I finally screened "Sicko" last night and although it was a bit bleak and depressing,it certainly gives you alot to think about....primarily,why our health care system in the US is among the worst in the world.Before anybody brands me as a Socialist,please read on.....
In the film,Michael Moore is interviewing a gentleman in Great Britain who sums up the 1948 conception of their National Health Service in brief but powerful words.He states that before the 2nd World War,people all over GB were out of work,living in poverty.With the War came an economic boom of sorts,and the general consensus was"If we can pull together and raise huge amounts of money killing people in a war,then why can't we also spend money to help the people in our country"?Makes you think....People in Canada,France & Great Britain are dumbfounded when they hear of people in the US,which is supposed to be the "superpower" of the Western World,losing their homes and going into bankruptcy because even though they HAVE health insurance in most cases,they simply cannot afford their staggering medical bills.We also have higher infant mortality rates AND shorter life expectancies in the US than those countries do.And while some Americans call it "socialized medicine",politics dont even come into play in these other countries when it comes to healthcare access.It isnt used as a political ploy.Even Cuba,the "Red Menace",and one of the worlds poorest nations,provides gratis health care to all citizens.Sadly,it seems that the only reason we are lagging behind is because the healthcare giants,who contribute massive amounts of money to our elected representatives,know that the multimillion dollar profits would go out the window.
And for those who cry,"Thats socalized medicine!",heres a news flash-socialized medicine is already HERE!Think about all the people abusing our Social Security System,collecting disability checks for drug addiction(yes its a "disability") or all the people who outright refuse to work and get welfare benefits.They are automatically eligible for Medicaid when they receive SSI or AFDC.Automatically!And on the other end of the spectrum you have our Congressmen,who enjoy taxpayer paid coverage that CANNOT exclude them for pre-existing conditions and offer a mere $250 deductible.Wisconsin Congressman Steve Kagen,a former physician,was amazed and outraged at the generous plans offered to him-you see,he had seen firsthand how many of his patients simply could not afford the medications he prescribed to them.He said and I quote from Readers Digest,"I decline that offer until my constituents,and everyone across America,can have the same option."
While I dont always agree with Michael Moore(after all he IS making money off of his films) I suggest everyone,regardless of politics,watch this documentary and make up their own minds.
5 comments:
Great post T-Mom. With all of the foreign workers everywhere, even the hospital, I have to wonder if a doctor here even has to be a citizen?
I take a time released Niaspan pill every night to raise my good cholesterol, and that's all that it is, Niacin just a mega dose, if it's not time released and in a huge dose it won't do the job. I'm lucky I do have health insurance, yeah my co-pay for time release niacin is $35 and there is not yet a generic.
Curiosity had me calling around to drugs stores one day to see what a time release vitamin would cost if I didn't have insurance. Low ball was $192 for 60 pills, the high end was $275 for time release vitamins...tell me that's not a scam!
I also agree that drug addicts and alcoholics that get disability because that can't cope, I do believe they should get one chance to better themselves with assistance, however when the timeline is over, so should the checks be over. Get a freakin' job!
Thanks!I think its one of most important issues facing the next President & hope whoever is elected,regardless of party affiliation,will address the healthcare crisis.I not sure,but I think Doctors from other countries can get work visas to come here.Maybe a reader knows and can set me right on that?
Excellent post, Totmom. I wish more people would just hear out the other side and weigh the pros and cons. Somewhere between the shouting from both sides are solutions if we'd all stop being so pigheaded and the powers would stop being so greedy.
Tot....do youself a favor before you put too much stock in Michael Moore's "documentary". Most of the so called facts he gathered were manipulated to support his opinion.
As a former police officer I know that you must gather the facts and then develope a theory. He has developed his opinion and shown only those things he could collect to support his opinion. The things he portayed as truths misrepresented what actually goes on in Cuba and Europe. He never told of the incidents involving cancer patients in Europe who were forced to wait so long for treatment that the cancer metasticised and the patient died. It also failed to show that the hospital at which the Americans with Moore recieved treatment in Cuba is one reserved for the most wealthy citizens in Cuba....not the average. Moore was cornered and questioned about that and in fact admitted that that portion was misleading.
Your right....socialized medicine is already here in some respects and it is failing miserably. Ask yourself this question. Can you think of anything at all that runs under the direction of the govt. that actually works the way it's supposed to? Social Security? Welfare? Even the MVA?
The govt. handles ALL medical treatment of veterans at Veterans Hospitals. Have you ever been to one of those? I have, Tot, and it's not pretty. Don't be too sure this is what you want. Politicians are only using this as a part of the platform they believe will catapult them to the top...don't fall for it kid....it's a formula for disaster.
Thanks for posting Grandad-we dont always agree but you are always a gentleman about it AND you project your opinion intelligently-two things that are hard to find on blogs!
I DO take Moore's films with a grain of salt-I just wish there was something we could do in our country about the healthcare deficiencies.Thanks again!
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