***SICKO***

[The Boom Bapp]

How did this movie make you feel??

Michael Moore is a courageous director in my mind for putting National Healthcare or the "LACK" thereof in the spotlight for ALL TO SEE. It was the best movie I have ever seen!!!!! The down side is that, I am ashamed, disgusted and appalled of our Government and the "LACK" of importance they place on their citizen’s health and well being simply because their gross interest is to put all efforts into fattening up their pockets and taking care of their "CAPTIALIST" ideals first.

Did you know that our National Healthcare ranks the US 37th in the world as having the "best/worst" healthcare just below Slovenia.......uuuuuggghhhhhhh WHO!!! I found out that Cuba has National Care for Christ’s sake and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are the only people (non citizens) in the Great United States of America that get free, undeniable, nationalized healthcare!! Huh, What Say that again??? WHAT ABOUT OR RESCUERS AND VICTIMS OF 911!!!!! What is it that they get???? Oh that's right they get repeated "DENIAL of CARE" letters from their insurance companies because their ailments are not covered under their health plan due to his/her failure to get "Pre-authorization" from their provider stating that he/she planned on suffering from severe lung infections??? So...you are telling me that since they chose to show some chivalry and give gallantly of themselves to help in the rescue of those in need they deserve to die because they did not get approval to get sick???. WTF!!! :aggressive:

Facts have been shown to prove that the poorest of the poor in other countries with Nationalized Healthcare will live on average 3 to 4 years longer and be in much better general health than the richest American will ever in his or her lifetime. :bb:

I applaud England (NHS), France (SOS Medicine), Australia, Canada (Mr. Douglas), and yes even CUBA, for putting their citizens first by caring for their education, and healthcare which all but ensures a strong and prosperous future. I will pay higher taxes right now if I could get nationalized healthcare and education for my children to be paid for by the government. All I know is, if I become deathly ill and need medical attention of any sort, my brown behind is getting a passport and becoming a Canadian! Hello Toronto!! :cheesy:

Hillary tried and lost when attempting to launch a proposition of this nature because it would no longer allow the rich to get rich by oppressing the poor and ensuring the demise and the decline of those who need the help. The healthcare system eventually bought and paid for her Democratic silence in the amount of $400.000 along with the rest of the Republican party who eventually gave up politics and joined the healthcare industry as CEO's and Board members whom proudly emphasized the Company Policy of Humana, Kaiser-Permanente, Aetna, Blue Cross, HMO,s and other large Insurance and health related companies to "DENY, DENY, DENY, DENY" any and all medical claims saving the company millions causing the deaths of 18,000 Americans annually!! Ladies and Gentlemen, I Aaron Morris a naturalized American Citizen, proudly back and support Michael Moore and his movie "SICKO"

[oregongolf]

Well.. us in the states have one option.

 

Under the wisdom of Dave Chappelle, we should all get fake Canadian ID cards. "When you get sick, run up to Canada and get yourself checked out."

[raehtz10]

It is frustrating, but I also know that I have never had any insurance trouble myself. However, my wife is a social worker and she can def. tell some medical stories. It would be nice to socialize health care, but I don't think most Americans would put up with a tax increase that high. USA's motto: Always look out for #1.

[arkstorm]

I'm a fan of liberal politics but not of Michael Moore. In Fahrenheit 9/11 he distorted facts and told so many half truths as to render his credibility shot. You do not need to paint the republican party in a negative light, they do it to themselves. Just report the facts and the truth will hang them.

[stage1350]

Since I believe Michael Moore to be one of the biggest D-Bags on the planet, allow me to disagree with you on this one. Go watch his interview with Wolf Blitzer a few days ago when he was supposed to be talking about his movie. All he wanted to do was b**** about the war. If you think that's a documentary, you are mistaken. It is clearly biased and adgenda based.

 

If you want to fix health care in this country, the last place you want to put it is in the hands of the government. Try getting rid of the ridiculous lawsuits that drive malpractice insurance through the roof. How about tort reform and loser pays? Since you are citing England, how about strict liability over here? Try cracking down in the Insurance industry that wields a gargantuan hammer in Washington DC trying to keep their profits high. You have doctors that can not or will not practice in certain states because of lawsuits and insurance rates. Lay that at the feet of the lawyers and insurance industry and have them explain that.

