Michael Moore's "Sicko" and Socialized Health Care?

Question

I just watched Michael Moore's latest film Sicko. I know he's an extremist, but there is definitely some truth to many of his arguments. It saddens me that so many other countries function fine with socialized health care, but in America, Health Insurance companies care more about earning Capital than helping the sick.

Is there a way to change this? Why doesn't America implement something of this nature to help its citizens? It hurts to know that our government is really that heartless..

Answer 1

Correct on all counts.

We don't need socialized medicine such as other countries have. What we do need is a system --updated, to be sure--like what we USED to have--back when America's health care was the best in the world (no, among other failures, it raknks 41st in terms of life expectancy).

That was a mixed system--parts were public, and guaranteed universal access to all; most wasprivate--most of it non-profit. Now we have a commercialized system that provides increasingly poorquality care at exorbinant cost--far MORE than socialized medicine costs--and what little is left of public health care is so short on funds and so overloaded after 12 years of GOP funding cuts it barely functions.

But--we are probably going to end up with socialized medicine. Not because there no alternatives--there are, and good ones. But liberals tend to focus on governmet programs--and they are the only ones putting ideas on the table. The conservatives are contributing nothing but rantsabout the "evils of socialized medicine" and political slogans. We need ideas--solid proposals--from BOTH sides--and we're not getting them. So--with expanding government's role as the only alternative being offered to the current mess--that's what we'll end up getting stuck with.

Answer 2

Our health care system needs changes, without a doubt. Michael Moore brings up many very valid points. So many people use the socialized health care label as a scare tactic. I agree, the US is the only industrialized nation in the world not on some kind of national health care system. Many in the US claim we have the best health care in the world but the statistics do not bear that out. The US is in the middle of the pack on the average life span of our citizens, and the US is near the bottom in infant morality rates. Combine that with the fact that on average Americans pay more for our health care than any other nation (a family of 4 pays on average $12,000 a year for health care and that does not include dental or vision insurance). I have many friends in Canada that find their health care system more than adequate. They do not have long waits for office visits and the quality of care is on par with the US. We do not have to copy some other nations plan. Let's look at the better ones, modify it to best suit the needs of US citizens and make the changes.

Answer 3

If all's so great in the rest of the world, then why do we have over 20,000,000 people who risked their lives to sneak into this country illegally? If Cuba is such a medical paradise, then why are people willing to swim 90 miles to get here?

And, I'm sure that they don't teach this in school's anymore, but this country wasn't built on the back's of subsidies and American taxpayers. Rockefeller and Vanderbilt didn't count on socialism to make this country what it is today. The free market spurs competition, and when the leader of an industry isn't living up to their potential, it leaves the door wide open for someone else to come in and do the job better and for less money. When Yahoo came out as a search engine, it was fine, but Google thought they could do it better. Now, when you search for something on the Internet, who do you go to? Google.

The problem with corporations is THE GOVERNMENT. They're the ones who attempt to create new controls that bind the hands of corporations all while accepting their money and turning a blind eye to the corruption that takes place at the top. Whether it's socialism or capitalism, there will be corporate scandal...it doesn't matter. But in a free market, we're capable of saying "NO" to people who produce unsatisfactory goods and in immoral manners.

And all day everyday, especially now that we're gearing up for an election, people complain about this government and administration, chastising them for their power grabs. But here, we not only want to blindly hand them over MORE control, but control of OUR HEALTH. WAKE UP!!!

They screwed up the tax system, they screwed up the social security system, they're going to kill us with their foreign policy, yet you continue to want to give them more power?

Asinine.

Answer 4

I just saw Sicko. I’m very impressed by the film and saddened by what I saw about our health care system, especially in comparison to those of other countries.

If we demand universal health care, we will get it. The health insurance companies that are profiting from the current system and their lobbyists will make a fight of it but it is up to us to educate ourselves about the situation and to demand change.

Answer 5

And how much money did people shell out to see Michael Moore's "documentary"? Seems to me Mr. Moore had his own private, capitalistic agenda when he put out that movie.

If he is so truly moved by this crisis, why not donate the profits from that movie to some sort of health insurance bank?

What's that?

He really doesn't care about helping to solve the problem?

He just exploits the problem for his own personal gain?

How cynical!

Answer 6

One of the biggest reasons is medical professionals in countries with socialized medicine make far less than here. They have a strong lobby in the AMA and taking away people's paychecks is a tough proposistion.

Answer 7

As long as our government remains hijacked by the wealthy-elite, there will be no change for the better. Only when the working class takes over government will we begin to see policies that benefit the underclass. We keep voting for the boss and then wondering why our jobs, paychecks and healthcare all suck so bad.

Answer 8

Michael Moore presents a rosy picture of socialized healthcare. We have the NHS in the UK and it's not perfect. The cost of running it climbs every year and I'm not aware of any evidence that British people are healthier than Americans. I think a balance between public and private money is the best solution.

Answer 9

Vote Kucinich

Answer 10

Did Moore mention the Health care tourists? The people from Canada and Europe who flock to the U.S. and other non socialized health care countries. There is a 3 month waiting list for an x-ray in Canada. In Britain, women are being told to give birth at home because there are no funds available to help them. This is what you want for the U.S.? Moore is a con artist. Very few people are turned down for medical service in the U.S.