Michael Moore's 'Sicko'

[Everglow]

In summary, the flick is about *drum roll* Universal HealthCare, only another controversial issue that Moore happened to make a movie out of.

What do you think? Should America's healthcare system (:stretcher:) be universalized? Defend your answer

[kolte]

In summary, the flick is about *drum roll* Universal HealthCare, only another controversial issue that Moore happened to make a movie out of.

What do you think? Should America's healthcare system (:stretcher:) be universalized? Defend your answer

Of course America's health care system should be universal. I say social medicine for everyone! I think health is a right, not a privilege.

[DouggyO.o]

Of course America's health care system should be universal. I say social medicine for everyone! I think health is a right, not a privilege.


that was deep....and i agree 100%

[Everglow]

Of course America's health care system should be universal. I say social medicine for everyone! I think health is a right, not a privilege.

Socialized medicine is not the same thing as communized medicine. JOC, why the socialist viewpoint if you are an arduous defender of communism?

Smoking is one of several lifestyle choices that negatively affects an individual's health. In short, smoking is a right. If smoking contradicts my 'right' to good health, then people who smoke around me are violating my assumed 'right'. Presupposed 'rights' that violate the rights of others are not constitutional rights. If health is a 'right', then do you think a ban against, or staunch limitation of smoking is acceptable in American society?

I believe that reforms are needed in the healthcare system of America. However, I do not believe that the system be eradicated to yield socialized medicine. In summary, with socialized medicine, we get:

~Decreases in quality treatment
~No further drug advancements to combat illnesses from the common cold to AIDS with literally everything in between from juvenile diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis.

[Trebor]

I'd have thought he'd call it "Bowling for a Colon".

[0=]

In summary, with socialized medicine, we get:

~Decreases in quality treatment
~No further drug advancements to combat illnesses from the common cold to AIDS with literally everything in between from juvenile diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis.


Care to prove that?

[Antares]

I watched his Larry King interview and the after thoughts on AC360 and I totally agree with what the movie is about but i really dont think that it should be universalized in the sense that we think it as (if that makes sense). I think that we should just take 2 things that are good from every other country's health system and then make our own with them.

[kolte]

Socialized medicine is not the same thing as communized medicine. JOC, why the socialist viewpoint if you are an arduous defender of communism?

Smoking is one of several lifestyle choices that negatively affects an individual's health. In short, smoking is a right. If smoking contradicts my 'right' to good health, then people who smoke around me are violating my assumed 'right'. Presupposed 'rights' that violate the rights of others are not constitutional rights. If health is a 'right', then do you think a ban against, or staunch limitation of smoking is acceptable in American society?

I believe that reforms are needed in the healthcare system of America. However, I do not believe that the system be eradicated to yield socialized medicine. In summary, with socialized medicine, we get:

~Decreases in quality treatment
~No further drug advancements to combat illnesses from the common cold to AIDS with literally everything in between from juvenile diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis.

*yawns* Wait what?


When did smoking get into this, but anyway. America is founded, from a certain point of view, on the right of each person to do whatever they want as long as what they do doesn't impede upon the rights of others. In that since smoking could be viewed as impeding the right of health to the people. Health being a right noted in the declaration of independence, the right of LIFE liberty and the pursuit of happiness.


However, what about the automobile? A lot these medical problems arising in America could be linked to the pollution emitted from automobile exhaust in our not so clean air; not to mention the coal and gas power plants.


And what about the food we eat sold in stores and restaurants. Filled with trans fats, and poisons, and large amounts of saturated fats and table sugars, these foods, taken over large amounts of time cause just as many problems as smoking and car exhaust. Should there legality be called into question like that of cigarettes? Well, as far as America is concerned, no, though I beg to differ.


It comes down to this. To do nothing about the health care system would be unethical. Our health care polices are made to assist the rich and deny the poor. Deforming health care into a privilege, one that only the wealthy, capitalist, Haves (as opposed to have not's), are able to acquire.

I know this doens't really answer any calls. But I'm having trouble expressing my views. A case of writers block. But give me time, and I'll find the words.

[Everglow]

Care to prove that?

