I don't have any of the answers in regards to health care problems out there, but one statistic from the early 1990's (when certain people where looking into universal health care) has stuck with me. At that time, of all the people in the US that had health care 25% was provided by the government (SS, Medicare, Mititary, VA etc) and the other 75% by private insurers. The cost for the 25% was about 3 times more than the cost for the other 75%.

So, I am not real keen on universal health care being provided from big brother. I don't really want to pay almost 50% more in taxes, like all the other countries that have universal health care do. I just don't think the company I work for will give me a big pay raise to help offset the tax increase.

I do feel for the HD workers. My brother works for Goodyear and they were on strike for almost 3 months in 2006. It cost him dearly, and if it wasn't for several family members giving him money to help pay the bills he would have lost almost everything. It will take him more than several years to make up for what he lost.

Tom

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)