Sicko is excellent!

**cloneaholic** · 06-30-2007, 09:45 PM

I highly recommend the new Michael Moore movie, Sicko. It's basically a documentary (admittedly, a biased one) about the U.S. health care industry.

Now I admit that I lean a little to the left when it comes to politics, but I'm not a flaming liberal. Moore's movie will make you choke up at times as you see some incredibly sad real life situations, and then laugh out loud at a few clips of President Bush. But most of all, it will make you angry that our country has a health care system that is based on profit rather than concern for the well being of the patient.

It's really sad that we're the only country in the western world that doesn't have universal health care for its citizens, that we have an infant mortality rate that's worse than most 3rd world countries, and that people are literally dying because HMO's are denying as many claims as possible to maximize profits.

It's one of the few movies I've been to where the entire audience stood and applauded.

**goldmember** · 06-30-2007, 10:07 PM

This isn't directed at you...but if our health care is so bad, why do people come from around the world to be treated in our hospitals rather that in their own country? Granted, things need to improve, but Michael Moore is the last person I would listen to on any subject especially healthcare.

Fred Thompson's Response to Michael Moore

**shildreth** · 06-30-2007, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by goldmember

This isn't directed at you...but if our health care is so bad, why do people come from around the world to be treated in our hospitals rather that in their own country? Granted, things need to improve, but Michael Moore is the last person I would listen to on any subject especially healthcare.

Fred Thompson's Response to Michael Moore

Individual capabilities/ knowledge of Dr's are a seperate issue/ topic than US healthcare billing and insurance plans.

**Incyte** · 06-30-2007, 10:28 PM

If Michael Moore wanted to help healthcare, shouldn't he lay off the double cheeseburgers?

**Wesley** · 06-30-2007, 10:45 PM

If you were in one of those universal healthcare system it is not so hot. Many times people wait months for needed operations.

**Cyclonepride** · 07-01-2007, 12:27 AM

I would not trust Michael Moore any farther than I could throw him. And obviously, that is not very d*mn far. I saw several interviews from people who were portrayed in his 9/11 movie, and they were furious as he had cut the scene to make them sound like they were saying the opposite of what they actually said. He hates America. He has the right to hate America. I have the right to not listen to him.

**Cyclonepride** · 07-01-2007, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by cloneaholic

I highly recommend the new Michael Moore movie, Sicko. It's basically a documentary (admittedly, a biased one) about the U.S. health care industry.

Now I admit that I lean a little to the left when it comes to politics, but I'm not a flaming liberal. Moore's movie will make you choke up at times as you see some incredibly sad real life situations, and then laugh out loud at a few clips of President Bush. But most of all, it will make you angry that our country has a health care system that is based on profit rather than concern for the well being of the patient.

It's really sad that we're the only country in the western world that doesn't have universal health care for its citizens, that we have an infant mortality rate that's worse than most 3rd world countries, and that people are literally dying because HMO's are denying as many claims as possible to maximize profits.

It's one of the few movies I've been to where the entire audience stood and applauded.

Infant Mortality and Life Expectancy for Selected Countries, 2007

Country Infant
mortal-
ity1 Life
expec-
tancy2 Albania 20.0/ 77.6Angola 184.4 /37.6Australia 4.6 /80.6Austria 4.5/ 79.2Bangladesh 59.1/ 62.8Brazil 27.6 /72.2Canada 4.6 /80.3Chile 8.4/ 77.0China 22.1 /72.9Costa Rica 9.5 /77.2Cyprus 6.9/ 78.0Czech Republic 3.9 /76.4Denmark 4.5 /78.0Ecuador 22.1 /76.6Egypt 30.1/ 71.6Finland 3.5 /78.7France 4.2 /79.9Germany 4.1 /79.0Greece 5.3/ 79.4Guatemala 29.8 /69.7Hungary 8.2/ 72.9India 34.6/ 68.6Iran 38.1 /70.6Ireland 5.2/ 77.9Israel 6.8 /79.6Italy 5.7 /79.9Country Infant
mortal-
ity1 Life
expec-
tancy2 Japan 3.2/ 81.4Kenya 57.4 /55.3Korea, South 6.1 /77.2Mexico 19.6/ 75.6Mozambique 109.9/ 40.9New Zealand 5.7 /79.0Nigeria 95.5/ 47.4Norway 3.6 /79.7Pakistan 68.5/ 63.8Panama 16.0 /75.2Peru 30.0 /70.1Poland 7.1/ 75.2Portugal 4.9/ 77.9Russia 11.1 /65.9Slovakia 7.1 /75.0South Africa 59.4 /42.5Spain 4.3 /79.8Sri Lanka 19.5/ 74.8Sweden 2.8 /80.6Switzerland 4.3 /80.6Syria 27.7 /70.6United Kingdom 5.0/ 78.7United States 6.4/ 78.0Venezuela 20.9/ 74.8Zimbabwe 51.1 /39.5
1. Infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
2. Life expectancy at birth, in years, both sexes.

This man lies. Plain and simple.

**alaskaguy** · 07-01-2007, 12:36 AM

The movie was typical unbalanced Moore.

**mwitt** · 07-01-2007, 12:41 AM

No offense, but the fact that everyone stood and applauded might have something to do with the audience that would go see a Michael Moore movie.

I don't mean that to be a personal assault, as you claim not to be a "flaming liberal." But I'm willing to bet there was more than one there.

**mj4cy** · 07-01-2007, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by Incyte

If Michael Moore wanted to help healthcare, shouldn't he lay off the double cheeseburgers?

Thats a classic case of ad hominem where you're attacking the person and not the issue.

**Cyclonepride** · 07-01-2007, 12:45 AM

Or try this link.......Country Navigator - Population Facts

**mj4cy** · 07-01-2007, 12:47 AM

Just because we people come here to get special treatment and that we have very good methods of healthcare (Mayo clinic has basically saved my mother's life from cancer), doesn't mean much since you gotta have a decent job or money to be able to use it. I've been in parts of our country where Ambulence's couldn't get to emergencies because they could not afford the gas to get there.

**Dormeezy** · 07-01-2007, 12:48 AM

Michael Moore is correct in the sense that our health care system is severely flawed and needs to be changed. However, that being said, his "documentaries" as total bull. Bogus propaganda with incorrect data and bending of the facts.

**mj4cy** · 07-01-2007, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dormeezy

Michael Moore is correct in the sense that our health care system is severely flawed and needs to be changed. However, that being said, his "documentaries" as total bull. Bogus propaganda with incorrect data and bending of the facts.

What do you expect thought? I mean A) it sells and he makes money. B) It capture the hearts of the "fence sitters." C) It gets people talking about it.

**alaskaguy** · 07-01-2007, 12:55 AM

Moore is capable of giving a hard look at the American health care system. However, he white washed the health care system in Cuba. You can’t film anywhere in Castro’s Alcatraz without government say-so, meaning the whole Cuba scene was as phony. The real situation in Cuba is that the hospitals are falling apart, surgeons lack basic supplies and must reuse latex gloves, patients must buy their sutures on the black market and provide bed sheets and food for extended hospital stays.