Included in one of the House versions of the healthcare reform bill is a little gift to the unions. One provision includes $10 billion to pay off medical costs of union members and retirees. Section 164, a reinsurance program for retirees, sets aside $10 billion in order to set up a temporary reinsurance program "to provide reimbursement to participating employment-based plans for part of the cost of providing health benefits to retirees age 55-64 and their families ... Employment-based plans must apply to participate and be approved, and the health care plan would reimburse participating employment-based plans for 80 percent of the cost of benefits in excess of $15,000 and under $90,000." Pure pork for the Democrat's union pals.

Then we get this explanation from UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. He says, "We need meaningful health care reform if we are going to get our economy going again ... Decent, affordable health care should be a right of every American, not a privilege."

Now here's what Gettelfinger is saying. In order to receive health care someone has to provide you with a service. This means that someone has to expend time, property or both to provide you with your health care. Usually this health care provider is compensated for their time or property. But ... if, as this footstool Gettelfinger says ... healthcare is a "right," then that would mean that you are legally entitled to the healthcare provider's time and property .. and that you don't have to pay anything at all for the service? After all, we shouldn't have to buy what is rightfully ours, should we?

The claim that healthcare is a right is tantamount to a claim that you have a right to a portion of the life and property of another. Defend that one.