So i downloaded Michael Moore’s new documentary, SiCKO last night. It’s okay. Michael Moore doesn’t mind if you pirate his films (i read that somewhere). I really suggest watching it even if you’re a Moore hater. I’d even go so far as to suggest paying to see this film! I would’ve if i could! Just like i did when i paid to see Fahrenheit 9/11 on opening day (the Bush protestors handing out anti-Bush fliers outside the cineplex made it a pretty memorable day), but local cinemas here don’t screen documentaries. Dumb.
So anyway, here’s my verdict up front: SiCKO is excellent!!
Watching this movie reminded me of a toothache i once had during my last semester in college back in Michigan. It was a fucking killer. I never really knew how bad American healthcare was until i watched SiCKO. I remember being medically insured so i don’t know if i would’ve been charged if i were to had gotten my tooth pulled out while i was still there. But IF i wasn’t insured… would i have been charged? Do you guys pay like huge medical bills for dental work? I don’t really know how things work over there but from what i’ve seen in SiCKO, with that 9/11 rescue worker, suffering from respitory problems; not being able to afford to buy a $120 ventolin inhaler type thing ($120!!!!) and then being able to get it from a Cuban pharmacy in Cuba for 5 cents, i can’t imagine how much i would’ve had to pay to get a tooth pulled out.
I eventually waited till i got back home to Brunei after i graduated before i got it extracted. It was a wisdom tooth if recall correctly. Lived with the on and off pain for probably a month or two. Could’ve probably gotten it out there and then back in Michigan. But was too lazy/uncertain about how to go about it. But regardless of all that, point being: the total amount of money i had to spend to get it extracted in Brunei?
BN$1
That’s US$0.65
65 cents
But with what little idea i have about how HMO’s work in the US, and having never been really sick or in need of anything more than advil or tylenol to cure anything while i was there, and not knowing if HMO’s have anything to do with dental care, but damn… getting hit with medical bills for hundreds, even thousands of dollars just for health care?
Coming from a country where you pay $1 to see a doctor and get whatever meds you need prescribed to you… the American health care system just seems sick.
Get well soon.
first
#1 | Comment by EggplantTimbale — June 20, 2007 @ 12:24 am
I’ll agree that our health care system is terrible, but I certainly disagree with the finer points and the health care systems Moore compares it with in this film. I’ll probably see it, and it’ll probably make me angry and argumentative for a day and a half like with Bowling for Columbine.
#2 | Comment by Amedan — June 20, 2007 @ 12:27 am
i think it cost me $150 to get my tooth pulled, and that was with my dentist being a family friend.
#3 | Comment by 10011101 — June 20, 2007 @ 12:37 am
michael moore will be paying lots of money when his obesity leads to inevitable health problems down the road. fact.
when that happens, i hope no doctor in the country will treat him, no matter how much he offers to pay. just tell his tubby ass to fly to cuba and partake of their state-of-the-art medical care.
to sum up…michael moore is a fat fucktard and i hope he gets the myocardial infarction he so richly deserves…the sooner, the better.
#4 | Comment by AngelBaby — June 20, 2007 @ 12:46 am
Im getting all 4 of my wisdom teeth out next week. The cost? $1200 a piece. Thank God I have full dental through my parents.
#5 | Comment by KidGT — June 20, 2007 @ 1:07 am
to take care of a tooth abseth do you know how much it cost me? $480 bucks, and do you know what happened? the abseth came back not 2 weeks later, the dentist said that that wasnt her problem even though it was in the SAME PLACE(she didnt get it all) so i figured hey half of that 480 had to be taking the tooth out and the pain medication they shot into my mouth to numb it, so when i went back i said i dont want any pain numbers so she went right in and did it(she didnt have to destory the tooth because it was already gone) and i walked out with another 400 doller bill? so my dentist got that much money from me sitting there for 15 minutes while she cut my gum open with a scapel and drained some liquid? guess who didnt pay his dentist, bitch
#6 | Comment by Terraflarefinal — June 20, 2007 @ 1:12 am
Meh. I’m not a Moore hater, but TBH I’ve found his films to be flat out boring.
What does Moore do with his cut of the profits from his film? Certainly he donates it to someone, somewhere…..right?
#7 | Comment by sketch — June 20, 2007 @ 1:31 am
Michael Moore is a fat, miserable, bastard. The American healthcare system isn’t as great as it could be, but it is one of the best in the world — far greater than socialized medicine. That little stunt Moore pulled, bringing 9/11 rescue workers down to Cuba for treatment was both a despicable lie, and probably criminal.
The Cuban medical care is one of the the worst in the world, perhaps only beaten by North Korea. Cubans have horrible care, they don’t have supplies medicine, clean rooms, competent doctors or nurses. [ Check this out: http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm ] Foreigners have better care, because Castro is trying to present a better image than true. And, speaking of Castro, when he got sick a couple months back he wasn’t treated by even the highest quality Cuban doctors, he was treated by foreign doctors.
Socialized medicine doesn’t work (just like socialism doesn’t work, duh!). I mean, really; just think about it this way: having hospitals run like the DMV.
What needs to be done to fix the American healthcare system? 1) Tort reform, 2) easier and cheaper process of getting drugs and other technology approved by the FDA (it costs about $800 million to get a medical drug, device or technology approved by the FDA).
#8 | Comment by Paragon — June 20, 2007 @ 1:39 am
America’s health system is fucked, but atleast we got Jojo. Needs more Jojo.
#9 | Comment by Supher — June 20, 2007 @ 1:49 am
i couldnt believe this movie, I live In NYC, and NY and NYC both have alot of health Care Systems in place for when you need the Help, is Possible to get, My mother Has gone Through 9 Surgeries in Her life.
but they really do try to screw you, My Step Dad was at Ground Zero for 3 Months and Like the Guy in the Doc. Cant sleep laying Down, he also has a Bad Hip that he has needed replaced for almost 7 years now, even gone so far as to be forced into Early Retirement because of it, and cant Because the Insureance company Said it was too Risky. Not only was he at Ground Zero, he was also In the Marine Corp. and its sad to see how much the Federal and Local Government has Screwed Him, his entire Life he has been working for the Government (first In the Marine Corp, then working for NYC Transit) and they have done nothing but cause heart Ache. Recently all Insurance Has been Pulled from Him, so Seeing a Doctor just to get New Precriptions costs $200 bucks, and he has to spend $120 a week to get his precriptions from Canada (some kind of Drug Plan, Luckly NY Has it, while the Federal Government wants to ban the Import of Drugs from canada)
it is really a Sad State of affairs and watching this movie has really Pissed me off, so much in fact that i dont think i see myself living in the country the rest of my life like i thought i would.
and Paragon, Go to hell First off.
the US is 37th In the World for the best Health Care, Cuba is 39th so 2 rungs down isnt Bad, not to mention the Fact that its Free.