 

Try going back to the old days when people paid cash for medical services. Then you decide whether your hard earned dollars are worth wasting a doctor's time. It's easy to go see the doctor when you have a $20 co-pay for a hangnail.

 

edited for spelling

[raidernut1234]

OK, without making this anymore political...

why don't all of you move to Cuba, France, Canada or England for 3 months (I doubt any of you would make it that long). Try and get some of that "socialized" healthcare, and pay those 55-75% tax rates (don't even get me started on our tax rates), and then get back to us.

and Ark, your right, Michael Moore's credibility has been blown. he creates propaganda in the same vein as Castro and Ho Chi Min. The only difference is this is the US, so there's not a gun pointed at your head if you choose not to watch it.

 

PS. I'll go out on a limb and say the clock is running on this thread

 

Oh yeah, and about the poor in this country?? I like the quote from the guy in India when the journalist asked him why he wanted to goto the USA before he died... His answer " I WANT TO GO TO A COUNTRY WHERE THE POOR PEOPLE ARE FAT."

[xltsk8]

Since I believe Michael Moore to be one of the biggest D-Bags on the planet, allow me to disagree with you on this one. Go watch his interview with Wolf Blitzer a few days ago when he was supposed to be talking about his movie. All he wanted to do was b**** about the war. If you think that's a documentary, you are mistaken. It is clearly biased and adgenda based.

 

If you want to fix health care in this country, the last place you want to put it is in the hands of the govenrnment. Try getting rid of the ridiculous lawsuits that drive malpractice insurance through the roof. How about tort reform and loser pays? Since you are citing England, how about strict liability over here? Try cracking down in the Insurance industry that wields a gargantuan hammer in Washington DC trying to keep their profits high. You have doctors that can not or will not practice in certain states because of lawsuits and insurance rates. Lay that at the feet of the lawyers and insurance industry and have them explain that.

 

Try going back to the old days when people paid cash for medical services. Then you decide whether your hard earned dollars are worth wasting a doctor's time. It's easy to go see the doctor when you have a $20 co-pay for a hangnail.

 

I agree. However I don't think Michael Moore is the biggest D-bag in the world. (BUT HE IS AMONG THE TOP TWO) Anyway, all Moore's stuff is biased. It doesn't matter what you want him to talk about, he will somehow try to get to an argument about the war or some other kind of ShullBit. He is a fat load. The best thing in this country is when he has his heart attack which will be in 2010. He wrote that he will live until a certain day, which is October 20, 2010. (10/20/2010)

[raidernut1234]

well put stage1350. Until this country reforms its Tort laws, and reels the lawyers in, we are in serious trouble, and it's catching up to us everyday.

[taylormadefan]

As long as people can keep things clean I don't think this needs to be locked.

 

My two cents, two words - spin stories.

 

Notice how on all of Moore's "facts" he doesn't provide any details?

 

There are definitely issues with health care in America today, but to say that it's the worst system in the world is flat out wrong and I find it really insulting as someone who is working in it.

 

Notice how Moore didn't go to any private hospitals in the UK or France? If NHS was so fantastic for everyone, how could private health care (and insurance) be in business there today?

 

If anyone would like to read an honest and journalistic critical view on the issues with American Healthcare, you should find Betrayal of Trust by Laurie Garrett.

 

[jared]

Michael Moore is a genius film maker, he paints brilliant pictures of chaos, corruption and of course dishonesty. However he is only a film maker in my mind and nothing else. To call his movies documentaries is hillarious. They are so biased and he leaves so much information out that one can only wonder if he even truely believes everything he says. Michael Moore is supposed to be out for the common man attacking issues such as healthcare, but do you think he really cares? This is the same guy I have seen on the floor at Lakers games and when was the last time you heard about him donating money from his films to help any of these causes? The guy is a joke. He is a shock artist, a political form of Howard Stern. Of course there are people without health insurance and also individuals who have longer wait times and so on....would you the tax paying citizens of America like to dish out even MORE in taxes so that these people get health care when you more than likely already do? I don't. Let me know how many illegal immigrants or indengent individuals a place like France or Canda have?

