People Features
By Stone Martindale Jul 15, 2007, 14:13 GMT
'Sicko' Moore does not 'heart' Huckabee's
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Older Talkback
I saw 'Sicko' and I'm sure it has everyone in the for-profit health insurance industry wetting their collective Depends. The bottom line here is that lobbyists for these companies are spending huge sums to money to scare Americans into thinking 'socialized medicine' is the devil's tool and that America has the world's best health care (not) because of the free market.
The day Americans wake up and realize they're being scammed by these folks is the day we no longer need guys like Michael Moore who won't be intimidated by big business, slick politicians and non-stop public relations spin.
Maybe that's the same day we'll stop paying cable companies to pipe the Home Shopping Network into our living rooms.
Nah.
'It's obvious that even if you saw the movie you have a Republican slant of view. there is no doubt that Michael Moore has a bias, but you missed the entire point.
The point of the movie was to illustrate the plight of millions of Americans (who aren't necessarily obese) who are denied proper medical care and are at the mercy of the billion dollar health care industry.'
What is most obvious is that you clearly have a Republican slant of view. Secondly, watching the movie will not immediately convert people to the republican party. That's just plain ridiculous.
Further, given the fact that I have seen the movie, your first statement has no grounds... Again...
Finally, the second paragraph may have made some sense if and only if I had said anything to the contrary or even referred to the 'point of the movie'. In fact, I fully agree with you, except for the fact that I actually denied that.
Huckabee actually had some pretty good advice! You are required to take care of yourself. Tonny boy, it's called personal responsibility. We had it as a plank in the reform party in 1992. Needles to say, in a nation with obesity and diabetes going wild, we lost the election.
It looks to me like Moore could use some image advice, whether it's repairing his already useless reputation, or dropping some serious lbs. A few less donuts, a little moore exercise, moore low cal.
Moore likely he'll blow on about Cuban health care, or some other f--king libnazi diatribe. Next, cow tipping!
If you think public health care is there to feed your addictions, you are already on some kind of drug.
Huckabee is a far right, egotistical ex-fat slob trying what the Republican party has been getting away with for years.... Blame, scare, and avoid helping anyone that makes less than 500K a year. He's another Bush... 'let them go to the emergency room'.... an out of touch would be King.. and to think, Bushoie and Huckabee will tell you they are devotees of Jesus.. What a JOKE... and anyone who believes either Bush or Huckabee (or the NEW YORK Ex Mayor hated by his 911 responders) best realize that a vote for a current day republican is a vote for Pat Robertson, and all the other Radical Right jihadist Christians who wouldn't recognize Christ if he was standing next to them.... Michael Moore is an angry American with reason!!
Moore's movie is full of anecdotal stories, not hard and fast facts that affect the majority. I read daily new stories about the gross failures of government run healthcare in Europe and Canada. And who would dare to think that the US Government could do well with 'socialized' medicine? They can't even run Medicare correctly. And, sure, Moore could take some people to Cuba and get special treatment - just think of what country and leader you are talking about here - Fidel and his cronies just love to stick it to the Americans. Fidel sure got special treatment (and no one knows if he is alive or dead) for his own health problem. How about the little people in Cuba who cannot even afford food? I've never seen an in-depth story about Cuba's healthcare, only what came out of Moore's fool's mission to Cuba. The people there would not dare spout anything but party line for Cuba.
Go check cure rates on treated illnesses in America vs. The rest of the world..
Isn't interesting that the republicans always feel that socialized medicine will not work... It been working for years for congress. They've been receiving free medical care for years, and ironically, they are the ones that most afford to pay for it. It's time that the people that pay their salaries, have the same type of health coverage.
John, are you in medicine?
I can't believe the number of people who slam the movie because the director is fat, or who are saying 'fat people are costing us more' in health care, and therefore, because Michael Moore is fat, and is costing us more as a nation in health care, we should dismiss the movie's message as slanted somehow.
Maybe we should we be 'dissing people of color (they get that nasty sickle cell anemia that is costing us alot), or old people who have all those nasty heart problems (to name just one of the many and costly problems they have), or maybe skinny people (I'm sure they cost us alot, though I can't put my finger on just how) ...
Let's attack the 'messenger' for whatever personal weakness we can find. It's the American Way.
How can Huckabee evan have an opinion on Moore's movie? You have to WATCH a movie to have an opinion. Is he just afraid that we American's are sick of the abuse at the hands of the money-grubbers, and might actually take a stand, and WIN? We need affordable healthcare. Period. Like I've said before, if it takes pennies to produce, package, and advertise a pill, why is it being sold for $4.00 each? Something is glaringly wrong here people. We need to do something about it.
I've read some interesting stories about malfunctioning european public health too in US websites,of course belonging to FOX network .Not one contained any solid facts ,only the usual stuff about queues in waiting rooms,etc,blatant lies ,as anybody here could confirm .There will be occasionaly some problems when the flu or angina stikes,that is only normal .There are lot of personal examples to the contrary .For the sake of example consider my ex girlfriend .Diagnosed breast cancer more than 1 year ago .In hospital about one week later for minor surgery.She refused chemo and was back in another 6 months later, surgery neede as the cancer came back ,doctors did their very besy to save her breast .So they monitored her carefully for a while only to find another,third operation was necessary,a complete ablation of the breast which she will get in a few weeks .REconstruction of the breast will follow and chemo of course .The total costs for the three operations will be about 4000 dolars .THe bulk of which is 3500 dollars for the reconstruction of the breast as it is considered an estethical surgery .Not only is this very cheap compared to the US but you will also notice that before drastic measures are taken,the surgeon will try the utmost to save her physiscal integrity .What would your insurance company in the USA offer you ?Would it give you different consecutive operations or would it impose the full ablation of a breast .Here there is only one rule that applies to any medical therapy and that is the benefit of the patient.Costs reduction is only second to that .Still our health care is cheaper .My dad had a new hip at age 85 just a few weeks prior to his death as the consequence of cancer .Never did one even consider not offering rhis new hip as the result of him being in the last stage of cancer .His heart condition made every operation very risky but allways every decision was made to improve the quality of life .Never to reduce costs.And stll our health care is cheaper per capita.
I came to the conclusion that those opposed to socialised health care are either not concerned with the health of their fellow americans or plain ignorant of the facts .
A number of people have stated outright, or through implication, that Michael Moore does not have the authority to speak about our health care issues because he is fat, and therefore he is costing us as a nation 'more' than the non-fat person.
By this logic, we should not grant anyone a hearing who 'suffers' (and therefore costs our nation excessively) from the following conditions:
1. Old people: My gosh, they cost us all kinds of money. They start getting all those pesky heart problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, not to mention senility, alzheimers, and just plain old age.
2. People of color who suffer inordinately, compared to whites, from sickle cell anemia: Black people, don't bother addressing the health care crisis, especially you moron, Obama. (Yea, I'm talking to you!)
3. Skinny people: We know how you get so skinnny. The old finger down the throat. Have you stopped to consider how expensive that is for our nation? I for one don't want to pay for your stupid obsession. And like the others, don't bother expressing your opinions, via video, blog, or movie, on health care issues.
It's the American way -- kill the messenger if you don't like the message.
Is anyone here actually concerned with making a coherent point?
If you take elements of someone's argument, distort some things, blow some things out of proportion, and then entirely make some things up, it does make it easier to make some sort of 'righteous stand'. On the other hand, it sounds very stupid.
I've not read any post which said that people don't get sick or injured. The point people seem to be completely missing shouldn't even be a political one: many, many Americans do hardly anything to keep themselves healthy and in good shape. Of course, just because your relatively thin doesn't mean that you actually keep yourself healthy, there is far more than that. And, if you don't take some responsibility and action, no amount of medicine or therapy or operations can keep you healthy and strong.
Aside from commenting on a movie that he hasn't seen (which makes no sense), Huckabee's point is a good one. There is a lot people can do to make themselves healthier, to reduce stress, and to improve quality of life. Propping yourself up with operations and medicine doesn't seem like a good first option, but it may be a convenient one. Staying in decent shape can help keep other illnesses (genetic, injuries, or otherwise) at bay or at least reduce their effects (requiring less treatment). It isn't exactly brain surgery here.
Issues involving healthcare are more complex than anyone seems to be willing to discuss, anyway. I'm no expert, but it seems to me that one issue is that the Federal government is very protective of US drug companies and stifles competition from the outside. That certainly allows prices to become artificially high.
Try reading some of the comments in the article again, but skip any sentence that has the word 'Republican' or 'Democrat' or 'presidential campaign' or anything of the like in it. Was it rude? Yes. Does Mr Moore cost the US money on healthcare? Really doubtful. Did Mr Moore have a point he set out to prove with his movie? Yes. Would you pay to watch a movie that set out to *not* make a point?
Is it smart to put *some* effort into staying healthy? I'll let you figure that out.
The person who seems to be suggesting getting unhealthy just to stick it to the insurance companies is really missing out on life if that is what he or she is after.
And the folks who are denouncing attacks on old people and black people, etc, well, you appear to be the only ones even suggesting anything of the sort.
Grow up.
From: John
To: D. Finley Jul 15th, 2007
In response to your idiotic statement:
'Michael Moore does express a point of view in 'Sicko.' I have not seen all his
films, but he does not distort to the degree that Fox News does. What did you
see in this film that was untrue, John?'
Here's what (Sicko) didn't tell you:
When Michael (Sicko) Moore went to Cuba to show how great Castro's healthcare sysytem is, he left out one major factoid. When the fascist dictator fell ill and needed competent medical care... did he go to his own healthcare system to get the professional care that would save his sorry ass? No, he flew in a doctor from Spain.......yes that's right...Spain. So much for truth telling.
The vast majority of morbidity in the US is due to obesity (ie Mr. Moore), lack of exercise (Mr. Moore again), smoking, alcohol and drugs.
Get rid of obesity, get us off our asses and the price of health care plummets...
Moore's bit of propaganda fails to mention the failure of the Canadian system and other socialized health care systems..
Look at prostate cancer deaths in the US versus Canada or even worse England, we are up to 3 times more likely to survive...
If you hate HMO's you're really going to detest National Health Care.
At least with HMO's you can go elsewhere...
Specifically people die in Canada waiting for surgery, why didn't Mr. Moore mention this?
Some people will benefit from national health care, those without insurance, ER physicians, politicians...
the rest of us who work, go to the Y and have insurance will not be happy...
Brief real example: 21 yo female with cervical dysplasia is on blood pressure meds which according to her 'i cannot afford'..
she smokes 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes, name brand, a day.. She CHOOSES NOT TO HAVE INSURANCE. she does not want to quite smoking, smoking greatly accelerates cervical dysplasia, and doesn't want to pay ANYTHING.
I'm a physician. I work in the trenches.
Lose weight, get off your ass and you won't need me...
Huckabee is just another 'sicko', money grub'n, lie'n republican, second term of Bush and I see their is still lots of heads out there buired in the sand, it's way over due America to wake up.
if everyone in the US would lose weight.... there wouldnt be a problem... yes true statement.
How much would gas be?...about $4/gallon.
I'm a doctor.Our system is broken.
I saw a woman in the ER tonight with
advanced cervical cancer. A completely
preventable disease. She had no money to get
check-ups. Her life is over. We will spend thousands
trying to cure her. If everybody was given basic care
this would never have happened.
I work for a Hospice. I see fat and skinny people die. I see couch potatos and joggers die. I see vegetarians and hotdog/twinkie eaters die.
If somebody discovered the cure for cancer tomorrow, it wouldn't change a thing. Nothing a person can do will prevent sickness and death. It is inevitable. If everyone lost weight as Huckabee suggests it wouldn't change a thing. Everyone would still get sick and die.
Only a third grader could believe that calling 'Fatty,Fatty' is an intellectual argument.
So if two people argue the slender one is right? How about the taller one?
How about the more beautiful one? Or the whiter one. Or the richer one?
How asinine can you get?
Americans pay more for healthcare because the 'healthcare industry' is an industry designed to reap huge profits for the few people at the top.
It/they are completly uninterested in caring for human beings.
By the way, what are you righties doing here?
Shouldn't you be in Iraq, killing and dying for the moron you elected?
Why aren't you in Bagdad, bringing Democracy to the dead citizens?
Republicans save on healthcare because they have no brains and no hearts.
Too bad their souls are so cancerous.
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