Socialized Medicine Works, Some Things are so big, and Needed So Badly the Government has to Socialize for Society. LIke Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Schools, Libraries.
if we didnt spend all our Money Invading Inocent Countries maybe We can Fix the Schools, and Raise the Standard of Living in this Country. (as some1 the system has Failed in school as i had a 90 average and was Forced Out of school by Dumb Fucking Guidence counsolers and teachers)
#10 | Comment by flushing — June 20, 2007 @ 2:05 am
The same people that bitch about healthcare are the ones who sue the companies when they have any kind of complication from a new medicine. These companies have to have deep pockets to protect themselves when people throw fits because of their products. You also have to take into account the enormous cost of research and testing done on all of these products. You can’t have it both ways. If you want quality and the highest level of safety, it’s going to cost you. Also, Michael Moore is a manipulative tool.
#11 | Comment by braden — June 20, 2007 @ 2:07 am
It’s a little different here in the UK we have our National Heath Service (NHS) and its shit there always complaining about it, last year they over spent by something like 300 million pounds!! But focusing on dentist for a second you can go get a check up every 6 months which is all fine and will cost about £15 but then they’ll go and polish your teeth for you which bumps it up to £25! I’m getting use to my Goverment sucking as much cash out of me as possible for the shittiest amount of work.
#12 | Comment by Sliy — June 20, 2007 @ 2:34 am
When did this place get bought by FoxNews? Bring back the teennage/twenty-something celebrity titties.
#13 | Comment by sketch — June 20, 2007 @ 2:57 am
The entire medical profession spends one half of one percent on everything related to malpractice, so the only thing braden here knows about health care are the talking points that have trickled down from the lobbyists to the GOP to the right-wing media.
I’m continually astounded at the lengths people will go to to argue against their own self-interest, but that’s what the GOP does best, prey on the stupid. Explains why they’ve carried the South since the Civil Rights Act.
You’ll be singing a different tune when you get sick or injured and get the bill for the things you assume your insurance covers.
#14 | Comment by Theo — June 20, 2007 @ 2:59 am
Wtf is Brunei??
#15 | Comment by imbecile — June 20, 2007 @ 3:03 am
not to be uncouth or callous or anything, but pluralizing an acronym [HMO, e.g.] doesn’t make it possessive. HMOs – more than one Health Maintenance Organization.
again, apologies.. one of my proverbial peeves. also, if no one is an ass and doesn’t point and chide, no one learns! ^^
#16 | Comment by Kevin — June 20, 2007 @ 3:39 am
#10 – I feel bad about your stepdad and his situation. That’s just not right.
Since I don’t live in the U.S., I can’t really speak about its state of healthcare. But I do know one thing from speaking to friends who live there – don’t get sick. Don’t get hurt.
I have had all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth removed: Cost $0
I originally went to a local dentist, but seeing that I wasn’t covered by any sort of dental plan, he referred me to a dental surgeon. Since surgery is covered by the Canadian healthcare system, I didn’t have to pay a penny. I was really lucky because I was so friggin’ broke at that time and would have never been able to afford the $3000(these were 1992 prices) bill.
Six months ago, my mom had emergency cancer surgery to remove an orange-sized tumor from her lower intestines. Again, it didn’t cost a penny, thanks to Medicare. Sometimes, I just shudder to think what her surgery and hospital stay bill would have looked like without the government footing the whole thing. And thank God we didn’t have to deal with any HMO’s.
#17 | Comment by Smiley — June 20, 2007 @ 3:39 am
I downloaded that DVD too, but haven’t watched it yet.
I don’t know if I trust a Justin DVD review… but you were right about Versus.
#18 | Comment by dex — June 20, 2007 @ 3:41 am
Michael Moore should just move to Canada and stfu.
#19 | Comment by Nancy — June 20, 2007 @ 3:56 am
Hey Justin, if you think that stuff actually cost the $1 you paid, then you’re hopeless. And if it cost more than the $1, then someone else was paying your way.
The problem with our health insurance is it’s actually health insulation. Meaning it pays for routine visits and small stuff, removing the incentive to actually price shop on anything in medicine.
I do not have health care, and I don’t need anyone ‘giving’ it to me and pretending they’re not taking it from me somewhere else.
Also, the facilities Michael Moore filmed in Cuba were the exact facilities the government decided to let them film. Great investigative work.
#20 | Comment by Kewtr — June 20, 2007 @ 4:05 am
I know there’s a problem, but Moore is hardly the place to find answers, or facts. I’ll, probably end up seeing it on Showtime, when they play it 24/7…
AngelBaby’s comment was a nice surprise! 🙂
#21 | Comment by Mike — June 20, 2007 @ 4:20 am
the government pays for everything here!
and we don’t have to pay taxes either
#22 | Comment by Justin — June 20, 2007 @ 4:21 am
#22 – Does the government pay for your monthly supply of Valtrex?!!! heehee..
#23 | Comment by Smiley — June 20, 2007 @ 4:47 am
I was going to say this past is sadly lacking in boobs, but then I saw that Michael Moore was in it.
#24 | Comment by Kito — June 20, 2007 @ 5:16 am
I live in a country with socialized health care and I can assure you thats not what you want. People need to start taking responisbilities for their own live and stop wanting the goverment to solve everything.
#25 | Comment by Licking — June 20, 2007 @ 5:26 am
The medicine experience in America is a thing you have to see in person to understand the fury it evokes with me. Dental is even worse because that particular insurance isn’t regulated.
