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Michael Moore defends 'Sicko'

Posted: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 6:12 PM by Hardball

There is one documentary film maker these days who stirs more passions than most politicians combined.  His name is Michael Moore.  And the controversial director, producer, artist and Michigan native is back with a new movie.  Today, my producer Jen Yuille and I managed to corner Michael Moore in a Capitol Hill hearing room and interview him about “Sicko." (video)  The movie argues for taking the “for profit” side of health care completely out of it while giving health insurance to every American.

Moore was wearing his trade sartorial combination:  tennis shoes, suit pants, untucked shirt, and a jacket.  But, it was a bit surprising to see him without a baseball cap.  Every time I’ve seen him before, starting with his film “Roger and Me” or “Fahrenheit 9-11,” he wears a baseball cap.

In any case, we started by asking Moore about the general criticism of his views on health care.  He joked, “I expect no criticism.”  Then he became a bit more serious.  He said, “millions of Americans have been suffering through this system, dealing with these lousy HMO’s.  You have 47 million who don’t have insurance.  I think there will be a groundswell of support to fix this very broken system.”

In part of his film, Moore demonstrates how part of the system is broken through his own visit to Cuba.  In Moore’s unique style, he brought along rescue workers from 9-11 who are now suffering from health problems.  Together, Moore and his entourage tried to walk into the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility.   They were turned away, of course.  But not before Moore was able to make a point about the health care offered to suspected terrorists that is not available to many Americans.  Some conservatives have suggested that Moore should be “jailed” for his trip to Cuba.  When we asked Moore about that he said, “the Bush administration provides free dental, free eye care, and free medical for all of the people who were accused of being involved in plotting 9-11.  The people who ran down to ground zero to save lives don’t have health care.  I think that is a travesty.”

A few weeks ago, potential GOP presidential candidate Fred Thompson criticized Moore for going to Cuba.  Moore replied that Thompson was helping Cuba even more by “smoking Cuban cigars.”  Thompson then filmed a you tube video with a cigar in hand and suggested that Moore belonged in a “mental institution” just like one that a Cuban film maker was thrown in by dictator Fidel Castro.  We asked Moore about Thompson’s latest shot... and Moore fired back.  Moore said, “he (Thompson) is one of my favorite TV actors and I can’t wait to see the next video.”

Michael Moore—whether you love him or hate him, he is always interesting.  And if nothing else, his new film “Sicko” will be incredibly provocative.  The movie opens across the country next week.  Tonight, he has much of official Washington showing up for a special screening at our most famous D.C. theatre—the Uptown.  Moore has invited health care lobbyists to attend... think any will show?