 

My biggest issue with Moore is that he totally takes advantage of the easily influenced common person in the US. His films if they were 100 percent true which of course they are not would be awsome however nothing is worse than someone posting like the topic starter about how great of a documentary something is when in fact it is totally biased. Do your own research make your own opinions and leave the film making to Moore.

[cwglum]

Bottom line ... Healthcare is not a birthright, it is available for those who can afford it.

[jimbonecrusher]

I think that Moore is a piece of work. He is fat, and in obvious bad health, so he writes a movie about how bad our healthcare is. On one side I will say that HMO just flat our suck!! They have some idiot sitting at a desk making a decision on whether or not a person needs a prescribed medical treatment. I also know that some doctors order unnecessary procedures. So in fact, a few bad apples have spoiled the lot. I know for a fact that if I needed a life saving procedure to be performed, and my insurance provider would not authorize it, that I would personally go visit them, because it is really hard to tell somebody 'no' when they are staring you in the eye.

 

If people want to pay the taxes that go along with a socialized healthcare system, then go live in that country.

[spk74]

Do many Americans travel to foreign countries to get operations? There aren't any such shows on the Discovery Channel, are there? But how many people come here to receive the absolute best care possible? Beyond that, how many foreigners come to the US to learn or practice medicine? All of our doctors, I believe, are the cream of the crop...they can solve some problems here that doctors in other countries aren't even capable of diagnosing.

 

I'm not sure whether it is unfortunate or fortunate that most are motivated by money. But the US has money and Americans are willing to spend money on health care. As long as that holds true, the best doctors will continue flocking here and we will continue to pay a premium for their services.

 

I'm pretty moderate but I'm married to a bleeding-heart liberal who absolutely loves Michael Moore and believes all of the pseudo-facts he presents in his films. They are a great opportunity for us to converse...and in that way I also love his movies. I haven't seen Sicko yet, but am looking forward to it.

 

I absolutely love the conversation he had with Marilyn Manson. He rants about the media thriving on "fear"...and that's exactly what Michael Moore's career is founded upon. I love it.

[hollywood69]

i'll keep it short and sweet about michael moore. All the republicans say that Farenheit 911 was half truth, blah, blah. I guess what I saw wasn't the Taliban in Texas, but merely superimposed by Michael Moore. Cmon stop being blind! Farenheit 911 was all true documentary. If it wasn't how come there were no lawsuits for slander?

 

What tops it off was within the past year, the gr8 mccain said that he and the rest of congress was lied to and had no idea this war would be the way it is! HERE'S WHAT I SAY TO THOSE BLIND IDIOTS!

MOORE AND JOHN KERRY OUTLINED/ FORTOLD THIS 3 YEARS AGO! YOU KNEW THEN AND NOW YOU ARE REALIZING IT NOW!

 

About health care, if it came down to life or limb i would pay the extra taxes. We all probally would IF it was in effect years ago. I mean to do something drastically now would be like stealing, but if it was gradual and we all got use to the money not being there, then we wouldn't miss it as much.

[pingeye]

Moore is a film maker and the analogy to Howard Stern was spot on. Big D-bag. He doesn't lie, he just conveniently leaves out the full truth in his movies. They are fictional afterall which is why there are no lawsuits. They certainly are not documentaries and it's surprising that some think of his career in that manner. Maybe in 10/20/2010, someone will produce a true Michael Moore documentary about his twisted/genius life.

 

He makes his monies via the shock factor through the movies, he just happens to be smarter than the producers of the reality TV series that have sprung up over the years :aggressive:

[jared]

i'll keep it short and sweet about michael moore. All the republicans say that Farenheit 911 was half truth, blah, blah. I guess what I saw wasn't the Taliban in Texas, but merely superimposed by Michael Moore. Cmon stop being blind! Farenheit 911 was all true documentary. If it wasn't how come there were no lawsuits for slander?

 

What tops it off was within the past year, the gr8 mccain said that he and the rest of congress was lied to and had no idea this war would be the way it is! HERE'S WHAT I SAY TO THOSE BLIND IDIOTS!

MOORE AND JOHN KERRY OUTLINED/ FORTOLD THIS 3 YEARS AGO! YOU KNEW THEN AND NOW YOU ARE REALIZING IT NOW!

 

About health care, if it came down to life or limb i would pay the extra taxes. We all probally would IF it was in effect years ago. I mean to do something drastically now would be like stealing, but if it was gradual and we all got use to the money not being there, then we wouldn't miss it as much.

 

Well you must fall in the bucket of the uniformed or misinformed. Do yourself a favor and watch farenhype 911. There were law suits. Several of them. However when you sign a release to be filmed it is just like Girls Gone Wild it us up to the filmmaker as to how they want to use it. Being in the medical industry Michael Moore was offering tens of thousands of dollars to pharma reps to conduct interviews for Sicko. However most were smart enough to realize it just wasn't worth the money. Saying his movie was a true documentary is a complete oxymoron. In order to do a "true" documentary you have to state all the facts not just ones that benefit your stance. As far as the John Kerry reference goes i mean how smart can that guy be if he couldn't beat probably one of the most unstable presidents in the history of the US? Simple reason why: He like michael moore is really good at pointing out what is wrong but they sure as hell have no solutions.

 

It is pretty easy to criticize things after they have happened. It is just like golf we watch these people take risks and jump all over them when it doesn't work out. Everyone can be a backseat driver. Yea Bush was sitting in front of a group of kids when he found out what had happened pretty easy to say what you would have done with that information. Health care has holes in its system....SHOCKER!!! Anyone that has two eyes and the ability to read the newspaper should already know that. It is the people that do not self educate that go and see these movies and take them as fact. Just like you have. You could put a movie together pretty easily about how big of a choke Phil has been over the years by leaving out all of his successes and bringing to the forefront his mishaps. Sicko, farenhieght 911 are no different.

[The Boom Bapp]

Love all the opinions guys, this is great.

 

Best Regards

Boom Bapp

Aaron Morris

[JKB]

Canada has a good idea of health care i think

[dmboak]

Never had a problem with healthcare. I could really care less about this movie.

[Goldenhawk]

Michael Moore is a glory hog, and in my opinion, a total loser. He doesn't do anything but make millions of $$$ from something that he views is wrong with the US. But guess what, he keeps most of the $$$ instead of donating it to a charitable cause. Michael Moore is a capitalist like everyone else in the US. If he's so sick and tired of how the US is or how it's run, he should move to Canada or the U.K and denounce his US Citizenship.

[307golf]

Many of us involved in the healthcare industry are very glad that these issues are being brought into the daylight. Like him or hate him, Moore's movies do provoke thought and discussion. More awareness about the "disease"care system in this country is a very positive thing.

 

Most people have no idea how badly the healthcare system is broken until they need it and it's not there for them... Ignorance is bliss, until something bad happens anyway...

 

307golf

[sergizmo]

Canada has a good idea of health care i think

 

It's getting worse though. Wait times are absolutely ridiculous (a guy a work had to wait 5 months for hip replacement surgery), and the rate of infection at hospitals is staggering. Something like 1 in 10 patients pick up an infection. We have also slipped bigtime in the UN healthcare rankings. The Scandinavian countries are now on top.

 

As for Michael Moore, he is a total fraud and hypocrite. Going from a private jet to a limo to some appearance condemning the evils of big business or rich people in general. How much of his fortune has he given back to Flint, Michigan (Roger and me)?

 

His movies are not factual. In Bowling for Colombine he interviewed some Canadians who said there was no crime and they left their doors unlocked. This is simply not true. In downtown Vancouver, some areas in Toronto and Montreal crime rates are comparable to larger US cities. We have less violent crime overall, but the vast majority of us in a city of any size most certainly lock our doors. And the whole new gun with bank account bit; staged.

 

He is out to make himself enormously rich through sensationalist causes, hiding behind a holier than thou ideaology. Much like Al Gore.

[KDMullins]

Try getting rid of the ridiculous lawsuits that drive malpractice insurance through the roof. How about tort reform and loser pays? Since you are citing England, how about strict liability over here? Try cracking down in the Insurance industry that wields a gargantuan hammer in Washington DC trying to keep their profits high. You have doctors that can not or will not practice in certain states because of lawsuits and insurance rates. Lay that at the feet of the lawyers and insurance industry and have them explain that.

 

I agree we need to get rid of ridiculous lawsuits, but if you believe they are driving malpractice insurance rates up, then you are buying into the bogus insurance industry propaganda. Tort reform doesn't stop bogus lawsuits, it just prevents those with the most serious injuries from being fully compensated...no offense, but you've obviously never been hurt (at least not severely) due to somebody else's negligence. One day your life is great, the next day you're screwed up for the rest of your life through no fault of your own.

 

I must confess I'm a lawyer, but if you'd seen some of the horror stories I have, you wouldn't be wanting to limit recoverable damages. People are injured everyday by negligent drivers and bogus doctors (you'd be amazed how easy it is to get a medical degree in some places), and they have devastating injuries...both physical and financial.

 

The civil jury system is what makes this country great and is one of the foundations upon which it was built. Trust me, plaintiffs don't get big verdicts in a bogus lawsuits...it's people just like you sitting on juries that give big verdicts and it's in cases that deserve it.

 

I won't totally let lawyers off the hook either...I think lawyer advertising is totally out of control. Frankly, I don't think lawyers should be able to advertise at all. There's no question there are lawyers that file frivolous suits, but tort reform is not the answer. Injured people shouldn't be punished for idiot lawyers.

 

Finally, a few challenges for all those pro-tort reformers out there:

 

1. Name as many legitimate physicians as you can (and that you know personally) that have been forced to move from one state to another because of lawsuits and/or malpractice rates;

 

2. Name as many doctors as you can (and that you know personally) that you would describe as poor; and

 

3. Name as many properly run insurance companies as you can that lost money last year.

 

I'll be surprised if anybody makes it to two hands answering all 3 questions.

[seasuks]

If you want free healthcare, join the military and defend the rights of people like Moore to spout off and say whatever the hell he wants. You won't have to pay for anything as long as you're active duty.

 

I believe JFK said it best... "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

 

You aren't entitled to s***. You earn it. It's the American way.

 

 

V/r

 

Seasuks

Lieutenant, United States Navy

[taylormadefan]

Canada has a good idea of health care i think

 

It's getting worse though. Wait times are absolutely ridiculous (a guy a work had to wait 5 months for hip replacement surgery), and the rate of infection at hospitals is staggering. Something like 1 in 10 patients pick up an infection. We have also slipped bigtime in the UN healthcare rankings. The Scandinavian countries are now on top.

 

This is a MAJOR problem EVERYWHERE, not just in Canada, but just as much in the US, we have no one but ourselves to blame for this. Antibiotic resistance is exponentially on the rise, and the bugs are becoming resistant faster than we can produce novel antibiotics.

 

Things like demanding prescriptions for antibiotics for common colds or flu (viral ailments), not finishing full doses of prescribed antibiotics, administration of preventative antibiotics for operations, and bacterial proliferation are all contributing to what's becoming a major worldwide problem. Not to mention what the foolish cattle industry has done.

 

As physicans we're no longer taught to prescribe antibiotics for all but the most severe and persistent of infections, simply let the immune system clear it out. This is one of those things like global warming, we all need to do our part to help each other out. Don't ask for antibiotics unless you absolutely need them, and if you must take them finish out your dosage even though they may make you feel terrible.

[The Couv]

There is no such thing as an unbiased documentary. Watch it, do your research, and draw your own conclusions. Moore does a great job of getting people talking.

[jared]

There is no such thing as an unbiased documentary. Watch it, do your research, and draw your own conclusions. Moore does a great job of getting people talking.

 

Does he though? I mean people keep saying that one of the positives is that his films stimulate conversation however I think what they really do is stimulate arguments predicated on biased facts and stats in the movie.

 

Like I have said a few times now the biggest problem I have is that impresionable people are thinking these movies are 100 percent true.

[The Couv]

There is no such thing as an unbiased documentary. Watch it, do your research, and draw your own conclusions. Moore does a great job of getting people talking.

 

Does he though? I mean people keep saying that one of the positives is that his films stimulate conversation however I think what they really do is stimulate arguments predicated on biased facts and stats in the movie.

 

Like I have said a few times now the biggest problem I have is that impresionable people are thinking these movies are 100 percent true.

 

I guess it depends on what people want to discuss. Do they want to discuss the faults and merits of the US (or any other country) healthcare system, or do they want to argue over facts presented in a movie. Biased 'facts' can be pulled from both sides of an discussion, and the argument continues and continues.

 

If you have a problem with 'impressionable' people being hoodwinked by Moore's movies, then I hope you have that same problem with every single movie, documentary, TV news show, reality show etc, etc, etc. They are ALL biased. They ALL have an intent. Michael Moore is a part of this system.

[jared]

There is no such thing as an unbiased documentary. Watch it, do your research, and draw your own conclusions. Moore does a great job of getting people talking.

 

Does he though? I mean people keep saying that one of the positives is that his films stimulate conversation however I think what they really do is stimulate arguments predicated on biased facts and stats in the movie.

 

Like I have said a few times now the biggest problem I have is that impresionable people are thinking these movies are 100 percent true.

 

I guess it depends on what people want to discuss. Do they want to discuss the faults and merits of the US (or any other country) healthcare system, or do they want to argue over facts presented in a movie. Biased 'facts' can be pulled from both sides of an discussion, and the argument continues and continues.

 

If you have a problem with 'impressionable' people being hoodwinked by Moore's movies, then I hope you have that same problem with every single movie, documentary, TV news show, reality show etc, etc, etc. They are ALL biased. They ALL have an intent. Michael Moore is a part of this system.

 

I disagree. Michael Moore does it on a much grander scale. Think of the amount of people that actually watch the news. Now think of the people that do not watch the news have no idea of any facts, opinion or any concept of reality that went to see Farenhieght 911. You now had thousands upon thousands of people running around thinking the whole world was ending and there was nothing they could do about it.

 

The guy operates on fear. You cannot compare a normal movie to a "documentary" fabricated to stimulate distress amongst society.

[sergizmo]

Canada has a good idea of health care i think

 

It's getting worse though. Wait times are absolutely ridiculous (a guy a work had to wait 5 months for hip replacement surgery), and the rate of infection at hospitals is staggering. Something like 1 in 10 patients pick up an infection. We have also slipped bigtime in the UN healthcare rankings. The Scandinavian countries are now on top.

 

This is a MAJOR problem EVERYWHERE, not just in Canada, but just as much in the US, we have no one but ourselves to blame for this. Antibiotic resistance is exponentially on the rise, and the bugs are becoming resistant faster than we can produce novel antibiotics.

 

Things like demanding prescriptions for antibiotics for common colds or flu (viral ailments), not finishing full doses of prescribed antibiotics, administration of preventative antibiotics for operations, and bacterial proliferation are all contributing to what's becoming a major worldwide problem. Not to mention what the foolish cattle industry has done.

 

As physicans we're no longer taught to prescribe antibiotics for all but the most severe and persistent of infections, simply let the immune system clear it out. This is one of those things like global warming, we all need to do our part to help each other out. Don't ask for antibiotics unless you absolutely need them, and if you must take them finish out your dosage even though they may make you feel terrible.

 

Another major problem is that some doctors and nurses at hospitals don't wash their hands often enough.

 

As healthcare is free in Canada, some people will go to the emergency room for the most trivial things; coughs/colds, stomach flu, sprains, etc... Most are sent away or put on low priority, but it still reduces efficiency as these people have to be processed.