#26 | Comment by Lithium — June 20, 2007 @ 5:49 am
I suffer from a serious medical issue, and will be for the rest of my life.
If it wasn’t for the NHS here in the UK I would be royally screwed as I’m not in a job that would cover my health. People complain about the NHS, but thats only because we British are all miserable bastards who love to moan about everything . lol
I’ve never experienced any bad healthcare and have never had to wait very long for appointments. The NHS is the “base” healthcare that all citizens of the UK regardless of job or bank balance are entitled, if you have a bit of cash you could always go private (bupa).
#27 | Comment by Zleet — June 20, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Cheers to Justin for a post that really got us all thinking. More importantly, thinking about something other than pre-pubescent snatch.
I enjoy things like this because I like to see honest examples of how the rest of the world perceives America. Im not much of a patriot, most of the time embarrassed to be an American. This is a perfect example of when I sit back and look at a situation in my country, scratching my head thinking, “what the fuck are they thinking…”
#28 | Comment by filthyfish — June 20, 2007 @ 7:44 am
im actually going RIGHT NOW to have my wisdom teeth pulled out
fortunately i live in the UK where the wonderful NHS gives me free healthcare.
YAAAY for free pain
#29 | Comment by OUCH — June 20, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Well – In Socialist and Communist countries – your free (sic) healthcare is paid for my substantially higher tax rates which severly cuts economic growth. If the US were to adopt Socialist/Communist healthcare system; tax rates would skyrocket and you would see much slower economic growth and a huge uptick in unemployment. Currently Germany and France have hugh unemployment rates, especially for those under 30. And another little kept secret about the US healthcare system, nobody is turned away. If you go into an emergency room without insurance or being able to pay out of pocket, you are still going to get treatment. Also, if someone is sick and needs the best treatment, they do not go to Cuba, Sweden, France, etc., they come to America.
#30 | Comment by Adam — June 20, 2007 @ 8:09 am
Socialized medicine is never free! Somebody is paying for it and as others have said Michael Moore saw the health care facilities that Castro wanted him to see.
#31 | Comment by Denney — June 20, 2007 @ 9:30 am
# 31 – Sicko isn’t about the uninsured being unable to get treatment. It’s about those with health insurance getting screwed by their insurance providers, who deny certain types of treatment or treatment at certain hospitals.
The main objection to socialized health care is that the government, rather than doctors and patients, will be making decisions about care. But in the U.S., insurance companies, rather than doctors and patients, make decisions about care. Is that any better?
#32 | Comment by The Good Reverend — June 20, 2007 @ 9:56 am
I had to have two wisdom teeth removed 3 years ago when I was in college in the US. It cost $1600, my student insurance only covered $900 of it. Man did that suck.
#33 | Comment by toothless joe — June 20, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Reponding to the Good Reverend # 33- Yes insurance companies are better. With insurance companies making the decisions there is competition rather than one giant monopoly.
One other major problem nobody discusses about socialized medicine, when you cut doctors pay, fewer people will become doctors and the quality of medecine gets much worse. Already in the United States you are seeing many doctors drop out of the profession to make more money as Wall Street analysts and working at Hedge Funds. The doctor I use to see for my annual check up just quit and started a MBA program.
And as I said before, nobody ever gets turned away at a hospital in the United States.
#34 | Comment by Adam — June 20, 2007 @ 10:22 am
People with money are the first ones to harp on about the evils of socialized health, but take away that money and i’ll bet they would be glad it’s there then.
Just because a country has a free health system doesn’t mean you have to use it. If I had a better paying job I could go private, but I don’t, so thank Shatner for the NHS. Granted the NHS has had it’s problems, but most of these are due to Tory (UK right wing party) “restructuring” that was supposed to give a more corporate streamlined health service but instead bloated it with thousands of useless middle managers.
You should watch the episode of Morgan Spurlock’s 30 days when he and his girlfriend try to get (her) treatment for an infection while on minimum wage in the US.
#35 | Comment by Zleet — June 20, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Anyone who says that there is no problem with the American healthcare system is sadly uninformed. Last year I was paying around 500 dollars a month pre-tax for family HMO insurance. One night my little girl’s throat was swelling and threating to cut off her airway. We took her to the E.R. where they examined her and did a throat culture. The HMO would not pay because her primary care physician did not refer her to the E.R., My cost ? 1100 dollars.
That is just one example. I have many more. Before my wife was on my insurance, she was pregnant and having severe abdominal pain, after 4 hours in the E.R. waiting room, she miscarried our baby. Still no doctor. I ended up driving her 80 miles to another hospital where she was finally admitted. My cost? 27,000 dollars. That was close to my yearly income at the time.
Many people in the U.S. are sick or dead because they cannot afford healthcare. If you don’t see this, then open your eyes and look around.
#36 | Comment by jezder — June 20, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
I love the attitude of some of those that make comments to the effect that they were so glad that when they got this procedure or that done it cost them so much less or it was free and then make judgments about the quality of the health care system based on the out of pocket expense to the patient.
Yes, it’s true that there probably isn’t a health care system in the world that couldn’t use improvement, including certainly the United States’. Of course, I don’t believe there is an industry that exists for which getting the government involved in running it caused an improvement to the industry. Just as there are stories of people who couldn’t get proper health care in the US, there are plenty of stories about people in countries with socialized medicine whose deaths were caused by the problems brought about by socialized health care (people who, in having to wait for treatment, went from a curable to an incurable disease, for example).
It is also true that the ridiculous cost of health care is in a large part due to the civil court system – that is, not only is the cost of malpractice insurance high and contributes to health care cost, the effect of the fear of accusation of malpractice causes the health care system to require loads of procedures and tests that are likely unnecessary and of course very costly just trying to cover their ass in case something gets missed.
Regardless, however, of all of this is the seeming attitude that pervades society as if someone owes you health care. It can be tragic when someone is sick or dead because they can’t afford health care (or food for that matter), but it’s not your “right” to have it, whether you live in Canada, England, Cuba, or Ohio. Part of life is that once you are born on this planet, it takes work to stay alive. Aside from maybe your parents, no one owes you food, shelter, sex, or health care…whatever.
