'Sicko' Shows Michael Moore's Maturity as a Filmmaker

[The Dog]

this movie is getting a ton of press tonight.  can't wait to see it.  i love the nay sayers who are trying to pan this movie.  their reasons (most of them at least) are totally assinine.

one paper accused him of cashing in.  um, yeah, hes allowed to make money from his movies, he is a film maker. 

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

i saw it (online ... aint coming until sept here in France)

it's good.
a little be "too" emotional
Moore often wipes out the "bad side" of our great French system (10 billions hole in social security budget ... but hey, every country has debts ..)

but after all it's a good movie
shocking if you have no clue how the us works ...


when i was living in the states, i broke my nose palying racketballn (hit by a racket when running up front)
i came to the emergency room, bleeding, in pain ... first thing they asked : my credit card

i payed like 3000 dollars for verything ....

my French student exchange program payed for it
then my french gvernment insurance payed for it again

in then end i gained 3000 dollars for broking my nose .... not proud of it ... but i am never sick, never go to doctors, never buy medecines, so i'm a good insuree on a long term


another thing, with ournew american president that we have here in france, things are slowly sliding towards what you guys have in your country, and that's sad ....


PEACE

[Lisa]

As a Canadian, it bothers me about the misconception that people have concerning wait times. Every one of the past listed are very, very isolated. If you need surgery or treatment to save your life,then you get it, immediately. Typically the people who have had to wait or a story of someone who died while waiting are just that, stories. These are usually people who put off the appointments in the first place or do not seek treatment till it is already too late. If I were sick and needed to see a doctor, I can tell you in all honesty that it is a phone call away. All I would have to do is call my family doctor and whether they are busy or not, they would get me in immediately or the following day. We also have urgent Crae clinics for people with no family doctor and again, you are seen immediately with no cost to yourself..if all else fails we have Emergency departments at every hospital and although you may have to wait a couple of hours, you can stull see a doctor in that same day...if it is a serious condition, again, you will be seen immediately. What would have broken an American family, even one with insurance, my family has had free of charge. My mother underwent bypass surgery that lasted almost 8 hours,coincidently it turned out to be a quad bypass, 3 months in hospital prior to surgery...she had kidney failure last month and is currently back in hospital again...I broke my leg in Feb, had two surgeries and many many appointments with my family doctor and Orthopedic surgeon...everything I have listed is at NO COST. The only thing we have had to pay for in the past 3 years is a medical transfer from one hospital to the other because it was not ambulance service but an independant medical transfer company with trained professionals that OHIP does not pay for and that was 40$. Pretty good if you ask me. Any further assumptions or questions about our health care system will be gladly clarified by myself if asked.

[SLCPUNK]

Thanks for clearing that up Lisa. The other Canadians I know say pretty much the same thing.

I have noticed some Americans are strongly against socialized medicine, and must ask why? Why is the idea so bad?

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

Thanks for clearing that up Lisa. The other Canadians I know say pretty much the same thing.

I have noticed some Americans are strongly against socialized medicine, and must ask why? Why is the idea so bad?

people take advantage of the system, and become less and less reponsible. As i said, France has a 10 billion hole in the budget, and this "social security" has been and issue for years for all the politicians: ask people to think before getting medecine, do not check with 4 different doctors just because you knocked your feet on the table, use generic drugs ...

i dont know if Canada is clear of that issue ....

i guess american are just afraid of their governments, and they think it's better to be at the mercy of big corporation than of a "bureaucratic" organization (the governement). What they don"t understand, is that,  in the end, it's the same.
And of course, money is the game. You either start with a socialist system or you never get it. I dont see how the big companies will accept to let go all the juicy money now. and as long as they have this money, they can pay off politicians and lobbyist, therefore keep their system intact.

[fuckin crazy]

i guess american are just afraid of their government

Wouldn't you be ...

[sandman]

i guess american are just afraid of their government

Wouldn't you be ...

why would anyone want to give the organization responsible for FEMA and the iraq war sole responsibility over health care?




 

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

i guess american are just afraid of their government

Wouldn't you be ...

why would anyone want to give the organization responsible for FEMA and the iraq war sole responsibility over health care?

that made no sense ...

First, HMO's dont seem to be looking for your personal happiness either.
Second, you have zero control over private companies - there are no elections every four years. And they are blatently out there to make money of your back - ok, politicians, at some level, are too ....