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While I will take what he has to say with a grain of salt, health care is a major issues in America and the world. This is one issue that just should not be ignored. The right to health and life supercede any political/business profiteering. Health care should be universal, considering how much out government wastes on other things. The Borgen Project states that the war in Iraq has cost $340 billion and the militray budget this year is $522 billion. The government cannot say that there isn't enough funding.
The persistent Moore haters are going to find it harder & harder to maintain the stratospheric level of animosity they've cultivated against this man once word gets out about Sicko - his latest documentary.  Most likely they will seize upon the inevitable errors in the film and use them to demonize the whole documentary.  Unfortunately, having problems with a health care provider is almost pandemic these days and you have to search far and wide to find a person who doesn't think a change in our awful immoral health care system is needed.  When the system allows a toddler with a fever to go into cardiac arrest & die because she was brought to the wrong emergency room, something is deeply flawed and it's obvious to all but the most die-hard Moore hater.
Thank God for Michael Moore. I have great respect for him. I will be first in line next week for Sicko. I am a small business owner and what frightens me is what I don't know about my policy. I will be reading it word for word in the next month.
Love or hate Michael Moore, the one thing that can’t be denied is that he’s right! The health care system in this country is broken and it’s a travesty that needs to be fixed! That third world countries and even those accused of terrorism at Gitmo have better health care than tens of thousands of American’s is a national disgrace. I can’t wait to see this movie!
It's a mystery to those of us outside the US that anyone should be surprised at criticism of your health care system. It's terrific for those with money, abysmal for those without. Is that the American way? Any traveller knows that, if visiting the US, he should double or treble his insurance. Doesn't that say something? Everybody should be listening to Michael Moore, even though he's stating the obvious.
I think Michael MOore is courageous.  He brings up topics that many Politicians (particularly Republican, but also Democtrats) do not want to embrace.  It is a travesty of just of justice that American citizens have to spend so much money on Health Care (yet Republicans say "we don't want to pay for everyone! Everyone should pull his/her own weight!)...well, I have news for them....EVERYONE is already paying!  It actually would be more morally and financially sound to embrace a nationwide Health Care program that relives Americans of this burden.  The other issues Americans face which are really awful are Education costs (I'd rather pay a little more in taxes for continuing Education for a family than mortgage my home like Most Middle Americans are forced to do! Who can afford these college costs?  Only the wealthy or the poor - the much larger middle group gets squeezed and ignored...the sad part is they allow it and some even say "we are conservative!  Well, that conservatism and doing it yourself mentality has not benefited many middle Americans who mortgage homes and have little to no vacation time (the other big issue) compared to other large industrialized nations...this adds to the divorce rate and obesity because people are too overworked and exhausted to take care of their families or themselves!  Wake up Middle America!  Lou Dobbs is an advocate on these issues....and has been for years.  The only other person who brings up these realities is Michael Moore.  So give Mr. Moore credit where it is due.  America is a great country!  Let's do the right thing by the beleagered middle class - the bedrock of the nation.  Thanks.
Hey!  I know he's too smart to do it but it's an idea!  "Machael Moore for President"
This is the guy who said "Repeat after me, there is no terrorism" this is the guy who marched for better care of the Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Now he blames the Adminstration for providing the services which he and his fellow morons.org demanded???

And we need to take him seriously?
This bit of empty blogispherics added absolutely nothing to understanding the health-care crisis in America or Michael Moore's film, which I've already viewed in excerpts on the net.  You're more interested in personality than argument, opinion than fact, what Michael Moore was wearing in Congress than to what he was saying.  Maybe you'd do better schmoozing with Donald Trump at one of his beauty pageants.  You and your cheesy profession are part of the problem, dude, certainly not the solution.  Love him or hate him?  This is not an invitation to think, but rather an excuse to keep the game of trivial pursuit from never ending.  So if it takes a fat guy in sneakers to cut through the stage set of schlock media theater - so be it.
Healthcare is the bureaucracy behind medicine. Medicine is a commodity; it is a scarce good. A scarce good can never be free.
I'm a person who has enough money to retire but can't get health insurance.  I don't qualify for medicare.  I have a disease that only occasionally has required me to seek care over the last 30 years.  But because it is under the classification of "Kidney Disease" I get denied from the health insurers.  So I have to continue to work to receive health insurance. State Insurance is currently "full" so I can't get ith through that means either.  Even if I could there is no way to budget what it will cost in 10 - 15 years.  No one is addressing this type of scenario.  
hmo's and pharma companies rake in billions and cancer patients can't receive care unless they go bankrupt. something is very wrong in the US.
This is a perfect subject for Moore to make a movie about. Parade out a bunch of genuinely sick people who have a beef with the health care industry and let them blast everyone associated with it. This is perfect for Moore because he knows full well that the Healthcare industy is bound by HIPPA laws and can not say a thing about any of the people that appear in the film, therefore they can not defend themselves or contradict any of the propoganda that he is pushing. No one can accuse him of being stupid!
It is true we have millions of uninsured people in the US.  The fact is that we have the best health care in the world.  To say that third world countries have a better system is just plan silly.  They may have access to care but what level of care will they actually receive.  We have state of the art equipment, the best doctors, and medication for almost anything.  These things are all very expensive.  Unfortunately, there are also millions of people who could afford coverage who simply rely on the system to provide them with medical care.  Where else in the world can you walk into any facility with no insurance and no money and still receive care?  Even if you are not a legal US citizen.  True.  The system needs some tweaking, but never forget we still have the best care available in the world!
Moore, and many of us in healthcare have suggestions to save the system:

1. Tort reform

2. Mandatory Arbitration

3. HR-676...this legislation will transition from our current For-Profit companies to a single payor program.

We provide for our illegal immigrants with kindness and superb care...now it is time for us to provide the same to all citizens.
Let's all take our focus off the man behind the film and look at the real issue for a minute: The health care system in the United States isn't working for everyone's  best interests and it's a lousy system. This great nation once joined the space race, it spared not a single dime and all the best resources and talent were spent so that we could reach the moon. But when it comes to health care, the United States spend twice as much (GDP) as any developing nation for health care needs and it is still ranked just at #37, barely ahead of Slovenia and right behind Costa Rica! There truly is something wrong with this right??? It's time to stop thinking about how we should "shoot or praise" the messenger of this serious issue and act together on a rational solution without leaving it up to the greedy, power hungry and/or social elite to decide for us. I hear California is leading the way with a solution that will hopefully be an example to the nation - google it, 'SB 840 California'.
I have two adult daughters with children who are struggling with insane health care insurance cost and issues while trying to educate themselves and better their lives. In my own family I have a child who was forced into bankruptcy because of one emergency room visit while working a minimum wage job and another who wants to finish her degree to become a math school teacher but can't because COBRA benefit costs are prohibitive. The latter child can't get private coverage due to a preexisting condition and her husband's small employer wants $900 a month from his paycheck to provide family coverage. She wants to leave her position as a teacher's aide to finish her degree but COBRA premiums are $850 a month since the full cost is borne by the employee. When I think of the tens of millions of additional working Americans with no health care coverage or such costly insufficient family plans as to be useless it makes me want to scream. The people in this country who believe our health care system is fine and "the greatest in the world" (I have heard this) are either deluded or insensitive, uncaring souls. Our country can't even remain competitive on the world market because the cost of our goods have to include astronomical health insurance cost. Every time right thinking Americans try to point out this elephant in the room we get shouted down by the special (money) interest groups spouting myths about "evil, Communist like" government programs like Medicare, which happens to be a very efficient and excellent government administered health care program. If Michael Moore weren't around someone  else would take his place because there are millions             of Americans who know our country needs universal health care coverage for all our citizens.
I grew up in Flint,Mi.,He was right on target in Roger and Me. I saw first hand what happened to "My Hometown". His track record speaks for itself. I feel Mr. Moore puts American's best interest at the forefront. No More Cronyism.
I met Michael Moore last week in San Francisco for a screening on the movie Sicko and I was fortunate to have the only autograph of the crowd---he signed the book "Dude, Where's My Country."  As expected, he was very well received here in the most wonderful city in the world that tries its best to take care of its own....
My health care policy costs over $600/mo. and even with it, I pay about $200/mo. more for prescriptions.  I am not sickly, either.  Just routine drugs for typical health issues affecting middle-aged and older Americans.  I consider these costs to be outrageous...it angers me that Americans go uninsured and without health care when we spend billions on a stupid Iraq disaster.  We don't have our priorities straight.  Michael Moore has the courage to take on this issue...more power to him!
More Americans should have the courage of Moore. Fred Thompson isn't American if he can't acknowledge whjat is in this film to be not only factual but horrific. I'm sure most saw the story the other day of a woman that died in the  emergency room of a city hospital because 911 wouldn't take her to another facility when even bystanders proclaimed to 911 operators that this woman was in trouble. Although this example isn't as on point asa let's say the US ranking 37th in infant mortality amoung westernalized nations; this by itself is enough to make you ask what the hell is going on in America? Our supposedly democratically elected officials are oblivious and most are in the pockets of corporations, pharmacueticals and military industrialists. Sicko is only the icing on the cake folks, we're done here, the experiment has failed and done so miserably I might add. You may not see it yet but, for the few educated souls in this country that have gone beyond that taught to us in our backward public school systems, we can read the writing on the wall. Without a 1789 moment here in America this country is lost. Sicko might not put us in the streets yet, but, it's coming and if Americans don't take up a show of force to turn this oligarchy around in a big way then we are done. Might as well kiss our collective asses goodbye. Wake up america!
I was fortunate enought to see 3/4 of Sicko before the plug was pulled on YouTube. Michael Moore is an authentic American Hero!
It is amazing what money can do, it can improve life or destroy it, a government can use taxes to provide decent medical care for its citizens or make weapons to inflict death.