Please don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t provide any help for those less fortunate, or even turn anyone away who needs health care or food or whatever. I’m trying to remind people that if we do that, we are doing so out of our generosity as a society, not because these people have a right to it or are owed it, as most people have seem to come to believe. It says a lot about society and the goodness of people that we generally want to help those less fortunate, but it’s important that we remember that life owes us nothing short of what we make of it ourselves. It would be nice if all of these things could be provided to everyone without cost, but at this point in technology, that isn’t possible, so every time we give anything to anyone who isn’t working for it, someone else is, which makes the system inequitable (though perhaps charitable).
And now back to the ogling of women whom we pay millions of dollars for being genetically inclined to have really attractive hooters (note that the US health care system has also spawned the great doctors that have made some of these really attractive hooters possible – personally, I believe the cost is definitely worth it).
#37 | Comment by anonymous — June 20, 2007 @ 2:20 pm
^^^
winnar.
#38 | Comment by AngelBaby — June 20, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Good Lord, these comments here are ridiculous.
If you haven’t seen the movie, DON’T COMMENT ON ITS CONTENT. You know who you are but, if you’re confused, I’m talking to #2, 4, 8, 19, 21, to name a few.
And, by the way, the 3rd paragraph of #37’s diatribe is an absolute flat-out falsehood. It is exactly the type of drivel the Republican party spouts in an effort to pass legislation that benefits insurance companies rather than Doctors (as they pretend it will do) OR the public. More cash for the rich, no matter who they take from. That’s the Republican credo. Fact.
MORE IMPORTANTLY … Do any of you realize where you are posting your politically-biased comments? You’re on a website that FOCUSES ON TEENAGE T&A (see post #13). You’re not on CNN.com. Get a grip.
Now, come on … show me some titties!
#39 | Comment by Slim Harpo — June 20, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Moore has the right diagnosis, but the wrong treatment.
De-regulation is the way to go. Get the government 100% out of health care to drive down prices.
#40 | Comment by Wizzle — June 20, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
yikes i didn’t read the posts yet but of course it looks political.. *runs*
Since my wife quit her job I no longer have dental insurance.
I’ve spent more than $3k over the past six months to get my teeth fixed up.
2 Root canals and cleanings.
#41 | Comment by yawn — June 20, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
last
#42 | Comment by wootman — June 20, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
my wife worked at 1 liberty in NYC.. next door to wtc.
after 9/11 her building’s facade was so f’d up her co. bailed from that location.
A few weeks later the managers had to go back into the building to retrieve some records. She could hardly breath while there and she was hoarse for a couple of days after. This was only after being around that shit for minutes.
Those poor rescue workers.. they knew they were going to get f’d up and they just kept going anyway. They knew I knew hell anyone knew they were going to be f’d up eventually.
=(
#43 | Comment by yawn — June 20, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
“If you haven’t seen the movie, DON’T COMMENT ON ITS CONTENT. You know who you are but, if you’re confused, I’m talking to #2, 4, 8, 19, 21, to name a few.”
I didn’t comment on it’s content. I just said Moore is hardly the place to look for answers, or facts. That is my opinion, based on his previous work. Oh yeah, fuck you, I’ll comment when I feel so inclined. Douche. 🙂
#44 | Comment by Mike — June 20, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Stealing movies is wrong and Micheal Moore does care, regardless of what you think he is in it to make money.
To wit:
A Weinstein Co. source said that the company has hired several firms that specialize in dealing with piracy and is taking “a very aggressive approach to protecting the film.”
“Every DVD screener that comes from the Weinstein Co. is watermarked and traceable,” Weinstein Co. general counsel Peter Hurwitz said. “We are actively investigating who illegally uploaded Sicko to the internet, and we will take appropriate action against that person(s).”
One source close to the situation said that anti-piracy firms were flooding the internet with false versions of the film, much as the record industry has with songs.
“We are actively investigating those who illegally uploaded Sicko to the internet, and we will take the strongest possible legal action,” Hurwitz said. The company declined comment about whether it will seek legal action against YouTube for allowing the uploads.
In March, Magnolia Pictures subpoenaed YouTube to obtain the identities of users who uploaded such films as The Host and Jesus Camp. 20th Century Fox did the same thing after users uploaded episodes of 24 and The Simpsons.
#45 | Comment by mister — June 20, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Again with the trial lawyer/malpractice bullshit. It is not “also true”, it’s a manufactured lie you’ve been suckered into believing.
Read my comment above.
1/2 of 1%.
Jesus.
#46 | Comment by Theo — June 20, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
wheres the pink?
fucking pedos…
#47 | Comment by Coolstream — June 20, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
#8 “Socialized medicine doesn’t work”
It doesn’t work because there are no countries who’s had it for extended periods of time with it not working, right? So what about the UK, France, Sweden, Norway and Finland just to mention a few. For instance Sweden has one of the highest rated healthcare in the world, and yes, socialized healthcare, paid through taxes. Care for everyone, not care for those who can afford it.
You take shots at Cuba for their socialized healthcare, but totally forget about many other countries (like those already mentioned and more) who has it, and has great quality healthcare, not only for foreigners. By all means, pull your head out of your arse, or better yet, have a US doctor do it for you, I’m sure it’ll be worth every penny you have to spend.
Your analogy that hospitals would be run like the DMV is flawed in so many ways it’s rather obvious you didn’t take all of one second to think about what you just said. Not to mention that you already have quite a few socialized things in the US (as is pointed out in Sicko). Privatized medicine means two three things, 1) more money dissapearing in doctor’s pockets, 2) care for those that can afford it and 3) no care, or way worse care, for those who can’t.
#48 | Comment by BongoClown — June 20, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
AngelBaby speaks trooth in #4. I refuse to support anything that fat fucker throws together.
#49 | Comment by Duffman — June 20, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
So you shouldn’t listen to what someone says because of who says it, not based on what is said? Information is information and should be listened to and scrutinized equally regardless of the source.
But hey, good luck living your ignorant lives. It’s after all easier to dismiss what someone says by grounds of not listening than it is to actually discuss why it’s wrong and present information to support those claims.