I'm just saying that when private corporation start to get big, very big, they act like the very same "evil communist governmental organizations" that freedom-lovers are afraid of.

take France, our social security is obviously looking after us. Proof ? It's losing money.
When HMO's will lose money you will know they take care of citizens.

[SLCPUNK]

i guess american are just afraid of their government

Wouldn't you be ...

why would anyone want to give the organization responsible for FEMA and the iraq war sole responsibility over health care?




 

Coming from one of their biggest defenders over the years, that is one peculiar statement. My buddy who loves Rush and supports Iraq says the exact same thing. You guys make no sense.

[sandman]

i guess american are just afraid of their government

Wouldn't you be ...

why would anyone want to give the organization responsible for FEMA and the iraq war sole responsibility over health care?




 

Coming from one of their biggest defenders over the years, that is one peculiar statement. My buddy who loves Rush and supports Iraq says the exact same thing. You guys make no sense.

i've said numerous times i hate all politicians. i don't blindly support anyone. and i prefer smaller government.

it's not a contradictory statement anyway. i supported the invasion of iraq, but it's been executed poorly, and that should not have been the case.

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex. 

[25]

i prefer smaller government.
 

What does that even mean? Could the last few administrations have done any less governing? Clinton seemed to do more work on his last day in office than the previous eight years, while the Bushes spent their terms playing in the sand with their toys. God only knows how Reagan occupied his time.

Doesn't "smaller government" refer specifically to the Fed, wouldn't it leave more responsibility of the hands of the individual states? Is that really what neo-cons want? Because it seems like you'd be knee-deep in gay weddings and evolution anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Or is it more of a call to personal responsibility? Individual citizens left to live their lives as they see fit without being dictated to by archaic institutions, that sort of thing? What's the word for that? Oh yes, anarchy. Conservatives are anarchists now? 9/11 changed everything!

[SLCPUNK]

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex. 

Yes, but you are forgetting that the private sector in this case is failing the American people, leaving them high and dry.

Do we out source our policemen and women to the private sector? How is that working for us right now?

Why do you want to throw in the towel on socialized medicine (health care for ALL AMERICANS) when our system is already morally, and ethically bankrupt?

[freedom78]

i've said numerous times i hate all politicians. i don't blindly support anyone. and i prefer smaller government.

it's not a contradictory statement anyway. i supported the invasion of iraq, but it's been executed poorly, and that should not have been the case.

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex. 

Hmm...I usually just send it certified or something like that.  USPS is cheap, compared to the others, because it's illegal for them to make a profit. 

[norway]

You can have both health-care systems
In Norway you get it for free...kinda. You pay for it via high taxes and probably the most expensive country in the world to live in

That doesn't mean private clinics are out if buisness here, far from it

[sandman]

i'm not throwing the towel in on anything. i just need more details. how would it work? how much would it cost? would we be able to avoid the negative aspects plaguing other social systems? will there still be incentive for leading doctors and scientists to come to the U.S. to work? will there be incentive to maintain leading innovation? will services be rationed? who has final say when a "judgement call" regarding treatment is needed?

i can't give an opinion until i see something concrete.

everyone praises Canada's system, yet from what i understand, 30% of total health care dollars is spent on private health care. not to mention significantly higher taxes.
 
 

 ?

[sandman]

i've said numerous times i hate all politicians. i don't blindly support anyone. and i prefer smaller government.

it's not a contradictory statement anyway. i supported the invasion of iraq, but it's been executed poorly, and that should not have been the case.

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex.?

Hmm...I usually just send it certified or something like that.? USPS is cheap, compared to the others, because it's illegal for them to make a profit.?

i also hate standing in line. and everytime i go to the post office, i have to stand in a long-ass line. hmmm...where else have i heard about problems with long wait times. 

i have no statistics to back this up, just experience. but when i order tix for an event on e-bay that's three days away, i always pay extra for FedEx to guarantee they are there.

and as for the police comment everyone likes to quote moore on, i don't think that system is anything i'd brag about. many departments are under-paid, under-staffed, under-trained, filled with corruption, and many neighborhoods remain unsafe.

[freedom78]

i've said numerous times i hate all politicians. i don't blindly support anyone. and i prefer smaller government.

it's not a contradictory statement anyway. i supported the invasion of iraq, but it's been executed poorly, and that should not have been the case.

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex. 

