Automakers want to dump their problems on us

By Michael C. Guilmette Jr.
Managing editor, Niles Daily Star

Originally published on Nov. 25, 2006, in the Niles Daily Star.

I read recently about how President Bush “finally” met with the heads of the Big Three automakers to discuss the problems facing the automotive industry in this country.

“Finally.”

I must say I found that amplification rather curious. Finally, in this context, implies the president has been ignoring an issue he supposedly has the power to fix. However, the problems weighing down the ailing auto industry have roots that extend back a long time, are not easily fixed and, quite frankly, are problems they have brought upon themselves.

One key issue facing the industry is the health care costs, and President Bush addressed this during the discussion.

“We’ve had a fascinating discussion about a lot of major issues that we share in common,” Bush said after the Nov. 14 meeting. “One, of course, is rising health care costs. And I assured these leaders that the government is addressing rising health care costs through a variety of initiatives that I think over time are going to make a significant difference in not only their cost, but the cost to the U.S. taxpayer, as well.”

Now, the president did not expand upon what these initiatives are, but many pundits suspect one initiative the auto industry would approve of would be for the government to take over health care coverage so they are no longer saddled with such burdensome costs.

Much of the costs the automakers incur comes not from providing these benefits to their present worker. Instead, it comes from these same benefits being extended to their retirees. Add to it the generous pension plans promised to auto industry workers, and it’s no wonder why the automakers would want to dump this cost onto the taxpayers.

Many would like to see this. Many point to the socialized health care system in Canada and long for such a program here.

Having been born a mere 500 meters from the Canadian border, I saw nothing in the Canadian health care system that makes it a desireable option here in the U.S. — but that’s another issue.

More to the point, the automakers brought their health care costs on themselves, and now they want the rest of us to bail them out. They let go too far the notion that one organization should provide all the needs of its workers.

In some circles, this is what is known as putting all your eggs in one basket.

At one time, the auto industry had a big basket, but no longer. And now, some want us to shift those costs into another basket — that basket being the government.

Providing such services should not be the role of the government. In fact, the only place the word “provide” appears in the preamble of the U.S. constitution — what we now would call a mission statement — is in the clause “provide for the common defense.”

Granted, some feel creating a social safety net is part of “promoting the general welfare,” but requiring the government to handle health care and pension costs would make that net rather cushy — and it’s one more erosion of personal responsibility.

That phrase may be offensive to some people, but the simple truth is that it is the responsibility of each able-bodied person to see that their own basic needs and those of their family are met — even if it means finding a different job.

Counting on others to provide what everyone should be providing themselves is never a good risk to take.

• Guilmette is managing editor of the Niles Daily Star. He may be contacted at mguilmette@leaderpub.com.

Copyright © 2006, Michael C. Guilmette Jr.