#50 | Comment by BongoClown — June 20, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
What I’m going to do my graduate school research on is how the GOP can throw Christianity and morals at Americans regarding issues such as abortion and gay rights (which, for the record, I personally do not support, but do lend support politically) and then ignore the ideals of compassion that is exemplified in this country by a national health care idea or welfare.
Were I President (obviously I’m not 35 yet, though when I am I’ll use this site or it’s spawn to announce my candidacy) I would have similar programs with small tweaks. What’s wrong with having government controlled health care AND free market health care? Obviously there are logistic tweaks needed, but you can’t fail (or succeed) if you don’t try 🙂
It comes down to greed in corporate America, and using something that is a foundation in people’s lives (Christianity) as an avenue to power to ensure that what is “theirs” is kept. It’s unbelievable how far that concept is from what I learned in Sunday School.
#51 | Comment by Ted — June 20, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
First of all, Michael Moore’s films are not remotely objective. His muckraking tactics may bring in big profits, but his films are deceptive and infuriating.
I am a primary care physician in the U.S., and can tell you, without a doubt, that our health care SYSTEM is lousy. Our technology is second to none. Our medications are effective and abundant.
But the costs and bureaucracies of health-care are not caused by doctors. They are not caused by pharmaceutical manufacturers.
They are the complex result of decades and decades of corrupt CEOs, dirty politicians, greedy lawyers, and evil insurance companies.
Access to care is a tremendous problem, with the main victim being the middle-class “uninsurable” who earns too much for medicaid, and too little to afford his own health coverage.
Tort reform would drastically reduce health-care costs across the board, by both lowering liability insurance costs and frivolous (but outrageous) legal defense costs, as well as by reducing extraneous utilization of expensive laboratory and imaging technology. As a doctor, while I often know a patient will be okay, it is frightening to deny them the MRI they demand for their headache… Just in case. I don’t want to wind up in court for 4 years over an unfortunate, but unpreventable bad outcome.
Drug costs are high… Too high perhaps. But the R&D has to be funded somewhere. Since other countries, with socialized health systems, have the numbers to demand lower costs, the United States must make up the difference. I am certain this could be distributed more fairly. But remember that many of our commonly used medications don’t come from the US — in fact they come from countries with socialized health care such as England and Germany.
I don’t support socialized health-care — the government can NOT succeed at providing good care. But they could help by ensuring universal access to health-insurance, by lowering malpractice defense costs, and by regulating the health-insurance companies to provide appropriate reimbursement to physicians (who face rapidly rising overhead and rapidly diminishing payment).
It’s NOT a simple problem, and Michael Moore is by no means qualified to answer it. But something needs to happen. I can’t keep taking good care of my patients if the system continues to break down like this…
#52 | Comment by FamilyDoctor — June 20, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
There hasn’t been a post in four days and you force me too look at that fat fucking slob? Fuck you, Justin!
#53 | Comment by Tony — June 20, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
ya!
eff u Justin!
#54 | Comment by AngelBaby — June 20, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
you can charge $1 for doctor visist if
-you live in a country of 37 people
-you are going to the local witch doctor and he is prescibing you some of his bong water…
#55 | Comment by MrBlack — June 21, 2007 @ 12:11 am
Micheal Moore is a hack just like Al Gore. Plays loose with facts and just plain makes up others. Both just want to convince the liberal neo-Marxists (otherwise known as those who vote for Democrats) to keep on their path with their fellow travelers towards their ultimate goal of destroying American freedom to the point we’re a socialist totalitarian nation. The fact that someone can watch or read such tripe and believe it, accept it as gospel, just proves the Communists who founded the NEA with the goal of using public education to subvert our way of life is bearing fruit nicely.
#56 | Comment by Taco — June 21, 2007 @ 12:19 am
And what, Taco, do you have to say of those who have used the church to gain political power?
#57 | Comment by Ted — June 21, 2007 @ 12:31 am
^^^
i’m starting to think Ted must’ve been molested by a priest as a boy.
#58 | Comment by AngelBaby — June 21, 2007 @ 12:52 am
As this thread illustrates, Americans now pride themselves on being uneducated and stupid.
Hence, electing George W. Bush and being obsessed with Paris Hilton.
#59 | Comment by Theo — June 21, 2007 @ 1:30 am
^^^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_laureates_by_country
yep, we is jus a bunch uv dum peepl ovar hear.
STFU and GTFO
#60 | Comment by AngelBaby — June 21, 2007 @ 1:39 am
lol It’s funny how all these american idiots try to lie to themselves and pretend america was oh so great in Health Care. Granted… the americans do have good medical treatment, but only for the rich people. And no… it’s not american doctors who do the best job. It’s all the foreign doctors coming to america for financial reasons who boost the medical reputation. Look at all the doctors in the hospitals over there… they are from Israel, Great Britain, Asia, even the oh so hated Arabs could outsmart the average american doctor. lol Just like with everything else the americans stole or bought their medical knowledge. Now be proud of your pitiable little country.
#61 | Comment by Franc — June 21, 2007 @ 7:46 am
@Angelbaby
Look at the list, half of the scientist listed for the US come from foreign countries. lol
#62 | Comment by Franc — June 21, 2007 @ 7:48 am
Not to mention that it’s quite logical to conclude that a strongly industrialized country with such a vast population would take more nobel prizes than a country of similar industrilization but smaller population. What would really be interesting is to see how many Nobel Prizes have been awarded when you calculate per capita of the entire population of each country. For one United Kingdom would blow the US out of the water, so would many other countries.
But hey, let’s abandon logic alltogether. It’s funny how you (you as in many of you) criticize Michael Moore of skewing the facts when you’re doing it yourself, either deliberately or because you fail to see further than your nose. See that in your hand? That’s a stone. You’re standing in a glass house.
#63 | Comment by BongoClown — June 21, 2007 @ 7:58 am
Michael Moore has large, natural bewbies.
Fact!
#64 | Comment by Steampunk — June 21, 2007 @ 8:48 am
I am in total agreement about the medical covereage of the US. It is literally the worst in the world.
I watched a comedian one time who I think said it best when he said: “All I want is the same medical coverage as the inmates at Guantanamo Bay Prison!”