Hmm...I usually just send it certified or something like that.  USPS is cheap, compared to the others, because it's illegal for them to make a profit. 

i also hate standing in line. and everytime i go to the post office, i have to stand in a long-ass line. hmmm...where else have i heard about problems with long wait times. 

i have no statistics to back this up, just experience. but when i order tix for an event on e-bay that's three days away, i always pay extra for FedEx to guarantee they are there.

and as for the police comment everyone likes to quote moore on, i don't think that system is anything i'd brag about. many departments are under-paid, under-staffed, under-trained, filled with corruption, and many neighborhoods remain unsafe.

Hate to state the obvious, but you'd be amazed how much could be funded if the US had a military of reasonable size and a foreign policy that didn't include nation building. 

[SLCPUNK]

Hate to state the obvious, but you'd be amazed how much could be funded if the US had a military of reasonable size and a foreign policy that didn't include nation building. 

I was waiting to see if somebody else would say it....

[sandman]

i've said numerous times i hate all politicians. i don't blindly support anyone. and i prefer smaller government.

it's not a contradictory statement anyway. i supported the invasion of iraq, but it's been executed poorly, and that should not have been the case.

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex.?

Hmm...I usually just send it certified or something like that.? USPS is cheap, compared to the others, because it's illegal for them to make a profit.?

i also hate standing in line. and everytime i go to the post office, i have to stand in a long-ass line. hmmm...where else have i heard about problems with long wait times.?

i have no statistics to back this up, just experience. but when i order tix for an event on e-bay that's three days away, i always pay extra for FedEx to guarantee they are there.

and as for the police comment everyone likes to quote moore on, i don't think that system is anything i'd brag about. many departments are under-paid, under-staffed, under-trained, filled with corruption, and many neighborhoods remain unsafe.

Hate to state the obvious, but you'd be amazed how much could be funded if the US had a military of reasonable size and a foreign policy that didn't include nation building.?

i wouldn't be amazed at all. like you said, you're making an obvious statement.

but funding alone doesn't equal success. so my point is a valid one.

[freedom78]

i've said numerous times i hate all politicians. i don't blindly support anyone. and i prefer smaller government.

it's not a contradictory statement anyway. i supported the invasion of iraq, but it's been executed poorly, and that should not have been the case.

another interesting comparison i heard recently was our postal system. the U.S. post office is arguably the best run government operation. yet when you need to mail something REALLY important and on-time, most choose Fed Ex. 

Hmm...I usually just send it certified or something like that.  USPS is cheap, compared to the others, because it's illegal for them to make a profit. 

i also hate standing in line. and everytime i go to the post office, i have to stand in a long-ass line. hmmm...where else have i heard about problems with long wait times. 

i have no statistics to back this up, just experience. but when i order tix for an event on e-bay that's three days away, i always pay extra for FedEx to guarantee they are there.

and as for the police comment everyone likes to quote moore on, i don't think that system is anything i'd brag about. many departments are under-paid, under-staffed, under-trained, filled with corruption, and many neighborhoods remain unsafe.

Hate to state the obvious, but you'd be amazed how much could be funded if the US had a military of reasonable size and a foreign policy that didn't include nation building. 

i wouldn't be amazed at all. like you said, you're making an obvious statement.

but funding alone doesn't equal success. so my point is a valid one.

I agree that funding doesn't equal success, but it certainly helps.  Underpaid?  Need funding.  Understaffed?  Probably due to underfunding.  Undertrained?  Possibly helped by funding.  Corruption?  Well, if they're paid more, then corruption won't be as tempting.  There's big time corruption (think "The Departed") and small time corruption (pocketing a little of that drug money that should have gone to evidence).  I think funding will help with the small time corruption.

I also think that you're right, in that Americans do want a smaller government.  I do.  But I don't think that means we want no government.  Government gets it very, very wrong in a lot of cases.  They legislate about these ridiculous issues that the public isn't concerned with, but ignore the enormous issues, with which millions of Americans are struggling. 

I can appreciate an ideology of minimal government.  A lot of people don't want handholding, and certainly don't need it.  And I agree with that position on SOOO many issues.  As the 4th just passed, let's take fireworks, for example.  Talk about unnecessary legislation.  If you're too stupid to avoid blowing your middle finger off, thus prohibiting you from flipping the bird, demonstrating your machismo, and impressing women, eventually leading to your successful insemination of them...well, that's natural selection, to me!  But minimal government arguments against national healthcare, for example, strike me as weak.  It's like a soaking wet person complaining about walking in the rain.  I'd like to see government get rid of so much BS, and focus on the essentials: education, healthcare, infrastructure, a reasonable defense, etc.