Wal-Mart Denounces Health Bill

washington post ^ | 4-7-05 | Michael Barbaro

[middie]

Health care was first negotiated by skilled unions as part of the competitive process for skilled employees by industry during WW II and thereafter. The results proved to business and industry that the work force was healthier, the collective morale was higher because the employees' familes had easier access to care and it became a business expense for the employers' contribution to premiums and co-pay.

The vast middle class enhanced its economic clout and hence the overall economy partly because of health care as an adjunct to empolment. The benefit spurred the growth of hospitals, medical schools and the number of specialized physicians. The ill-tempered suggestion that it is strictly a gift from employers is both short-sighted and wrong. Employer subsidized health care as a benefit and incentive is only a good idea, it's a sound business decision.

[ducatidds]

This whole bill and topic is just a sad case of what people without an education will work for and do.

The legislators are arguing about the wrong topic. This issue should be moot. Why in the hell would anyone work at Walmart? Walmart depends on employing not very smart people to do their grunt work.

When is working at Walmart considered a career move? Why should we even protect these workers? Who cares if these workers have health care or not? Legislators are way too late in the game. Who cares if an we create 1000+ $8 per hour jobs? This is not a solution to improving our economy.

Need to give up on this WalMart worker generation and focus on the children who can make a difference and change in their lives. Focus on education and improving the schools or for that matter force WalMart to provide an education to the people children that Walmart employs.

WalMart is in BUSINESS and will not be able to attract people to work at their stores if it truly is not a good deal for the workforce.