(If you’re not aware, all inmates, regardless of the prison receive free medical coverage, including prescriptions, and at times, allowed to visit specialists! ABOSLUTELY FREE!)
…..Your Tax Dollars at work!
#65 | Comment by MacDaddy — June 21, 2007 @ 9:27 am
#63 – yes, i fully realize the per capita argument, i did have basic math on the way to my doctorate. i was merely attempting to answer one of the more ridiculous comments (among so many) in this thread with a small tidbit of info. anyone who would make an idiotic statement like #59 only demonstrates themselves to be as uneducated and stupid as the country they are attempting to insult. i really don’t have to defend the USA’s intellectual capacity, as it is known worldwide by people who recognize the nation as one of the planet’s all-time leaders in innovation. for all those people denigrating our health care and national intellect, i hope you realize that when you pop into the free clinic in whatever socialist country you live in and they hand you your free meds, that you pause a second before gulping them down to think about where most modern drugs are researched and developed. not to mention just a few of the other advances america has given the world:
airplane
telephone
television
light bulb
refrigerator
skyscraper
oil well
assembly line
motion picture camera
microwave oven
nuclear fission
transistor
microprocessor
laser
fiber optics
the internet
yeah, i realize it’s the height of fashion to hate america right now, all the cool kids are doing it, but try not to make yourselves look like morons in the process. that’s all i ask.
#66 | Comment by AngelBaby — June 21, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
#61 – I hate you
#67 | Comment by Evestay — June 21, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
As I now have actually read the comments in this thread, I have come realize that this has come a bit off topic. First of all it appears that many of you seem to be America Haters!
I simply as why?
Is it because we have freedom of Religion?
Freedom of Expression?
Freedom of Speech?
or is it just the basis of Freedom that so many seem to dispise?
And if any of those is the case, then WHY?
I have traveled all over the World, and don’t find that many differences between the US, Great Britain, Japan, or many European countries, with the exception of Healthcare and perhaps Government subsidized aid.
I can stand outside the gates of the White House with a 10 foot sign (That’s 22cm for my metric friends) reading, “Our President is worthless Let’s get rid of him!” and NOT get arrested or fined! (Our own governmet SUPPORTS my right to protest and would defend my right to do so!)
Can you do that in front of Buckingham Palace, or in front of your capital buildings in other countries?
Every American knows that the Healthcare situation in our country sucks.
However, what you may not know is that every US Citizen who can not afford insurance is given healthcare through Government related projects such as Welfare or Medicaid! (Of course, you may not get the BEST treatment available, but it’s not like we shut the door and say, Sorry you’re out of luck!)
Is it perfect? NO!
Does it work? Probably not as well as we would like it too, but it’s better then nothing.
Not one of you from any country can claim your government is perfect. While you may excell in one area, you are severely lacking in other areas. And I am sure you know what those areas are!
Before you point your finger at America and say, “You suck!” Take a step back and look at the faults readily seen in your own country!
(Healthcare in Norway may be great, but it costs approximately US9.00 for a beer at a bar and US8.00 for a pack of cigarettes!)
If this were a perfect World, Health care would be free world-wide, unemployment would be a thing of the past, terrorism would cease to exist, and every homeless man/woman or family would be given a home!
Until that day comes, we have to deal with what we got.
One thing that makes America Great is…..If you have a better idea, you have the freedom and the opportunity to put that idea in motion.
Let’s see them try that in Afghanastan!
(This is has been a Public Service Announcement for MacDaddy for Emporer of The World! Thank You)
#68 | Comment by MacDaddy — June 21, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
22 cm is more like 10 inches, not 10 feet. Maybe you’re thinking of decimeters.
Health care is definitely pricey here in America. Therapy costs are pretty darned high, too. I need therapy but I can’t really afford it right now. That’s a bummer, ya know?
#69 | Comment by dmavsfan41 — June 21, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
wooo i live in canada bitches!!!!!
dedicate the next jojo post to me again
#70 | Comment by Tom Foolery — June 21, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
MacDaddy said:
However, what you may not know is that every US Citizen who can not afford insurance is given healthcare through Government related projects such as Welfare or Medicaid! (Of course, you may not get the BEST treatment available, but it’s not like we shut the door and say, Sorry you’re out of luck!)
===
Sorry but this is untrue. So untrue, in fact, that I wonder if you have ever read newspaper? The only people eligible for Medicaid/Medicare are people who are eligible for Social Security benefits. They often receive MUCH better care than folks privately insured because MC/MC has no profit motive as do private insurers.
What happens most frequently is that uninsured people seek primary care at Emergency Rooms where they cannot be turned away for financial reasons. Of course they receive a bill, butt they don’t pay it and guess what happens. Nothing. The cost of the uninsured is borne by the insured and private-pay patients.
#71 | Comment by mister — June 21, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Say what you will about American overpriced health care…
I have a friend in Ireland who got sick, got an infection, and now has no asshole or digestive tract. 22 years old and she’s now barren, has a colostomy bag, and has been in the hospital for 8 months now with no signs of imporvement. Cipro, the meds they give you to shed your sinus infection in 2 or 3 days, has been, for the most part, unavailable to her over there. The fucking meds that could have saved her this pain, suffering, humiliation and heartbreak and they couldn’t get them.
Thank you very much, but I’ll keep my high priced medical system… at least I know I’ll get what I pay for.
#72 | Comment by Jason — June 21, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
yea, i disagree with the healthcare system in this country, but i’ll just say one word that is the main cause of it… “Capitalism”
#73 | Comment by Jon — June 22, 2007 @ 5:15 am
It’s interesting that this thread has degenerated into a ‘bash America’ topic. Angelbaby is absolutely right, it’s the new hip thing to do. And it’s retarded (as most hip new things to do are).
This documentary exposes the flaws in our health care system; and I’m not going to debate what’s real and what’s exaggerated for dramatic effect…that’s not my point.
However, this documentary highlights the BENEFIT of America… the freedom of expression. A documentary like this wouldn’t be made in several countries (probably most) except for free, democrat ones.