I am happy and thankful to live in country that gives top priority to the lives and well being of its citizenry and dedicates its military to peacekeeping missions and not force feeding democracy on others.

Pimples and blemishes aside I think the US still has one of the best medical systems in the world.  Could it cover more people?  Certainly!   Is it headed for a crisis?  Probably.  I think the idea that the solution is Universal health care, administered by the government, is in error.  Having lived for several years in countries with socialized medicine (England and New Zealand) I saw first had the mediocre level of care that comes out of such “full coverage” government run bureaucracies.  A couple of examples:  In England it was a child leaving the dentist office with blood streaming out of his mouth, with no alternative or accountability because the system said this was his dentist.  In New Zealand it was a friend who couldn’t get an appointment for 6 months to get a couple of bunions removed from his foot and as a result lost a good paying manufacturing job and had to go on the dole.  Please remember the suggestion is that the same people who administer the Social Security program, but don’t have the confidence in it to participate, might somehow do a better job with Universal Healthcare.  Which I’m pretty certain they would be exempt from also.  You think an HMO is Byzantine just consider the Federal Government.
I also have a problem with the numbers frequently quoted as uninsured in the US.  Again from first hand experience I know for too many it is a choice and they are playing the odds.  Several of my former co-workers, all making $50-100K per year, chose to opt out of the company sponsored insurance program to save the  $40 per pay check that was their contribution and to get the $1K the company offered for opting out.  A rough estimate in the company I worked for was probably 3-5%.   I find the lack of detail and break down for the 47 million number a bit to sensationalistic.
Which brings me to the main reason we are all here - Mr. Moore and his movies (I refuse to acknowledge any films coming out of Hollywood as documentaries since the revelation several years ago that Lemmings in fact do not commit mass suicide by running off cliffs during their yearly mass migration).  I have had a problem with his mockumentaries ever since “Roger and Me”.  Coming from a manufacturing background I probably have a deeper understanding of the shop floor dynamics that led, in part, to the decline of the US auto industry.  I found those premises and arguments sensationalistic and over simplified just as I’m sure they are in “Sicko”.  Mr. Moore is accomplishing what he wants to, he is making money.
Sorry for the length, but I felt the need to elaborate.
I'll tell you what:  Let's go ahead and get free health care to everyone!  Illegal aliens, meth-heads, freeloaders, and those freaky whiny people that hang out at Walmart twice a month, and me and the other hard working tax payers will flip the bill!  Hey, I didn't need groceries this month, anyway!
 Or, better yet, let's strong-arm pharmaceutical companies into stop gouging us to death (ultimatums work pretty good.)  Personally, prescription prices are the bulk of the problem.  Doctors visits last only so long, prescriptions go on forever.
 I still don't like Michael Moore.  Just because he pointed out something that happenes to be true doesn't give him the right to glorify someone as evil as Castro.
I am an orthopedic surgeon, and work 70+ hrs/wk, often seeing uninsured patients in the emergency setting, often gratis.  In my experience, the uninsured seek, and receive treatment, and the system absorbs and redistributes the costs. It is easy to endorse the concept of a government-run health care system when you think someone else will be paying for your care; it is an altogether different challenge to begin to imagine the details this would involve in transition, and the new problems it would create.  The 900# gorilla none of the politicians mention (nor do the celebrities or average Joes who ape the mantra of "universal health care") is ACCESS.  With a significant shortage of providers in many specialties and geographic regions, access for non-emergency care, even for the insured, is challenging now.  Imagine a scenario where perhaps 10-20% of physicians either retire or cut back work hours en-masse in response to a government takeover of the health care system.  Demand for health care services, already ballooning in an aging population, would likely explode if health care were "free." Cuts in reimbursements for physicians and other providers will necessitate cuts in their support staff, lowering the level of service provided by physicians (and possibly the quality of care), further exacerbating access problems.  Train more physicians?  Can we wait 10 years for the first of an expanded medical school enrollment to enter practice, and the 10 or more additional years it could take to make a dent in the demand? Who will go $250,000 or more in debt for a 12-15 year grueling educational experience (living at poverty level)to enter a profession of disgruntled colleagues making historically low wages for the profession?

