SiCkO - Who Will Fix The U.S. Health System

**George** · 06-25-2007, 12:57 PM

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campa...ers?pid=207718

Quote:

Former newspaper and magazine editor Michael Moore's "Sicko" is a staggeringly powerful piece of journalism -- yes, journalism, in the truest sense of what the craft can and should do. What makes the documentary on the nightmarish failure of the American health care system such effective journalism is Moore's determination not merely to meticulously illustrate what is wrong with the system -- something that has been done a thousand times by a thousand media outlets, if never quite so entertainingly -- but also his certainty that there is a solution.

I've yet to see the documentary, but it's gotten rave reviews, even by what would be considered to be more conservative news outlets and media.

I have a good friend I know only from online chat forums that is notorious for making fun of Canada. Not in a mean or prejudicial way, just a sort of tongue in cheek we're the US, we're better than you way.

He said after watching this documentary he "seriously considered moving to Canada.... seriously".

What are your thoughts on Sicko and the US health care system in general?

Personally I just don't know if socialism will fix the problem (how "agnostic" of me huh?

) but I do know that a free market capitalist health care system doesn't seem to be working either. Not everyone has the luxury of shopping for the best deal when they or their loved one is dying from a disease or injury.

**The An-Jel** · 06-25-2007, 02:47 PM

US Health care system. I didn't know that what we call Health Care could be considered a "system" but simply a profit racketeering market set up by greedy physicians!

Og · 06-25-2007, 03:45 PM

60% of all health care costs are spent on the last 6 months of the person's life.

Athren · 06-25-2007, 07:03 PM

ummm in Canada you have to wait 4 months for a emergency surgery.... the key word here is "EMERGENCY"

The def of "emergency" is A serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands >>>>>>immediate<<<<< action.

The parts they dont tell you is that Canadians coming over to the USA to get Emergency attention.

No matter what your condition is... you HAVE to wait in line.... Even if you have stage 3 cancer...it does not matter.take a number and... WAIT IN LINE

Sorry Ill take our current health system any day.

Not only that we there is no such thing as "free health care" You will be tax'ed out the wazoo and you think its bad now... ha... no thanks

IMO Mr. Moore needs to move to cuba and or Canada and stay there.

Well im done hehe

**George** · 06-26-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athren

The parts they dont tell you is that Canadians coming over to the USA to get Emergency attention.

Actually I knew all about that myself. The part you left out is, "the ones that can afford to pay for it".

The Canadians coming to the US for health care are the ones with a lot of disposable income. It's easy to come to a country and get fast service in a capitalist health care system because it's all about money.

Disclaimer: I used the word capitalist to describe our health system because that's what it is. Don't confuse that with me being anti-capitalism. I'm the biggest capitalism advocate you'll ever meet so long as it doesn't come at the expense of the well being of the less fortunate. Health wise or otherwise.

pseudonous · 06-26-2007, 11:22 AM

Removing the profit incentive from health care would probably just result in less research and practicing doctors. Socialism is never the answer. They want stricter regulation of the pharmaceutical companies. I thought we all understood that the regulations are what make medicine so expensive in this country. A better solution would be to allow more freedom to the consumers; let them buy medicine from Mexico if thats what they need to do. Everyone does not have the right to the same amount of health care it is just that simple. Our health care problem stem from over regulation and insane patent laws. It is not so much a health care problem as it is a health care symptom.

DizzyDee · 06-26-2007, 12:21 PM

I am a Canadian, and I know the system works well for most people. Even those on wait lists are prioritized by the degree of emergency. And in extreme cases, if the hospitals can't meet the needs there are public funds to send patients to facilities outside of Canada for immediate care. Perhaps not the best system, but we have a lot fewer people getting into extreme debt because they needed a life saving operation. We are not socialists, we are a democracy and our democracy decided a long time ago that access to health care is a human right, regardless of socio-economic status. It's not a perfect system but I fear the day Canada's system looks like the US system. Also, I am not against capitalism either. And I don't believe the US Health Care system's troubles are present simply because of the private market - it probably has a lot more to do with health insurance policies and companies, trying their best to not pay for required services. Just my humble opinion, from my humble canadian perspective.

By the way, I'm really looking forward to Sicko. Mostly because it looks like he's taking a few stabs at Bush and I love laughing at him.

Maximus · 08-13-2007, 08:00 PM

I don't agree with Universal Health Care, why should my taxes go to paying for abortions and bums?

Hmmmm???

I hate liberalism and that's where all this bullshit comes from.

Fend for yourself.

kjk437 · 08-13-2007, 11:02 PM

We need to cap medical liability lawsuits. No, I'm not a medical professional but I did spend a couple of years shadowing doctors, and all of them said that's the key to driving down costs.

I'm against universal health care because of the horror stories from first hand experience. I know anecdotal evidence isn't the best, but dig this:

My German teacher in high school spent a few years in Austria. One night he had a terrible bicycle accident in which he was knocked unconscious until the morning when someone found him (he fell off his bike in an alley). He was taken to the hospital with wounds all over his body and a severe concussion. He waited in the waiting room for 4 hours (this was the emergency room, mind you) with open wounds all over his body and falling in and out of consciousness. When he was admitted, the doctor patched up a couple of cuts and sent him on his way. When he was admitted to a private doctor that was competing for his money, it was realized that he needed considerable stitching all over his body along with sustained treatment for his concussion.

**The An-Jel** · 08-14-2007, 02:07 AM

You know what makes me think? What if? Now this is a what if thats all... What If... Pharmeseutical Directors and Liability Lawyers and Medical Doctors all had stock in similiar if not identical things? Wow now that would promote a... my god just maybe... a fight with people that have conflicting interests... like say um... universal health care. Doctors Deserve A Lot Of Money and So Do Teachers and So Do Scientists and Engineers... people who actually CREATE Or DO something. I think priorities in this country are wrong. Third parties, actors, and sports stars are the heroes. It doesn't take millions of dollars to thrill people. It can be done cheaper and third parties make them more expensive from what I see so far.