Today's Inside Erie e-letter has definitely hit a nerve.

The piece offered my take on the push by Mayor Joe Sinnott to negotiate with the city's police, fire and blue collar unions. My take was simple -- the unions should consider paying a portion of their health-care costs.

A lot of readers agree with my take. A lot don't.

Of those who don't -- and many of them so far are either city employees, former city employees or their spouses -- many have made the same point.

They've pointed out -- quite correctly -- that they've had to give up other things in negotiations to protect the right to not have to pay for their premiums. I understand that point -- and respect it. But I think the time has come to consider giving in a bit on health insurance -- with the idea that they negotiate something else in return.

When employees do not have to pay anything for their health insurance, there is no check on how much they use. Because they have no skin in the game, they don't worry about making that unnecessary trip to the emergency room or ordering the brand-name drug instead of the generic.

An employee who knows he or she might have to pay more on premiums if usage goes up might think twice before using an unnecessary service.

That said, my opinion isn't the only one that counts.

I've been getting a lot of interesting -- and strongly worded -- e-mails on the topic. I'm adding some of them to the comments board with this message.

Feel free to add your thoughts to the mix, as well.