No sane person would argue that there are not problems to solve in the current financing of health care in the U.S.  It is important to remember that "universal health care" does not equate to acceptable access to health care, and insurance is not worth much without reasonable access to health care providers.  Any reform must make it more attractive to practice medicine, so as to retain as much of the current workforce as possible, while making a career in medicine something bright young students will find interesting and financially feasible.  It is hard to imagine how a government run system would accomplish this, given the low opinion the vast majority of physicians have for the government's current ventures in healthcare in Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA system.  

Change is constant, and desirable if it represents progress.  Reform, maybe, but let us be thoughtful, rational and careful in our consideration of the overall effects of the ideas placed before us.  A careless rush into an ill-planned government takeover of our health care system could have devastating effects on access that could take decades to overcome.  Could Uncle Sam run the health care system without ruining it?  Perhaps, but I remain skeptical.
In India a couple of years ago I was gored by a bull. A hospital treated me by performing a scan, draining the haematoma, giving me shots, and providing medications. Total cost: US$40.

In the US last year my doctor ordered a PSA test. My HBO rejected the $115 claim. "Sicko" describes a for-profit medical industry that is truly sick.
"if you think our health care system is expensive, wait until it's free." - P.J. O'rourke

My vote, hate him.
I feel the same way about this films as I do about all the other "celebraties" preaching about how my tax dollars should be spent.  How much of his fortune does he willingly give to provide health care for those people without.  If these people spent their own millions on causes like this instead of trying to take my money I would be more understanding.
Match point, Davidos. That's the problem with American society, we are a society focused on trivial injustices such as reality television when we need to be looking at the panoramic picture. Is someone dressed in slacks and a suit jacket any more representative of correct findings than someone in casual schmocks? What a ridiculous assumption. Start partaking in our so-called democracy and make your opinions heard. This country is all but perfect and a country built on false and ill-conceived notions. When a reason doesn't exist for an action, we make one to suit our needs. When money doesn't exist for a war that should not, we find it. Yet, somehow, the budget in America still has no money for health care funding. And yet, somehow, our stingent upper class retains their wealth making profit off of those who that are in a sense, making bets on their own lives.
Hail to Michael Moore!  A hero to the oppressed.
In this country, the oppressed are all of those who believe they are safe and think they have good health insurance policies!!  What a sick joke.
Thank you Michael Moore--enough has not been said yet.
Michael Moore is really something. Although I have never seen any of his stuff. I find it really interesting that he can call out or criticize in his documetaries, but when someone criticizes him or his views he does'nt like it!!!
So Michael Moore is a hero all of a sudden? It's funny that everyone gets so worked up about the double-talk of politicians, and yet so many are willing to blindly endorse this dime-a-dozen  showman with a track record of hypocrisy. If he wanted to provide case for those 9/11 workers, why not do it out of his own pocket and show us what he's really made of. Instead, he takes them to Cuba illegally and lands them in hot water. Why should he care though? He's gonna get a nice big paycheck for what they did.
We are not seeing the big picture, why spend time blessing or cursing Michael Moore? Because he is an easy target. Why not question our political process or our politicians regarding our economy, our healthcare, our social security, the war, or even the conservation of the "American Way of Life". What can we do to be heard by the politicians? March on the White House and be labeled a terrorist? Will the U.S. soon have a "large sucking sound" which is honest American's leaving this great country, in search of better living elsewhere? Unfortunately, it isn't so easy to become a citizen of any other country.
Money talks and if you don't have it then you won't be heard, that is why middle America is getting it taken to them. Michael Moore is just speaking up for those that do not have money (power).  Change will happen if a profit can be made.
 "How much of his fortune does he willingly give to provide health care for those people without."
Well, in fact he handed Jim Kinefick of Moorewatch.com a check for $12,000 anonymously for his wifes heath insurance premiums.
Not that that matters really, because it's not his place to provide health care to the uninsured, only to point out our systems deficiencies.
If this documentary is the catalyst for health care reform, I wonder how many of these nay-sayers are going to decline to participate.  Crow anyone?
I have worked for insurance companies my entire life and I can say for a fact that they are making a killing at the expense of our country's health. I sat by claims adjustors that made my hairs stand on end with the conversation they were having with injured employees. Most of these adjustors never went to college yet they are the ones determining what medicines or treatment a injured or sick person should have. This is ridiculous! I go to the doctor to have the doctor advise me, not a high school graduate that knows nothing about my condition. The HMOs have taken over the medical profession. This is outrageous and this isn't even addressing the shameful profits the Insurance companies are making at our(The American People's) expense. I love my country but what has happened to it. An American like Michael Moore is being told to leave his country just because he is critizeing what has become a travesty in this country. He should be hailed as a Hero! Our politians have all become corrupt and don't care about the very people that elected them and who they are supposed to serve. Our politians aren't concerned with our health care because they get it free! And the people that really need it are denied coverage. Look at the woman that just recently died in the emergency room. She bled to death because no one would take care of her. What has become of America??? My heart is broken for my country and what its become! We used to be a compassionate country and now what we are is materialistic and cold. The ones in power no longer care for the average American person. And it looks like what we Americans vote for no longer matters.  Are we now in the decline of the "American Empire?" Sure seems like it.
Love him or Hate him. Let's face the facts. We do have better healthcare. We know our insurance is ridiculously high. If we go to the E.R. just for an headache the bill will be $1,500 and if we don't pay, it will just end up on our credit report. So why not watch the movie just to see someone else question and complain about what we already know. We do it every day. Nothing in this country will ever be free, not even water.
Michael Moore is not wacko or out there, he is just ahead of the curve.  Roger and Me took on the concepts of corporate greed and outsourcing, Bowling for Columbine took on our crazy gun laws, and 9-11 took on a war under false pretenses.  