Also, bear in mind, that America is being introspective here. We are taking a look at ourselves and saying ‘what’s wrong?’ and ‘what can we do about this?’ This fact only enhances the point Angelbaby is making about us being a leader in innovation. We are being introspective and critical to ourselves in attempt to refine our processes. Something to be very prideful about.
Back to the ‘hating all things American’. I’m continually baffled by that. In having a few good friends from Australia, I’m always dumbfounded to get the attitude that individual Americans are ‘ok’, but America as a nation is pushy and arrogant. Considering most foreigners don’t have actual interaction with American people on a day to day basis, I’d say that foreigners who adopt this ‘hate America’ viewpoint are worse victims of the media slant than I ever thought possible.
#74 | Comment by smash — June 22, 2007 @ 10:26 am
“I say, put up or shut up… I don’t trust doctors and dentists with my health… I don’t trust anything but my body with my health. We constantly weaken ourselves by depending on foreign agents to deal with our health. If your healthcare is that bad, take fuckin care of yourself. Seriously, if the majority of humans (Americans in particular) didn’t do drugs, drink alcohol, eat their own weight in hamburgers, and piss away their health in general; it would probably make less of a difference. Regardless, ALL economic systems in the world, SUCK! Do you know why? It all comes down to one simple rule: Humans are stupid, PERIOD.”
#75 | Comment by Ryu — June 22, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
#52: What is a “family” doctor doing looking at a pedo site? Kinda creepy, no?
#76 | Comment by jezder — June 22, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Just finished watching the documentary.
The Cuba bits were a little cheesy but no more so than an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. As far as the rest, as an Englishman I found the NHS scenes to be a fair representation of the medical care i’ve received and the little i’ve heard of the French medical system seemed correct as well.
The idea that a civilized western society wouldn’t give free medical treatment as standard is just so alien to me. In the UK we pay a little more in taxes but we don’t have the worry of medical costs so it all kind of evens out. I’ve never waited longer than an hour to see a doctor (minutes in most cases) and all the equipment i’ve seen has been modern and well maintained, not the dusty old junk that some people in the US believe UK hospitals work with.
Also because it’s not profit based we have strong preventative medicine.
#77 | Comment by Zleet — June 22, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
#75 Hit it on the head because he is a genius with special Jedi dentistry powers. All humans do suck. I propose we get rid of all them, starting with… well lets just start with #75, seems fair. Do us all a favor and /quitlife.
#78 | Comment by mister — June 22, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
#1 – EggplantTimbale, WHAT THE FUCK? You come here just to say “first”? God damn you first people…
#79 | Comment by Kaka — June 22, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
I love this. A bunch of prepubescent kids bitching about health care. I have a doctorate and no heath insurance. Does it suck… yes.
Thank god jeebus and tom cruise nothing has happened that is serious. But the people who complain that they are stuck with health care bills simply do not get it. I am lucky i have a job. If something happens, i will figure out what to do. Its my bed and i have to deal with it.
I watched my mom die for months with cancer. Had she been in some third world socialist commie country she would have been written off and left to die without the care and compassion she got here in the US on medicare and such.
To complain is human… to think is divine.
#80 | Comment by Fucktard — June 23, 2007 @ 1:37 am
I don’t get though why so many people think that UHS is the same as “free healthcare”, it’s not. It’s paid for by tax money, so in the end if you pay taxes you pay for it as well.
Though, I don’t think that speaks against UHS in any way, it’s still cheaper for the nation as a whole and keeps the populous healthier than if they had to pay for everything themselves…especially since (as we’ve seen in the US) that drives up the prices to ridiculous levels. The poor (but not poor enough to qualify for medicaid) get sicker and the rich get healthier, way to make the rift between the classes greater, good going there.
And grow up, bashing America isn’t the new and hip thing to do, America bashing has been going on for several hundred years. Though, I don’t see what discussing and pointing out the flaws in a system currently used by USA (as compared to other systems) has to do with America bashing though. Giving critique isn’t the same as bashing anyone or anything. So I repeat myself, grow up.
#81 | Comment by BongoClown — June 23, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Tax pays for “free health care”. Cost of living in some European countries is higher, which is caused by indirect tax. This indirect tax is then funneled into other interesting programs, ie free health care.
#82 | Comment by Macungah — June 23, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
I’m just curious, #81. The US has only been in existence for a little over 200 years. When people were America bashing “several hundred” years ago, was it the Incas they were bashing or the Aztecs? Perhaps it was the Sioux?
I guess that’s a little off-topic, but when I saw that we children had been bashing “America” for “several hundred years”, it struck me as funny.
And, by the way, when you say that UHS is being paid for by tax money and then follow by saying it doesn’t speak against it in any way, you’re equating choosing to pay for something with the money you earn yourself (capitalism) with being required (forced) to pay for something for society as a whole (socialism). I don’t believe they are equal. I would also question your statement of fact that UHS produces societies that are “healthier” and at a lower overall cost since you didn’t provide any evidence to back that claim (you just stated it as if it were accepted common knowledge without even defining was “healthier” is supposed to mean). I suspect there are some studies that have been conducted to show that to be the case, but I don’t consider it uncontested truth, especially since regardless of how it might work elsewhere, I have full confidence in the US government’s ability to run it at a much higher cost than necessary with significantly less efficiency.
Regardless, however, I’m a little unclear as to how any of this has to do with one’s age or maturity level (the “grow up” comment). If any of us were mature, we wouldn’t be visiting this site in the first place, would we?
#83 | Comment by anonymous — June 23, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
My mother had breast cancer and the NHS took very good care of her. Now that she’s recovered she has regular checks to make sure everything is okay.
I also have to get monthly blood tests (medication I take can cause liver problems) and I don’t have to stress about how i’ll pay for it all.
Thats not to say our health service doesn’t have problems, but not worrying about costs out-weighs any minor negatives i’ve experienced.
#84 | Comment by Zleet — June 23, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
here’s some problems with the movie
1) Anyone who has half a brain knows that insurance companies are FOR PROFIT types of organizations, regardless of all the happy commercials you see they are out to make money first, and help you second (maybe third). This goes for health, auto, life, anything.