Decrease in Quality Treatment

Basic economics tells us that when commodity is offered at no price, the demand for the said commodity skyrockets. In consequent supply takes a sharp and drastic turn south and a shortage develops. Shall we see this in real life? Read on:

Take Canada for example. Their healthcare system is socialized. As the demand for medical care increases in Canada, and as expensive technology is introduced, health costs soar. Why? Simply to cover the cost that hospitals, and other places that provide medical care, expend to purchase materials necessary to diagnose and treat people’s ailments. Want to see this in action? Let's take Quebec for example. It costs approximately $1,200 (USD) per year in taxes for each Quebec citizen to have access to the public health system. Also, the average family, two children included, pays nearly $5,000 (USD) a year for public health insurance. This is much more expensive than the most comprehensive private health insurance plan in the United States. That statement yields a different downside to socialized medicine, but it brings me to the point.

Because public health care taxes are so high, the Canadian government has little choice but to try to hold down increasing medical costs. What does this mean? Well, I'll tell you. Back to Quebec, hospitals have been facing budget cuts both in operating expenses and in capital spending from general surgeons and registered nurses to EKG’s and bed pans. Moreover, hospital equipment is often outdated and the number of general hospital beds dropped by 21 percent from 1972 to 1980.

I would not be remiss in stating that a decrease in hospital beds combined with outdated medical technology and budget deficits is an obvious sign of a decrease in quality treatment. You want to debate that? Look at America's system. I do volunteer work in the Emergency Room of an Indiana hospital, so I think I know what I’m talking about.

Another interesting point comes from something Michael Moore, himself, said in that Larry King Live interview that orchdork was talking about. I saw roughly the last 20 minutes or so. Anyway, Moore said 'That the average Canadian waits approximately 17 weeks to receive further medical treatment (that's after they initially go to the doctor and are further prescribed to say, surgery).' With private health insurance, this is unheard of in America. Want an example? Read further.

There is a little girl who lives across the street from me. Three weeks ago, she was diagnosed with a tumor on her spinal cord. The tumor prevented her from feeling anything in her right hand. When asked about it, she always said that one hand felt warm and the other felt cold. After swift and efficient prognosis, she had surgery to remove the tumor five days ago. This was made possible because her parents have something called private health insurance. The only thing she and her family had to wait for was a day for surgery that met their schedule, not the hospital's.

The waiting factor that is intensified with socialized medicine is plainly and simply preposterous. Moreover, more than one Canadian doctor has said that someone has died on the wait list for surgery. Socialized medicine is better? I think not.

No Further Drug Advancements

First of all, let me put this into perspective. What do Eli Lilly, Monsanto, Procter and Gamble, Wyeth, Pfizer, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis all have in common?

They all consist of a larger group of American (keyword) pharmaceutical companies.

Let's step back to our Canada example for a second. Does Canada have any pharmaceutical companies of their own?

No, Canada does not. However, Canada is lucky enough to have American pharmaceutical companies distributing drugs to Canada's own.

^^Will be back to finish

[DestroyTheFuture]

I hate Michael Moore.

he's fat, ugly, a coward, and a hypocritial advantagonizer (yes i made that up...)

the thing about Universal Healthcare, is that having that in the US takes away from many other very important things.

i like to go with the question, "is the juice worth the squeeze". meaning that would the people who are for Universal Healthcare willing to maybe take away something else because of this? Thats what this all comes down to, as of many of lifes situations.

[Antares]

*yawns* Wait what?


When did smoking get into this, but anyway. America is founded, from a certain point of view, on the right of each person to do whatever they want as long as what they do doesn't impede upon the rights of others. In that since smoking could be viewed as impeding the right of health to the people. Health being a right noted in the declaration of independence, the right of LIFE liberty and the pursuit of happiness.


However, what about the automobile? A lot these medical problems arising in America could be linked to the pollution emitted from automobile exhaust in our not so clean air; not to mention the coal and gas power plants.


And what about the food we eat sold in stores and restaurants. Filled with trans fats, and poisons, and large amounts of saturated fats and table sugars, these foods, taken over large amounts of time cause just as many problems as smoking and car exhaust. Should there legality be called into question like that of cigarettes? Well, as far as America is concerned, no, though I beg to differ.