My anecdote about the health care industry is that I had an emergency appendectomy right after I finished my undergrad.  I had been out of school for over six months was not covered and was billed by the hospital for $22,000.  I did not have my own insurance at the time.  My father luckily was able to re-add me to his insurance after a 4+ year gap, and the new bill was less than $700, of which we paid $300 or so.
"Fred Thompson isn't American if he can't acknowledge whjat is in this film to be not only factual but horrific." - Um, the film is not factual (I know people in Cuba, and my family is from there).  Moore does a disservice to the issue.  Of coourse our health care system (which includes administration and insurance compenents) needs an overhaul.  Moore's ridiculuous muckraking showmanship, with blatant falsehoods, serves only to promote his own fame and wealth.  It amazes me that seemingly intelligent people wave the flag for this guy, fall for his practical joke (on them), and fill his coffers with more profits.  I don;t think any sane person wants the federal government to be the administrative unit of our health care.  The problems need to be addressed, one by one, and fixed.  Moore doesn't want health care fixed.  His ilk never do.  It would take away things for them to make money from... your money... which is not going towards the betterment of the health care system.
I don't love him nor do I hate him. People who cause controversy make people think, at least those with intelligence to think it over and not dismiss something they do not necessarily believe in.
All this talk from Senators and Congresspersons.  They have HUGE paychecks !and! free healthcare do they not.  Even their own retirement plan. So, what do they really care, re: healthcare for the masses and Social Security.  Did the founding fathers that reall cared about freedoms and our future get all the freebies?  A small business owner or the common man, do they not work as hard o harder than politicians.  Most politicians 'work' before an election.  Its the middle class workers who can't aford the care or quailify for the reduced or free programs that suffer the most. I have been at the poverty level, I got free or reduced cost care; I have been employed and made pretty good money where I could afford healthcare for my family, now I am low to mid range 'middle class wage earner: I don't quailify for programs and I cannot afford insurance and I DO have outrageous health care bills that I can't pay for (any idea how much a prosthesis costs these days?).
I don't want a free ride, I work 40+ hours a week, but whats a person to do? If we can afford $250 hammers and toilet seats for Black OPs projects, why not $200 band-aids to care for the masses?
When did the the federal government become responsible for every Americans health? The fact is that, the more government involvement in any aspect of its citizens life, the more expensive it becomes. Average citizens were once able to afford medical expences until the feds started supplementing them. By supporting drug companies and doctors, prices have skyrocketed, until we have become dependent on the federal gov. or insurance companies. My health should be my own responsiblity and not used as a political maneuver to gain votes.      
We have universal health care in Canada and I am  happy with the service . Sure like all systems, improvements can be made, especially in wait times for special items, but everyone has access to health care. As far as cost, it cost less per capita in Canada for health care than in the United States. Why Can't the Canadian system be tried in the United States.
