Michael Moore's Sicko revisits the poor state of the American health care system.
My wife, son, and I went to see Michael Moore's Sicko last weekend. While I have generally agreed with most of Moore's positions over the years, I have not been a fan of his modus operandi. His prior films have depended largely on cheap shot humor and guerrilla or predatory journalism. While Sicko includes some of that, overall it depends far less on those tactics than Moore's prior work.…
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176 - vivian
I'm Canadian and we have in our family made extensive use of the Canadian health care and it is BETTER than portrayed in the Sicko film. A lot better. The cardiologist still calls my husband two years after his heart attack to see how he is doing. The oncologist who treated his cancer 3 years ago still sees him every 6 months free of charge.
But after seeing the film, I would like to be in France where not only is dental and health care socialized, but the bachelor degree is paid by the state. We paid in Canada over $400,000 to bring our child to the Ph.D. level.
Moore is right. We live in fear because of Bush and his gang.
177 - Baritone
Vivian,
Sorry I didn't respond to your comment. I didn't know you had made it.
It's good to hear from someone having first hand knowledge of a national health care system. It's great to hear that your husband has received good and timely care.
Yes, I agree with you about France. Personally, I agreed with the French concerning our incursion into Iraq. I'm sure there is a downside to living there. Nothing we humans endeavor to accomplish is ever perfect.
My wife and I have 2 boys who went through college. Fortunately, they both got good scholarships and other financial aid which didn't cover all of their expenses, but at least it reduced the amount that we had to contribute. Unfortunately, a significant portion of their financial aid was in the form of various loans, and they are still looming out there on the horizon.
Thanks again for your comment.
Baritone
178 - bosco62a
What's wrong with American Healthcare is that you have one for the rich, and one for everybody else. The rich have the option of alternative medicine. Alternative doctors can be licensed just like allopathic doctors. The problem with alternative doctors is that they don't ALWAYS try to solve problems with prescription medicines. This means that the pharmaceutical industry can't make as much money. Alternative medicine can solve many problems by a change in diet or herbal medicines. Herbal medicines are far cheaper than prescription medicines because they can't be patented. I am not talking about prescription medicine co-pay. I am talking about the full cost, of meds, to the insurance companies. Allopathic medicine will use any lame excuse to persuade people that alternative medicine must work because of the placebo effect. If your health problems disappear, without side effects, in a safe manner (like diet), is it always crucial, that it is proven, that certain alternative practices are not placebo? It is always important to the pharmaceutical industry because they can lose money. American healthcare is mostly about managing sicknesses and suppressing symptoms. If they got rid of the root causes of sicknesses, there wouldn't be any more money to be made. They don't care about giving you the BEST healthcare, only healthcare that is "good enough" and makes money.
179 - Baritone
bosco,
First, thanks for the comment. I'm surprised you found this post buried as it must have been by time.
I think you struck on a very important point - that of the kind of health care that the system really wants to provide. They don't want it to be too good. Sick people are money in the health care system's pocket. It we didn't become ill, what would happen to their jobs? Where would be the profit in creating drugs or other therapies that prevented or absolutely cured disease? This view is very cynical, but not, perhaps, without merit.
As I and some others commenting here have noted, money is the root of most of the evils of the current U.S. health care system. Take profit out of the equation, and perhaps the result would ultimately be better, more ethical and accessable health care for all.
B-tone
180 - cj and family
I watched the movie tonight, and feel really humbled by it. This feeling is also accompanied by a bit of anger, disappointment, a bit of feeling duped, let down, and kind of an expected sadness, if you will. I have been fortunate to have health care, and have been fortunate to not have any serious ailments or illnesses. I hope to not have to ever experience anything like any of the stories on this film.
I have heard a few bad stories, one being a friend’s roommate/landlord. She apparently has had a bit of terrible luck with a huge, and unexpected, hospital bill. I don't know if she had "good health care", or if she just had "bad luck". Either way she has had difficulty paying rent due to paying some pretty intense hospital bills.
The one thing I will have to disagree with you on is your place of relocation - I would much rather prefer the UK, than Canada. I am not leaving anytime soon, nor turning my back on this country, but have always enjoyed the country and it's people, and the health care benefit is another great quality of the country. Also, I have witnessed the beauty of their health care first hand. Me, my friend, and another friend were in our hotel room, in London, and our friend seemed to break her foot. We called down to the front desk, and they called an ambulance, which was there in like 10 minutes. They were helpful, and took her to the hospital, where we met up with her. She had x-rays taken and an initial cast applied to her foot and lower leg, and she went back a few days later to get a new cast put on. We were shocked/surprised to hear that there was no cost to her at all. A foreigner who, by her own stupidness, received timely medical treatment - for free.
So, I am definitely glad that I got to see this film, and will make sure to pass it along to a few friends who I know would enjoy it.