It comes down to this. To do nothing about the health care system would be unethical. Our health care polices are made to assist the rich and deny the poor. Deforming health care into a privilege, one that only the wealthy, capitalist, Haves (as opposed to have not's), are able to acquire.

I know this doens't really answer any calls. But I'm having trouble expressing my views. A case of writers block. But give me time, and I'll find the words.

i thought that it was as long as it doesnt hurt other people. and when you smoke you hurt other people. i did a whole article thingy on the smoking ban soo.....

and how is micheal moore a coward?
and he is losing weight

[kolte]

If I had a tumor in my spinal cord, I would die. I have no health insurance. My place of employment doesn't offer it. And money is scare in my entire family, a family that is submerged in poverty. Its not the fault of my family, mostly we all have higher education. My mother is a LPN, my grandmother has multiple PHD's, My Step Father has a minor degree in some field of architecture, my brother a minor in some field of graphic design. I myself have been eying a major in sociology with interest, but not wishing to submerge myself in debt, and having failed to achieve proper educational standers, a scholarship seems laughable. Though I have been offered a small scholarship in music, and am sure I could presume it, the debt would still be immense, and with little infrastructure to help me, only myself and the wealth I appropriate, the future for me is bleak. And what if I get sick...not to mention I face neurological disease called charcot marie tooth disorder, which has nothing to do with teeth. And if this escalates, I might be financially burdened, and not to mention, the symptoms, should they persist and develop could leave me handicapped. How am I, an impoverished and uneducated youth to handle this. Well, if only there was some program petitioned by the government that would help me. I could wait until it gets so bad that I get disability or until I'm so old and crippled I'm eligible for Medicare, but you know, I think it would just suck writhing in my own agony until then. My alternatives? Move to Canada or any number of countries in Europe. Or, work to achieve socialized medicine, not to mentions the over though of the conditions which have kept health care private (capitalism).

[Everglow]

If I had a tumor in my spinal cord, I would die. I have no health insurance. My place of employment doesn't offer it. And money is scare in my entire family, a family that is submerged in poverty. Its not the fault of my family, mostly we all have higher education. My mother is a LPN, my grandmother has multiple PHD's, My Step Father has a minor degree in some field of architecture, my brother a minor in some field of graphic design. I myself have been eying a major in sociology with interest, but not wishing to submerge myself in debt, and having failed to achieve proper educational standers, a scholarship seems laughable. Though I have been offered a small scholarship in music, and am sure I could presume it, the debt would still be immense, and with little infrastructure to help me, only myself and the wealth I appropriate, the future for me is bleak. And what if I get sick...not to mention I face neurological disease called charcot marie tooth disorder, which has nothing to do with teeth. And if this escalates, I might be financially burdened, and not to mention, the symptoms, should they persist and develop could leave me handicapped. How am I, an impoverished and uneducated youth to handle this. Well, if only there was some program petitioned by the government that would help me. I could wait until it gets so bad that I get disability or until I'm so old and crippled I'm eligible for Medicare, but you know, I think it would just suck writhing in my own agony until then. My alternatives? Move to Canada or any number of countries in Europe. Or, work to achieve socialized medicine, not to mentions the over though of the conditions which have kept health care private (capitalism).


I respect your opinion :) I did acknowledge in a previous post that the healthcare system in America does need to be changed. Healthcare in America makes it very difficult for the poor to receive the same treatment that someone with a few extra dollars can pay for. But there is a gridlock. If healthcare in America became socialized, the same problems in Canada and most European countries would come into the picutre. I think all business should be responsible for the health of their employees, in the office or not. Humans are very efficient capital and have their fair share of pros against the machines. It sould be in our best interest to keep our productivity leves up and you can't have high productivity with an unhealthy group of people.

We need a system that helps everyone pay for medical expenses without negatively influencing the quality of health that can be delivered.

[serial-thrilla]

i think its really pathetic, the states have come so far and done so much, yet they still havent created a universal heathcare system which could save millions of lives.