In response to the current debate over the auto industry "bailout" proposals, I sent the following letter to the Houston Chonicle:

re:  Health Care and Detroit's "Big 3"

In the current debate over the proposed "redistribution of wealth" (also known as "bailout") from American taxpayers to Detroit's "Big 3" automakers, some commentators have suggested that if only the US had a national healthcare system then Ford, GM, and Chrysler would not be in such bad straits.  As evidence, they cite the enormous healthcare expenses they have by nature of their labor contracts.

Such a position requires ignoring two glaring facts.  The first:  if government healthcare is a prescription for successful automotive manufacturing, it would seem that we'd be overwhelmed by the abundance of French, British, and Canadian cars on the road.  This doesn't seem to be the case.  The second:  companies such as Mercedes, Toyota, and Nissan all manufacture cars in the United States yet are subject to the same lack of government healthcare as the Big 3; if healthcare were the problem, their success would seem unlikely.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith