People Features
'Sicko' Moore does not 'heart' Huckabee's
By Stone Martindale Jul 15, 2007, 14:13 GMT
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It always amazes me the people listen to Michael Moore in his satrical essays. Everyone knows and accepts that he slices, dices and glues film together more than a Ginsu infomercial. Sad commentary if people really believe Michael Moore understands (or cares) about the root causes of any issue.
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?
Drop Huckabee off at Applebees
We deserve Moore
How about a president that would bring back the constitution!
Instead of the garbage we keep getting that destroys it.
Better yet lets get rid off the presidential office
and elect leaders from every class.
In the meantime lets nix healthcare for our current leaders anyways
They can afford it themselves
Huckabee is a real idiot. I'm so glad he came up and said what he did about Moore. He has made it easy to rule him out as a potential leader. He state that he hasn't seen and will not see the film, then he rants and raves as if he has. Put him in the category of some rich jerk who can pay cash for a $50,000 hospital surgical bill -- not an uncommon amount these days. He's off the list. Thanks for making it easy for me. He has no idea what he's talking about on this very important subject. Is this how he would 'research' other important topics? He's done. Get out.
I am confounded by the idiocy of the republican candidates. Lets face it, they are all on the take, havent got a clue and have led this country down the path to ruin. All traitors, and dont worry slimeballs. There will be war crime trials, and people like Mike Huckabee should get their chance to stay in gitmo, along with his fuherer leader, Dick Cheney. IF I was a republican, I would be worried. Gitmo, here comes Huckabee, bush, gulliani, the whole bunch of the traitors.
Most 'well-informed' candidates have hardly any more knowledge about universal (that does not mean socialized) health insurance than that well-paid commentators with obvious political and religious agendas try to stuff in the minds of average people. Why are these people preaching choice, while afraid of offering real choice to those who do not have thousands of dollars to stand up against lobbyists, 'investors', corrupt politicians, and 'leaders' who sell out the interests of the country in order to pad their pocket with oil money. pharmacy companies' bribes. American capitalism and democracy means, take, in the name of God and freedom, everything from the poor and the less mighty, including their life, and have the blessing of pharisaical religious
'leaders'. Only the Jesus-business is more immoral that health care manipulation and politics. When we Americans believe that this country is the leader of the 'free world', it is just wishful thinking. Europeans, Asians, Indians, ... are neither blind nor mentally handicapped to see what a
'leadership' this administration offers.
Of course Huckabee knows what he is talking about -- as he said, he is speaking from personal experience. It is proven fact that obese people require more medical care. All of that care costs money, and it drives up prices for everyone.
It's just simply logic that he would say that it makes little sense for Moore, an obese man who no doubt consumes large amounts of health care spurred on by that obesity, to be making a documentary on health care costs.
Is Moore right? Absolutely. Health care is far too expensive in this country.
Is Huckabee right? Absolutely. Health crises like chronic obesity, which Moore has, drive up health care costs in this country. It's interesting the producer references France and their cheaper health care. They also have MUCH lower obesity rates. Huckabee didn't say drinking wine and eating cheese makes you sick - he said not taking care of yourself does it.
And he's right.
And Moore's camp is so ready to slam anyone who has anything to say that isn't drolling over Moore's greatness that they don't even hear the point. Huckabee said people who don't take care of themselves cost more in health care. He said Moore clearly doesn't take care of himself. He doesn't need to be a neurosurgeon for that knowledge. He's right, and everyone knows it. Unable to counter his facts with anything substantial, the producer just whines about how the only reason he could possibly have any opinion on how people not caring for themselves costs more money would be if he's wanting money from insurance companies.
Suuuuure lady, we believe you.
Oh please. This has nothing to do with Huckabee being a Republican or anything else. This has to do with him saying this guy is fat and costs a lot to care for.
The only people who would be dumb enough to disagree with such a stance are those who are so busy banging the anti-republican war drum that they don't even care what the words being said are, just who they are said by.
I'm a proud Democrat, but I have to tell you, the ignorant behavior of some more prominent Dems lately has made me begin to wonder if this is a group of people I want to be associated with. Just look at the post a couple up about 'war crimes' trials and Gitmo. This has nothing to do with war crimes, Iraq, terrorism, or any of that.
It has to do with a single person consuming more than necessary; and that's a fact. He's fat. He costs more money. period.
As the pin holes in the submarine increase. The benefits to a militarized minority increase. The silent wealthy move assets overseas in anticipation of a freeze. The storm clouds gather with a growing debt as financing dwindles from investors with other bets. Watching the turning towel between government and economy...its the the middles class cash dripping down to a select few. Wake up they won't as history repeats....no armaggedon or end in sight...just sustainable change brought by Asia's might.
Michael Moore is a hypocrite. Michael Huckabee was willing to call him that.
Good for Huckabee. At least there's still a politician somewhere in this country willing to tell the truth.
Moore needs to lose weight and stop spending his Hollywood money on so much healthcare before he can gripe about how much it costs. Consumption drives prices. Supply and demand. He, and others who don't care for themselves, need to stop consuming so much, and prices would drop.
How much would oil be if cars got 200 MPG?
How stupid that anyone would argue with Huckabee's point. Just pathetic, really.
Wake up America! As a police officer, and a United State Marine Corps veteran who works and has lived amongst some of the most impoverished humans on this planet, it is sickening to read comments of those sympathetic with Mr. Moore, and who finance his eating habits by paying to view his biased films. For you folks that have never lived abroad, Mr. Moore is a classic example of perceptions abroad - Americans are gluts that consume everything, more than is necessary, while others cannot find enough to eat for one day. Instead of providing a solution and being a role model, Mr. Moore, like most of you, feels content not pushing himself away from the table - instead he continues to be part of the problem.
Being well into my forties, and in better physical condition than ninety percent of folks half my age, and certainly Mr. Moore, I see absolutely no excuse for being overweight, outside of a bona fide disease. The Mr. Moore’s of America are the only reason our health care system is overburdened, not some phantom menace. Statistics do indicate obesity is now a national crisis and the reason health care cost are on the rise - more people visiting a doctor. You folks are lazy and complacent, believing someone else will always be there to provide assistance. In the last twenty years, with the exception of two on-the-job injuries, I have visited a physician only for annual checkups.
How sad if you spent ten dollars to view Mr. Moore's films instead of donating that amount to an organization that feeds the hungry (I do every month), or instead of keeping the money in your pocket and at least participating in some physical activity for the same amount of time. If you must lean forward when you look down just to see your toes, you owe it to yourself, and to us, the minority who do not burden the American health care system.
Yes, it's true that overweight people need more healthcare; no one ever argues against that. But there are thousands of things that can happen to you that can wipe out everything you have that aren't related to healthcare and aren't your fault: how about car accidents, cancer, childbirth issues, household accidents, strokes, heart attacks, (which to a large extent is genetic, not weight related), alzheimer's to name a few? It's crazy to think that being overweight and then losing weight is going to keep you healthy and out of the hospital your entire life. We really do need a national health care system. My husband and I were on a road trip the other day and totally designed one - we decided federally funded, county managed and regulated (which brings the management down to the county level), managers are locally voted on, so the federal and state management are out of it. Similar to the county police infrastructure, basically. You'd have to have the prereq of being a doctor to be able to be the head of the agency, or a nurse practitioner. All health, vision and dental would be covered. Elective surgery like plastic surgery or elective cosmetic surgery would not be covered. Medical school would be free to all students that held a certain GPA and could pass tests similiar to LSATS to make sure the field of doctors would be actively recruited. This whole program would be paid from federal taxes, however, if you wanted to pay into private insurance you could, so if you wanted to opt out of public insurance plan, you could have a tax deduction from the taxes you paid during the year.
Okay, anyway, we were just dreaming.
Of course there can be truth in all arguments. Yes M. Moore is obese. Yes obese people use health care more and thus raise the overall cost of health care.
This argument is a typical polititian's misleading response to a serious question. The question is not is Michael Moore fat or not, or do fat people cost the health care more. The question is weather our current health care system is over priced because 30 cents of every dollar goes to administration costs? That is the question.
And the answer is YES. Those 30 cents are what this fight is over. Those 30 cents represent a lot of millionares' part of the health-care pie and those millionares are willing to spend a portion of it to misinform the Americal people.
I am a computer programmer. I have worked in private industry, health care, and government. In each instance I have worked on programs that are used to manage the enterprise's health care for its workers. This is a nightmare. There are so many rules and exceptions to the rules, that these programs are always the most modified and most complex programs, and they are the result of our chaotic health care system.
I have mentioned the 30 cents. The 30 cents do not even capture the entire cost to our society. Those 30 cents do not include the nightmare of administration that companies go through to manage their employees' health care. No wonder that more and more of them are dropping it.
A well funded single payer (not socialized medicine, please do not simply respond with that reactionary bromide) is the best way to go. It will save us money and provide better care to the American People.
Socialized medicine!
Socialized medicine!
Hillary! Hillary!
Woogie-boogie-boogie-boogie-boogie!
This is the entirety of what Republicans have to say about health care in America. If you vote for people this stupid again -- I say, again -- and again and again, then you yourself are stupid enough that you deserve to have your right to vote revoked.
Dancerat,
Although your idealistic view is great, it's not just going to be funded with federal taxes as they are. I lived in England in 2000-01, and when gas was $1.15 here, it was $6 a gallon there. They have monstrous taxes on things. That's how it's paid for.
We sit here and belly ache about $3 a gallon gas, which is still way below the inflation adjusted rate since 1980. We, as a collective, as a nation, are too busy petting our money and patting ourselves on the back to believe for a moment that a majority would ever vote in a program that would cost them a lot of money.
Sure, in England you don't pay doctors; you just pay everyone else. I nearly fainted when I got my credit card bill for an $80 tank of gas. My dr visits cost $40. I'm good with that, thanks.
All it comes down to is people knowing what they are spending their money on. To socialize it, it's a matter of taxing a huge amount. Either way, we are still paying for it, so there's little point.
The only way anything can be accomplished is if the government sets maximums on charges. They do it for Medicare and Medicaid. Doctors are not allowed to charge in excess of certain amounts for certain things -- they can charge it, but it gets written off. They must accept that with agreement to accept the insurance. Those rates that the social plans are willing to pay; those should be federalized and maintained at a rate no greater than that of inflation.
And drugs should be included in that cap. Canada pays less than half what we do; Mexico pays even less. We pay so much because no one makes them stop jacking up the prices.
The only thing that would work well is caps on prices. No matter how it's funded, we are all going to pay for healthcare anyway, so at least make it cheaper to do so.
Huckabee is an idiot, but based on the performance of the current administration, that's a prerequisite for getting elected to the presidency. Moore makes films about big issues of the day, but always has a serious underlying theme, i.e. 'poor people die in wars for wealthy people'. Moore's critics get bogged down arguing about the veracity of minor details and this creates more publicity for his films. He is very good at what he does.
Huckabee is a baffoon just like the rest of the Republican field. This country is going to hell in a hand basket and the neocon Republicans are to blame. History will show this. Michael Moore was right in 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Fahrenheit 911' and he is certainly correct in 'Sicko'. How Huckabee can criticize a man who has been right on point on these and others issues, is either refusing or ignoring the reality in dealing with the real problems facing our nation today.
Huckabee personifies the meaning of “empty suit”. Supposedly a civil servant who should show some compassion and concerned for millions of Americans without medical coverage, he instead shoots from the hip regarding a film he has never seen and casts judgment on its content. Huckabee is not an example of presidential material.
Why are we Americans so conceited that we think we have the best of everything? Can’t we learn from Japan’s mass transit system, Europe’s 35-hour work-week and their respect for vacation and leisure time? Are our political leaders afraid we may take a good look at the medical systems abroad and force them vote against their campaign contributors?
I’m glad Huckabee showed his true colors early in the campaign.
Michael Moore is satan and George W Bush and Dick Cheney are god. Good conservative war supporters know the difference. If someone does not not agree they will lose all privileges of liberty, and will be tortured or bombed. Like our hero John McCain says, bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb . Prison and torture will take care of most big problems, and we'll only need to bomb for oil and such. The costs of our conservative approach is minimal, like in Iraq. Look at the price of gas compared to EU. Now, what's on TV tonight?
These republicans are such fools…I can’t get over how they think that having socialized health care would be a disaster…NOTHING could be more of a disaster then what this right wing, fundamental country already has for health care…. GOD help this country find it’s strength in realizing that the STRONG and rich must help the WEAK and poor. Michael Moor is speaking and showing the truth and showing it harshly through his films!! He does great work and anyone to criticize his film making is jealous and upset with nothing more then Mr. Moor’s strength and great talents to shine the light on the dirty and corrupted! He is doing this country a great favor… some are just to stupid, blinded, scared and SICK…to open their eyes and to see all the corruption in this country! You go Michael… I support you all the way!
Moore is nothing but a 'Sicko' opportunist that has revived the art of propaganda Goebble's style and has made millions in the process off the dumb masses in around the word that he has become the hero for.
FAT people, and OLD people, are the two biggest drains on our healthcare system. They should both be 'eased' over the edge!
How can the people be responsible for the outrageously high cost of health care in this country? Huckabee is actually suggesting that this is the case. I and everybody else who has been to a Doctor knows that the insurance companies and the medical supply companies (pharmeceutical or otherwise) are to blame here.
Anyway, I think it is sad that many people think that using the elected officials we have chosen to protect us from the corrupt corporate entities that dominate the medical system is a bad idea. How is this a bad idea? It is not like they (the elected officials) aren't currently receiving kickbacks for turning a blind eye to the medical and insurance companies' price gouging. We can use these same government officials and make it so they are motivated, financially or otherwise, to hound and pressure insurance companies and medical companies to stop hurting the people they are purporting to help. Of course, if we all continue to elect individuals that are in bed with the insurance and medical companies, then all is lost.
What I am saying is that if government is corrupt, and the corporations are corrupt, then we, the people, should pit them against each other and make them both mutually motivated to sell each other out. We cannot do this, however, if we are afraid of the corruption the government might bring.
Of course, if you are one of the people that chooses to elect corrupt officials for your own financial gain, then your fear is probably justified.
I'm positively shocked at the juvenile behavior of some of the commenters in this thread. I would expect more of people who care about the news, though who knows why. There's a senator comparing GWB to Hitler for commuting a single sentence -- never mind Clinton's 100+ PARDONS. Nope, GWB is evil for 1 thing. Suuuuuuuuure. Children. Just juvenile BS.
Huckabee has a point, and blatantly says he's speaking from his own experience.
I don't care if MM is a friggin Nobel Peace Prize winner -- it does not change that he is obese and a drain on healthcare.
And to answer the last question: it's called supply and demand. Check out a high school econ book and then come back and ask again how people can be responsible for prices.
What ignorance. Just blind hatred, no matter the point? If they have an (R) next to their name, by God they are evil and war mongerers!
What fools you look like.
It is not necessary to pick up a turd and examine it by hand to know it is a turd.
Michael Moore is a self serving piece of crap who makes money off of people's fears.
This is not to say any politician is better or worse, it is simple fact.
He IS a politician in his own disgusting manner, he just is not accountable to anyone.
Most conservatives simply don't get it. People don't necessarily approve of Michael Moore's answers or solutions - they are just supportive of him at least asking the correct questions! Why do we spend so much on health care? We are we so adverse to government-paid health care when support for public schools is a no-brainer on any side of the political spectrum?
I am a limited-government con myself and just roll my eyes when I read Huck's comments. Offer your own solution, stupid! People don't want to hear 'NO', they want to hear a different solution. Milton Friedman was on the right track -the AMA limiting the number of doctors, as well the regulation in administering healthcare is what sends costs so high.
There is no reason why we should not allow entrepreneurs to develop cheaper health clinics, new methods of performing procedures, and training people for certain tasks, so to reduce the need for someone with an MD.
I'm no Moore fan but I think this film (Sicko) finally brings to the front a serious issue that the politicans have have ignored for too long. I've had the pleasure of using nationalized health care and I much prefer it to the screwed up half baked system we have in the US.
At least under a nationalized system I could get some treatment even if it were sub American standard; which it was not... However, under this lovely American system I can't get jack! What I get is charged about $400 a month for nothing. No preventative care, no minor care, no major care... just massive medical bills if I choose to use the insurance.
Anyone who defends this broken American system is a freaking moron and obviously cares nothing for Americans!
The fact is that Swedes (that nasty, bloodthirsty socialists!) pay about 6% of their incomes to health care, Americans pay closer to 16%. We do not get the same quality of healthcare as the Swedes. Huckabee also contradicts himself in a way. He says that if Americans took more responsibility for their health the costs would go down. Duh, I doubt anyone is objecting to this assertion. However, under the same token, if Americans received free preventative health care and diagnostic treatment costs would plummet. As it is now, if you are poor and have a special dietary problem, for instance, you don't know it until you are in the ER.
Michael Moore has finally screwed up his profile as a documentary maker, by bullshitting out of point in the CNN's Gupta issue. Instead of sticking to the point, he was bringing in all sort of 'craps'(the word he so often used)into one straighfoward and simple argument. Used to like him in F9/11.. but now he is a proven HYPO.
No profits Universal Medicare for all Americans so he declared.... one important question, is SICKO a no profit documentary as well??? Fat hope, as fat Moore is quivering to the bank in all is lard.
The politicians are playing with our money, and it's going to the military contractors, drug, insurance, and oil industries. In the meantime we struggle, while they make record profits. People have lost faith because our elected officials don't represent us anymore. They got us fighting democrat vs. republican, when it should be us against them. They need to be held accountable to our needs.
Cripes. American's....we're getting dumber everyday. I live in America, I have been to Europe, I have seen 'socialized medicine' in action. Its better than ours. I am sorry to say. We in America have been robbed by our own greed. We're a bunch of idiots who sell out our mothers for money. My argument stands flawlessly when you read about the World Health Organizations rank. We're #37 in rank. Cuba is #39. Morocco Africa, Canada, Columbia, Chili are ALL better than the USA for healthcare. Stop being a bunch of idiots PLEASE. Universal Healthcare is one of the most important American changes we could ever make.
To the people who think they find an arguments in putting the blame on obese people for costing too much in the health system I say this;don' worry ,they cost less in the pension system as their life expectancy is much lower .
What is truely rebolting is the mental lazyness of Mr Huckabee,even refusing to make himself aquainted with his own health system and the critics rom Mr Moore .If one is elected in a position of responsibility one owes it to the population to study at meast the basic principles of administration,relevant issues and the problems of the population.To address such a relevant issue as healthcare with a oneliner on Moore's body weight is horrible .What is even more horrible is that such comment gains him points with some people .My first argmunt comparing the cost health care and pension funding for obese people is addressed to them .
It is common knowledge here in Europe that the diseased people in the USA suffer not only ill health but also ill fate if they are a bit unlucky/
For comparison;Having the doctor on a house visit here cost one about 6 dollars.The rest ispaid for my medicare.For elderly people and handicapped it is even cheaper .Of course the gasoline is more expensive .But the income of the state nwhich is all of us,serves not only to pay medicare but also pensions,infrastructure,social housing,roads,vacation ,unemployment money hospitals,bridges,tunnels,etc,etc.Alltogether I would say we enjoy much less strained lives ,more holidays ,less worries about disease,pension or other financial problems .Worried people are less aggressive,less inclined to criminal behaviour and more openminded to the problems of others .Most people here enjoy an average status of living that is higher than what people enjoy in the USA.I just hope that one day you will be able to have something similar .
You people are all idiots. Michael Moore is a sensationalist one trick pony. Have any of you verified any of the 'facts' of the film? Would you like a healthcare system similar to the DMV? Only 50 million Americans out of 300 million don't have healthcare, that number includes college age kids 18-25, people between jobs, illegal immigrants, etc. Get a job and you'll get health insurance. You want to pay 40 - 60 percent more in income tax to cover the healthcare cost of some fat-ass like Moore? Move to Canada if the healthcare is so great. If you do, you are more likely to die of heart failure than if you lived in the US. Why not just move to Cuba and take that fat bastard with you.
I would greatly recommend to the people to make this an issue for your next elections .If you want healthcare,register yourselves as voters ,look for a candidate willing to reform your system .From the information I compiled it seems to me that Hillary Clinton made some attempts to do so but apparently she was successfully countered .Loose no more time wasting to convince those who disagree .THey offer nothing but insults and oneliners .Look at the miltary spending of your country and tell me again if thjat makes sense .THe cold war is gone and so is the need for all these costly expenses .THey are worthless in a war against terrorists .THat war is political and the best way to win it is to show that you have something to offer .The way you are treating yourv poor and diseased is not an image to be shown.Less weapons;more justice .THat will make your country a shining beacon of values .It will not only make up for a less violent society but will also reflect on the perception of the people in the rest of the world .
Good grief. So what Mr Moore's critics are saying is that there is no truth to be found in this documentary? That health services for American citizens are perfectly alright and Mr Moore should just shut up and go away? For all of his many, many faults, don't look me in the eye and tell me that you really believe that our healthcare system works. For the very same reason that conservatives attack Al Gore for trying to motivate us with a sense of environmental responsibility, Moore haters would have the world believe that his efforts to expose our health system's deficiencies are no less self-serving. Good ideas can only come from the right? This country's intolerance has become intolerable.
Like, where's it going to end?
It is very funny to read what people write about Moore and his deception of the uninformed masses. The only people who believe his half truths are the lazy people who dont find out the facts for themselves. These are the groups of people the liberals want, in fact it is the only group of voters they can get. As long as they can be told lies and believe them as gospel the liberals can get votes. If you did some research (ie think for yourself) you would find that everyone of moores film are full of flat out lies and half truths. That is not my opinion, that is fact so look it up for yourself. But you have to give it to the liberals, as long as idiots are allowed to vote they know that they can get votes.
The liberals want everybody to have access to food, clean water, heat in the winter, health care, etc. When is this madness going to end? If we did what the liberals wanted, we wouldn't have enough money to spread democracy around the world.
Regarding blogger reactions to Mike Huckabee commenting about 'Sicko' that Michael Moore produced.
It always amazes me that when liberal bloggers comment about a stance that a conservative politician takes it is always shrouded in fear. Liberals often project their low levels of morality and low levels of personal character onto whomever they are criticising because it is the easiest thing to do. It requires zero brain power to criticize the rich (even though they are employed by the rich)and it requires zero brain power to drum up a secret horrible motivation like 'they're after the insurance company endorsements'. It reveals their own weakness that nobody would have any morals higher than their own.
The point of sicko is it does'nt matter how fat micheal moore is or any other american. We all stand as one and we should all make it possible that all people are healthy as one. This is about rich and poor. Americans your only as strong as your weakest link. So why not make sure everyone strong. I am not a democrat or republican. I am with the party that stands for it's people and not themselves.(i have yet to find that party). While you all talk their are poor people right now that can't get their medical help they require. As americans we should take care of our own. Who cares about upping taxes for EVERYONES health. Maybe if EVERYONE was able to see doctors on a regular basis and doctors were paid incentives on having healthier patients EVERYONE would be more educated and motivated to stop eating. Do I say that the one solution NO but I bet it would be a good start. I love America but as Americans we must stand up and stop letting the politicans run all over us with their own agendas.
Moore is an ass. Everyone knows that. If you think you're special or smart because you figured that out, put on your helmet, get out of your desk, and ask the teacher for a juice box. People listen to him because he's one of the few asses out there that still uses his powers for good.
Moore is fat. This is quite obvious. Is he a 'drain' on the system? Hell no, he's rich morons. He's pumping money into the system. Jesus, the man doesn't even need insurance, he could just pay out of pocket. He's publicly talked about this, not that anyone prejudiced against him listens. He said that, while making the film, he realized he wasn't taking care of his own health. Not that you would notice (thanks to the way CNN, paid for by big pharma commercials, stretched out his video feed), but he's dropped 30 lbs since F9/11.
Moore lies. I keep hearing this, and I believed this, for years. I've hated on Moore for years. I've rejected his previous films as 'propaganda'. Then I realized, it's quite obvious who our lazily elected representation is working for. Have you noticed that in this election, the media has given up the illusion that people's votes even matter? They don't talk about polls any more, it's just money. The 'front-runners' (Democrats) are the candidates that have raised the most money, polls be damned. That money, despite attempts to reform financing, is coming from the unpopular industries that know they would get run through the wringer by a government that represents the people. To his credit, Moore has said that he doesn't support ANY of the major candidates. They're all bought and paid for years before they're elected, and none of them want to risk their financing to stand up for the American people.
Damnit people, I know you hate hippies, but I was under the impression you hated gays even more. Why then, are you bending over and taking it in the butt? You're paying retail for healthcare. RETAIL! Why do we have a for-profit middleman? Why are we letting a bunch of working americans slide by without paying for the healthcare we know they're going to eventually use? Just like fire, police, mail, roads, and water, health is a service we ALL use and need. You angry people know as well as I do, we can't depend on people to be responsible about funding those emergency services. Can you imagine if your neighbor didn't have firefighting insurance, the same way he doesn't have health insurance? Jesus, you'd need to have your own FMO (fire management organization) come stop the fire from spreading. That ends up jacking your rates, so you're screwed and he's screwed. It's a good thing that's not how our health insurance works!
The one comment that is dead on is that 'nothing is free'. Universal healthcare would be paid for with taxes, on the order of a 5-10% increase. That's mucho money, but you're PAYING for it already, just to a private company. We've let their propaganda convince us that we don't have any influence over how the government is run, that it's destined to fail. That's just what they want you to believe, so that the rich bastards running things can siphon more money from your wallet than you need to pay, without being accountable to you at all.
The moral? I don't care if you DO love HMOs, you can't deny that they constantly try to squeeze you. Take some action people! Call your freakin' representation (they work for you, even if you didn't vote for them), and demand action (whether it be universal care or a reformation of the current system). Make them sweat off a few of the pounds they say YOU are supposed to lose to fix the system. Don't just email them, either. Make their phones ring, and you WILL see something happen.
You can get their numbers at USA dot gov slash contact dot shtml... jeez, just google it.
Don't let me down! :)
So he saying fat people shouldn't complain because they are the problem?? Wow, so much for his polling numbers. Because I hate to tell him but the majority of Americans are fat. Now that's a fact he can't dispute. He just lost a big group (no pun intended) of voters. If he wants to stand in front of all Americans and tell them “we’d have no healthcare crisis if it weren’t for the fat folks”, someone is going to eat him for lunch.
With lower healthcare costs people would be more likely to visit the doctor regularly and avoid smaller problems becoming large ones, not to meantion if there was a way to write off joining a gym on your taxes, then maybe working out and trying to live healthier would make more sense to people. Just saying it's good for your health and will make you live longer doesn't always do it for people, but to say those things and that it will save you money on your taxes may be just the right chord to strike with some people. Personally I hope we do more for healthcare reform. Michael Moore isn't going after republicans or democrats in this film as much as he's trying to point out something he's seeing as being wrong with america that we have the ability to change. There is so much that we can't change or that will take a long time to see any positive effect, but this is something that we could benefit from in years rather than a lifetime. Think about it.
Billy
TopSecretSupport.Com
t always amazes me the people listen to Huckabee in his political speeches. Everyone knows and accepts that he slices, dices and glues issues together more than a Ginsu infomercial. Sad commentary if people really believe Huckabee understands (or cares) about the root causes of any issue.
Ironically, Moore agrees with Huckabee. Moore has said that, as a result of doing this film, he is trying to become more healthy. He's already shed quite a few pounds and is trying to lose more. He's not a hypocrite. Huckabee is an idiot.
Mike Huckabee can afford to go to any doctor he wants, for any procedure he needs.
80 per cent of the rest of us can't.
That's the bottom line.
It's no wonder the governor is advertising his services to the health insurance corporations--Michael Moore makes a convenient straw man argument to support his quest for campaign funding.
Huckabee's actually got a point. Not eating a bushel of Twinkies may not be a health plan, but it's a good place to start. If people would take responsibility for themselves instead of expecting the government to take care of everything we'd all be way better off. But instead everyone wants to just do whatever they feel like and then expect government and/or society to take care of them when it doesn't work out.
Talk about shooting the messenger. Moore will always be an easy target for righties like the Huckster because, well, he's Michael Moore. So basically, all Republicans have to do is criticize Moore, have all their sheep start nodding and spouting 'they're right... socialized medicine... fat man bad...' and then they don't have to do a bloody thing about the actual problem.
You know that when there's something on which both Republicans and Democrats agree, it's utterly corrupt. Take for example, the recent immigration debacle, or the claim they both make that obese people require more health care. The obese, in my experience, use far less health care than their thin counterparts. The thin, dour, driven, mean, and unhappy, rush to doctors and the the ultra-expensive tests they recommend, to treat their hypocondrias.
Obese people, on the other hand, knowing that doctors can't see the person beneath the obesity, avoid doctors. As a result, obese people pay for insurance, which more often than not, they don't use, with the ever climbing rates of insurance going to help pay for the unhappy narcissisms of their thin and physically, if not mentally or spiritually, fit counterparts.
People are lazy. It is too much effort to eat right and exercise, so they'll take drugs to prop them up. It is too much effort to pay for them, so they'll get the whole country to chip in. Huckabee has told people to try to take some responsibility for themselves.
No, those things will not keep everyone out of the hospital all of the time. No, Huckabee's statement was not a policy, and it certainly isn't likely to win him many friends. But, putting the maneuvering of a presidential campaign aside, Huckabee has at least had the nerve to tell people to shape up and try to take *some* responsibility for their own health and well-being. For Moore's part, if he has decided to focus a little more on his health as a result of making this movie, then I applaud him for it.
I don't understand the mentality that would rather raise a riot to get cheaper drugs than spend a few minutes a day and a little self-control to avoid having to get them at all.
Americans are soooo brain washed by their corporate media and the ruling elite.
When somebody try to point out the 'corruption' within their medical system, these people go after the messenger!!!!
Nobody was even outraged about the people being dropped off in the middle of the street!!! I guess it shows the selfishness of these people.
Whats wrong with you dum dums?
'Everyone knows and accepts that he slices, dices and glues film together'
And tell me which director doesn't? For a good example, I give you The Passion Of The Christ, where, after people who saw this movie, walked out of the theatre proclaiming that it was HISTORY, not one person's perception of his faith put onto the silver screen.
Michael Moore, while being a film director that's solely out to prove whatever point that he's trying to make at the time, offers good media that makes you think and ask yourself important questions. Questions like 'If THEY can do it, why the hell can't we?'
Sure 'being healthier' does bring down your health care costs by not purchasing all of those drugs or tests that need to be done, but the flip side of that is you're still paying a monthly bill to an insurance company while you're healthy. Sure it's a lower cost, but it's revenue that the health companies receive and pay nothing out.
This isn't a Republican or a Democrat thing, it's a PRIORITY THING!
The American people WILL NOT elect some condescending ass like Mike H. Just keep talkng GOP candidates...keep talking...they choice will be SO easy
OK... Americans if you don't run 10 miles a day... then NO INSURANCE!!!!!!
Thanks Mr. Huckabeee. Here is 1 million dollars for your idea.
'Everyone knows and accepts that he slices, dices and glues film together'
And tell me which director doesn't? For a good example, I give you The Passion Of The Christ, where, after people who saw this movie, walked out of the theatre proclaiming that it was HISTORY, not one person's perception of his faith put onto the silver screen.
Michael Moore, while being a film director that's solely out to prove whatever point that he's trying to make at the time, offers good media that makes you think and ask yourself important questions. Questions like 'If THEY can do it, why the hell can't we?'
Sure 'being healthier' does bring down your health care costs by not purchasing all of those drugs or tests that need to be done, but the flip side of that is you're still paying a monthly bill to an insurance company while you're healthy. Sure it's a lower cost, but it's revenue that the health companies receive and pay nothing out.
'How much would oil be if cars got 200 MPG?'
Think about how many wars wouldn't be waged if independant transportation didn't rely solely on crude oil? Consider that large oil companies that seem to double their stock almost literally overnight, subsequently while our gas prices soar to over $3.00 per gallon, and ask yourself that question in the mirror one more time.
This isn't a Republican or a Democrat thing, it's a PRIORITY THING!
I've seen all of Moore's films. Like always I went in expecting to take in as much as possible but understand that the movie is based on one person's belief's or ideas about the controversy concerning a particular event or incident. This movie caught me off guard. It was less an attack at a particular group or people or office and rather an educational film concerning our healthcare system compared to other countries. Countries we are supposed to be 'more advanced then' at least according to our government.
I understand there are a lot of Moore haters out there but please trust me. This movie is worth seeing. It is different then his other films. This one is MEANT to educate people rather then bring up conspiracy theories.
I won’t lie… in terms of HEALTH CARE and health care only this movie did make me want to move to another country.
Are the first responders to 911 'guilty' for their lung problems? Was the cancer patient 'guilty' for contracting cancer? Was the woman whose car was rearended who was injured and unconscious 'guilty' for not getting pre-approved by her HMO for ambulance services to the hospital?
watch the film before taking silly pot shots at Moore about the weight problem which he is trying to do something about.
It sounds like you are tarring all the other people in the U.S. with health care issues with your gripe, just playing Mr. Tough Conservative, with no flipping idea of a solution to why americans pay so much more to get so much less.
He should be humiliated that not only are we behind all the western nations, there are 3rd world countries with a better record.
The government should not be in the health care business, instead, it should write standard health care policy and allow companies to compete. Market force will drive down the cost. Government should be the enforcer, make sure no foul play and protect the honest consumers and honest businesses.
It is rude to call someone fat, but Huckabee does have a point. People should be responsible to their own health, and policy seller should be allowed to drop policy holder if who becomes unfit. Just like car insurance, if you have one too many accidents, it is difficult to buy standard policy at a normal rate.
First of all, being fat is a moot point. The only thing that being fat will do is dig into the profits of the already wealthy insurance companies. If everybody were to get healthier, they would say 'great, more profit', not 'great, we can help more people'. I see absolutely no correlation between strain on the medical system and quality of care received. The only good thing about a privately-provided service is that it can scale itself indefinitely. The problem is that lots of people can't take advantage of it.
Secondly, you aren't going to be able to change the amount of food 300+ million people eat. You won't be able to make them all thin. The point of the government and industries is to cater to the needs of the people, in this case health care, not for people to cater to the greatest desires of the government and private companies. Where did that get lost? In some strange translation of the law?
Thirdly, having lived in Canada for over ten years and living in Paris now, seeing even one case such as what was brought up in the movie is absolutely disgusting. You can scream and shout until you are blue in the face, but you will NEVER see that in either Canada or France. There would not be one case of a person seeking medical attention who could not have a doctor try to help you. Not for one person in one year, not for one person in ten years, not for millions of people in one year, ten years, 100 years. I just can't stress enough that to even be able to shoot footage of that happening in a first-world country means there is something terribly, terribly wrong. It's just something that didn't exist and wasn't possible as far as I was concerned until I saw this movie...
whatajoke
That's what you are. 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.
There is no denying that other countries with less financial prominence than ours find a better way to take care of their own.
It just amazes me to witness how you lock step to the party line.
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.
Moore simplifies the issues at hand but he brings up an important issues in America that needs to be addressed.
There is a huge list of countries with healthier citizens who spend a whole lot less on their systems and people live longer and healthier lives. Face it: we are a fat, rich country. We should start by rewarding people based off medical facts. For example, your premiums should be based off your BMI index. The fatter your are the more you pay. Start dieting America and witness the correlation between taking care of yourself and the decrease in you medical needs.