How can one so distrustful of the administration believe that same administration can provide healthcare to this country better than we currently get? FEMA fell on its face during Katrina, world opinion of the US is in bad shape, US citizens don't trust the president and trust congress even less, federal funding for schools or other local issues are mired in red tape, but somehow handing over health care to these same people is a good solution? It's been said insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. And by that definition Michael Moore is entirely insane.
While in my early 20's and pregnant, my husband being a brick layer/laboroer with no insurance benefits and me being a $4.25 min. wage floral designer at a shop with no benefits, I was told I needed a sonogram and it would be $350 (back in 1990 Pa.). I asked if there was a paymant plan option and the hospital doctor said "Why don't you get a job, honey.". That appalled me. A nurse told me about 'medi-cal' so I went to the state offices to apply. They told me I'd have to quit my job! I asked them, "How will I pay the rent and buy food then?" They had no answer. I ended up having to quit, move to a different state, have my son, then move back again. Making people quit their job to get medical fee help is very wrong. What happened to helping those who help themselves? Our medical system and insurance problems are poorly run and only benefit the very rich or very poor.
I hate going to the movie theater! But i can honestly say i will be there to support Mr. Moore on this film!
I would like to amend my previous post to say "thank you" to the orthopedic surgeon who posted earlier. Apparently there are those (and I'm sure you know of many more, sir) within the profession who give back as much as they can. I can only say that as one who glimpses the inside without being tied to it part and parcel, there aren't NEARLY enough like you.
I believe that Micheal Moore always has a point, it may be exaggerated or overstated, but it's valid.  This is no exception, but I must say, If we look at the cost of the war, I think the last thing we want is the government taking over healthcare, it would be nice for it to be Non Profit, which is my vote.
well after seeing the whole film on youtube I must say that this film is the best one Mike has ever done. It brought tears to my eyes the this place we live in today has become a hell hole, where the people with the most money get tax breaks like Bush himself, while we pump billons of dollars into killing iraq people. Like my friends dad told me We kill more people in the world than any other country. This is sad and I want to leave the Country as soon as I can, and I will never look back. Our people are so brainwashed by the news that is owned by the drug companys and oil companys. If we were fair to our people, killings, and most other evils would be gone. How dare we boast that we are the best, when in fact we are the worst in the world. With the blood and greed on Bush's hands, he does not care about any of us, only himself, and his money. And there is nothing we can do about it, even when more U.S people voted for Gore. Even worst than everthing is that bush is behind the 9/11 attacks, why eles would you let bin ladens famliy leave the country before the FBI could ask some questions. Bush should be Impeached, and put in Prison.
I don't think Micheal Moore is a hero, nor is he anything special in the other direction. He simply is making people THINK about things that are generally ignored. Like the fact that prisoners get 100% health care, yet many on the outside cannot get any health care because they cannot afford it. They make too much money to qualify for Medicade/Medicare, yet not enough to pay for their own policy.  I would love it if more people would pay moir attention to these issues and othrs that he brings up, because our nation does not seem to THINK as individuals anymore. And that is sad.


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