2) Those who don’t know #1, probably are not going to see this movie, in fact they’ll probably rag on the movie without seeing it, such is the polarization of this country with a majority are either stern democrats or republicans, there isn’t any middle ground for most of the country
3) Yes lots of countries have a health care system in place, and it would be nice for the US to have *THAT* health care system, however as the movie goes to show politicians are all corrupt mother fuckers, they take money form insurance companies, health providers, and pharmaceutical companies. Why does anyone think that if the government regulated it it would be any better? The health providers/insurance companies would make sure to get their foot in the door and get the government contracts, they’d still be making billions in profits every year just they’ll pass the buck over to the government, drug companies will push 18000 pills we really don’t need that to fix what ails us which conveniently won’t have any generic counter parts. So while yes we may get better because we’re treated, the system will go bankrupt quicker than So.So Security
4) I wish there was more on the poor people in those other countries, not the “middle class” While yes the poor get free health care, why doesn’t he show a great deal of them? And is $8000 a month, AFTER hideously high taxes in France really a “middle class” income? In this country that would be upper middle class if you made that much BEFORE taxes.
So while yes the movie does go out and show how screwed the country is, and how much our health care sucks, and how much insurance companies are out to fuck us with 200 dollar pills, I doubt it’ll do anything to change much of anyone’s views. Bottom line is politicians make the rules and make change, people don’t, private companies pay more than the government so the threat of not getting re-elected doesn’t hold much anymore, they even mentioned the guy in the movie who when he left congress got a $1mil/year job with one of the drug companies. So until lobbying is ruled illegal in this country we’re going to stay fucked, and since the politicians are the ones who would be the ones to ultimately change that… we’re fucked.
#85 | Comment by Miku — June 23, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
FUCK, COCK, BALLS, AND A MOTHERFUCKER! I’M SERIOUS! OMG!
#86 | Comment by Mike — June 23, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
LOL @ 80. Nice way to equate not-for-profit healthcare systems with third world countries. Give that false choice to a Swede, and watch them laugh their asses off. Way to not think, dude.
#87 | Comment by Pat — June 24, 2007 @ 3:32 am
@85
When you say that the poor aren’t shown in the documentary I think thats more to do with showing a like for like with the kind of people who have an HMO in the US.
The point of having an NHS is that regardless of wage everyone gets a good standard of healthcare and are not refused treatment to save money. People can also if they wish take out private health insurance with someone like BUPA and use their private hospitals and consultants.
Private does not mean better though, my cousin (an Architect) needed an operation on his spine and was told to by his BUPA consultant to use the NHS as the waiting list was far shorter.
#88 | Comment by Zleet — June 24, 2007 @ 9:28 am
When people think “universal healthcare” int he US, they think of 2 things:
– providing the person who is using the system to get $5K a month to give them free healthcare
– a DMV.
Well sorry on both points. I’d like to think some people int he US are above letting poor people stay sick. Not to mention that, as the placements have shown, we have the highest mortality rate. Yes it has something to do with poor people, but alot has to do with the fact that whatever “free” healthcare is poorly funded.
And the second one. Have an SS card and a valid drivers license or picture ID? Then you’re set. Just walk in and you’re done. IS IT THAT HARD TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS IN YOUR MINDS? Why the hell would it be like a DMV? family doctors would stay the same and hospitals would stay the same. If anything there’d be less paperwork, as they would just copy your cards and that would be it. Maybe 1 sheet of paper for personal info.
Need funding from the poor that take advantage? Tax their SS checks. Move medicare/medicaid funding to universal healthcare. Problem solved. Doctors might get moved around, but they would get moved around in a capitalist society anyway. Maybe since it’s free people would go more often and find better doctors.
Or maybe we can help the healthcare industries by cutting down malpractice claim amounts. God knows everyone is tired of hearing about the godawful amounts people sure for, and the 33% that goes int he lawyers pockets.
When every western civilization has universal healthcare, and their health standards are above ours, that should be a sign. Maybe with healthcare the poor might be able to get jobs and not be poor. I heard there’s a ton of jobs being done by illegals. we’ve solved 2 problems so far.
#89 | Comment by shirizaki — June 24, 2007 @ 9:33 am
“I love when people defend against the stupidity of this species… It really doesn’t matter though, because it is people like 78 (which is most people) who guarantee that humankind will remain in their ignorance…”
#90 | Comment by Ryu — June 24, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
“This is a perfect example of when I sit back and look at a situation in my country, scratching my head thinking, ‘what the fuck are they thinking…'”
Liberty beats being forced to use one system in the stead of all others, regardless of what works or doesn’t.
You just keep on scratching.
I’m going to get some health insurance and I’m going to choose to pay for it.
#91 | Comment by Travis — June 25, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/Health.png
Thought someone may find this interesting. A map of countries with and without universal healthcare.
#92 | Comment by Zleet — June 26, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Anyone who thinks a person who schools themselves enough to be a health care provider will work for the kind of money discussed in all this “demon america” b/s is seriously deluded. These providers Moore refers to are either unqualified or are being paid under the table by someone with some ulterior motive.
Remember…………..if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Don’t identify yourself as a dumbass by buying into this shit. Moore is in the business of selling tickets, nothing else.
#93 | Comment by jerry — June 29, 2007 @ 6:05 am
freeze the clip on 1.13…and u can see that Brunei is on number 40 in the rankings…
#94 | Comment by sanul — July 11, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
Hi,
Do you guys remember health treatment costs when there was NO health care program? it was much much lower. do you know why? because now you HAVE TO pay medicare, so they know they can suck you up. when there was no obligation to pay – then you were paying the real price for the service. now its artifficially put up.
#95 | Comment by KeRad — February 7, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
^^^
The opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinion of dont link this, its editors or its staff.
#96 | Comment by JRC — February 7, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Actually, read AB’s posts above.
#97 | Comment by Gage — February 7, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
^^^
i stand by my position.
michael moore is fat and i hope he dies.
preferably by collapsing from a heart attack on top of hillary clinton during sex, which would kill her as well.
#98 | Comment by AngelBaby — February 7, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
I stand by your position as well. I dont even want to think about what will happen if Hillary gets in. Why does anyone think she is even remotely qualified? ‘Cause she lived there for a few years?
#99 | Comment by Gage — February 7, 2008 @ 6:43 pm