Untill now I've found only one fact that seemed to indicate a better performance for privatized health care in these posts.All the rest is wishfull thinking.THe survival rate for prostrate cancer in the USA .I have no clues why people aflicted by that disease live longer in the USA .Anyway that does not reach beyond the level of cherry picking .Alltogether the longevity of people in the USA and the survival rate for all diseases added together is beyond european and third world countries rate .That is the complete picture ,larger than one disease only .Why is that ?
And why are those trying to obscure the whole picture always refering to one little part only ?What is the selfdeclared purpose of any corporate bizness ?It simply is to make profit,maximum profit .
How does an insurance company make profit?By earning as much money as possible and spending as little as possible ?How does it do that ?By making you pay as much as possible and handing out as little as possible ?
What are the consequences of this system on the potential patient ?They will have to pay as much as the companies can get and when they become patients ,those same companies will find every little paragraph possible in their contracts to avoid paying ,stalling as much as possible treatments,in some cases cynically hoping the patient dies before it comes to that .
Once you get ill in the USA you are confronted not only with your insurance company;you are confronted with top corporate lawyers who made up those contracts invariably in favor of their bosses .Ever tried to win a courtcase against those top corporate lawyers ?I guess most people dont even bother trying .
This is the real face of your system .
Fatty Fatty Skinny Skinny!! This is getting ridiculous! Some of you, including people claiming to be doctors sound like 6 year olds on the playground. I'm a tubby old lady, have perfect blood pressure, and slightly elevated cholesterol-runs in the family. I'm wonderful. My younger, and obsessively skinny sister in law who exercises and 'eats right' because all she cares about is what her appearance is, just had to have a stint put in her carotid artery because of plaque buildup! Taking care of yourself just isn't enough sometimes, therefore, arguing that 'taking care of yourself will cure this healthcare problem' is a baldface lie. You're just looking for reasons to call people names and insult them for their physical appearance. This Huckabee is one of them. Kudos to the doctor who pointed this out earlier, sickness and death are inevitable. It can't always be 'prevented', but, it CAN be cured easier if caught soon enough. People need yearly checkups, but most just can't afford. That's just plain wrong. If these poor people get sick, or get cancer, etc. they're just going to cost the taxpayers thousands when it could have cost a few hundred for their yearly visit.
Tonny, correct me if I'm wrong, but you've never had american health insurance so why would your opinion be worth....dick?
One great thing is that, once you are actually insured, you get healthcare on demand. The wait is low, so you can get back up and running quickly. Stays in the hospital are short, and the care is pretty damn good, by any standard in the world that you care to measure it by. American cure rates for serious diseases are some of the best in the world. The waits for care are, by far shorter than anywhere in the world. The cost, while high, also pays for exceptional care t most coroprate facilities. Even the lawyer thing has an advantage in that they force careful examination of procedure.
Our only issue is how to get 6 to 8 million folks, who really need insurance, insured.
Doesn't everyone know someone who has been cheated by the health care system? Isn't there someone in your family, a friend, a co-worker, a distant acquaintance who has been unfairly treated by their health care provider?
At first, I felt that Moore was accurate in his general view of health care but heavy handed on the rhetoric...but now I'm thinking about Susan, a great supervisor I work with, who has almost lost her vision in both eyes, and her health care provider initially agreed only to cover ONE eye. It's tempting to say: 'well, you should have had a better provider,' but this is BLUE CROSS we're talking about.
..And I'm also thinking about another h school friend, Andrew, who works for a health care provider in Houston, Texas, and told me that in the next 10-15 years, his company is planning for a significant proportion of the state population to suffer from diabetes (resulting from obesity).
Seems like unless (a) you're in great health, or (b) you've got an expendable income, it's almost impossible to cover all costs in a privatized health care system.
I'm not necessarily advocating that Americans switch over to a health care system analogous to that of European countries or Canada, but how can we provide this service in a fair, reasonable, equitable way to a majority of Americans??
Thanks for listening...
SP4 ,have you ever been a muslim..So is your opinion about them ....dick?
Is your oinion about Nort Korean,Iraq,Cuba based in personnal experiences ?I leave the conclusion to yourself now.
Failing to address even the content of Michael Moore's movie or even your own statistics classifies you as ignorant.
Does anyone have credible information that Michael Moore has been a drain on our health care system? I haven't read anything about Mr. Moore having any health issues.
Actually, for a large guy he appears to be quite healthy. And he's definitely lost weight since last year.
Huckabee is just using a ploy from the Karl Rove playbook -- when you can't dispute the message, attack the messenger. Why is this newsworthy?
Huckabee is right... Moore is a rime example why we have soaring health care costs. I think it's pure folly that anyone can say 'we have no evidence that Michael Moore is a drain on the healthcare system.' Please...
Obesity is THE springboard for so many chronic illnesses. The American healthcare system is reactive...not proactive. Insurance companies, doctors, patients, and politicians need to start putting emphasis on people managing their lives in a healthy way, instead of managing the symptoms caused by poor lazy habits...
Well then I guess banning handguns is high on your agenda too, then, right?
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