SICKO made me sick. I've been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD, and once I saw it on the shelf of my local video store, it was a definite choice for me.
This movie stunned me. Suddenly, I remembered my own health care story to tell. Then I realized, there are stories like this everywhere, every minute… somewhere in USA.. someone suffers or dies because of denied health care…. This is shocking… The citizens of the richest country in the world are dying because they cannot afford a doctor.
This ingenious business model is designed to squeeze money out of sick people. Kind of sickening…. if you ask me… The movie, basically, explains how Health Insurance Corporations and Drug companies befriended our Congress to make sure there is never a Universal health care, covering everyone no matter what… system, similar to other countries where the government pays for it, not you.
I liked that the movie mentioned the USSR, uuuuuuuuhhh, the Soviet Union!!!Uhhhhh…spooky! I always laugh at that. But the problem is many people have no idea, never been to USSR. You can say whatever you want, but we had health care, went to the hospital and got medication whenever we needed without worrying how much it will cost. When I was a kid and got sick, my mom would call in a doctor to come visit me at home. FREE.
Can you imagine this concept? It was great. Somewhat taken for granted because once I moved to USA, I was expecting the same or better here… Little did I know… that when I called the doctor, I was put on hold and scheduled for me to visit the doctor in about one month, whenever I fit into the doctor's schedule. The rest depended on my checkbook.
Michael Moore, the producer of this movie, makes a few rather specific references to corporate names and Congress members being involved with this health care business. It almost started to remind me the story in the movie “V for Vendetta” (also recommend to rent, if you haven't seen it, you must).
One of them just appeared in today's headlines. Teen dies hours after insurance company reverses denial of liver transplant payment, San Jose Mercury News ran a story today about Cigna.
LOS ANGELES – The family of a 17-year-old girl who died hours after her health insurer reversed its previous decision and said it would pay for a liver transplant planned to sue CIGNA HealthCare, their attorney said Friday.
Article Launched: 12/21/2007 11:27:18 AM PST
These are the kind of stories you see in the SICKO movie. Suddenly, I felt like I am in the wrong country. But how could it be??? How long is this thing going to go on for? What can we do?
And then I also wondered if Hilary Clinton can bring back the idea of universal health care, the idea, as the movie explains, she headed 10 years ago, but then abandoned.
I'd say if she doesn't do it, someone will. Can we please, make sure someone will?
The back scratching that takes place in the American political system is distressing. Health care is only one victim of this governemental style. The military industrial complex, big car companies and their milage requirements, unfair tax incentives for farmers. We are all about taking care of those who “take care” of us. All campaigns should be funded by public money, then this would not take place.
You are making a very good point. Technically, all and any TV channel/radio must provide time for public use. I learned this in my journalism school. Interestingly enough, the founding principal of all media is that it belongs to the people. Now, throughout the years, many companies purchased licenses to operate on certain frequency and so on and made a good business out of it. But by law, every channel has to at least dedicate some amount of time for public use – free of charge.
So political candidates, who claim that political campaign cost a lot of money because of advertising costing a lot of money could take advantage of that time. Why don't they?
I assume there are other costs associated with running for an office. So what if someone excepts donations? That does not mean they cannot be a good leader and pass a reform benefiting millions of people like universal health care…. Does it??
Why?>
WOW … I was amazed to see SICKO nominated for this year's Oscars. Too bad it didn't win, but GOOD JOB mr Moore
You really did do something good.