if health-care costs are treated as social costs rather than those built into the cost structure of a manufactured product.
One would think that some senior executives whose bonuses and options are tied to company profits would jump at any chance to foist those health care costs off on the taxpayers --- on the "little people." This Wall Street Journal years ago pointed out that executives who do the math would clearly support national health care, but that they resist the notion for fear of being ostracized at their country clubs. (full article)
How we make it happen is the $2 trillion dollar question. Major corporations killed Bill Clinton's attempt back in 1994, because they were certain that it would increase their costs. Today, however, we are competing in a world economy where all other countries spread medical costs over all taxpayers instead of just those who happen to work for companies.
Companies in foreign countries are not saddled with the brunt of medical care costs for all current and retired employees. Stockholders of our major companies are now waking up to the fact that their investments may do better if health-care costs are treated as social costs rather than those built into the cost structure of a manufactured product.
One would think that some senior executives whose bonuses and options are tied to company profits would jump at any chance to foist those health care costs off on the taxpayers --- on the "little people." This Wall Street Journal years ago pointed out that executives who do the math would clearly support national health care, but that they resist the notion for fear of being ostracized at their country clubs. (full article)
