Seattle Turns Out For 'SiCKO' in Spite of Storm »
Posted by: Spadecaller 7 months, 2 weeks ago140 CommentsReflectReport this Story
Though hurricane force winds and torrential rains blasted the Seattle area on Monday, students, local activists and interested community members took the weather in stride as they gathered to watch 'SiCKO' and to talk health reform. What is it about 'SiCKO' that has such a profound effect on Americans?
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Comments So Far: 140
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Spadecaller
Dec. 11, 2007, 9:17 a.m.For favor of the Iraq War and Bush's tax breaks for the wealthiest, healthcare for children, 47 million uninsured, 100 million poorly insured, disabled Americans, and veterans have been severely neglected.
Michale Moore's moving and straight-foreward description of healthcare in the United States has a powerful impact.
I know it did for me, as well.
What is it about 'Sicko' that has such a profound effect on so many people who see this award winning documentary?
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Dicax_Maximus
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:01 a.m.I'll catch up with the film eventually, but to be honest, after all the controversy over MM's last film, I'm not going to "bust a gut" over it..... I know, all film makers (who are out to make a point) "cherry pick" their sources, shots, data, etc etc, BUT, he did seem to be a little "loose with the facts", IMHO......
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Spadecaller
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:42 a.m.DM;
If you didn't see the documentary, wouldn't you think prejudging it is a little unfair?
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jordan11
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:59 a.m.I didn't see his last film. This film is quite enlightening. Like the DR who testified before Congress that DR's who work for insurance companies are given bonus's for the fewer approvals that they give. She was choking back the tears, as she admitted she was responsible for people dying because she denied care. But I suppose you could call her a liar, and make it easier to bypass seeing the film. Personally, I want to hear both sides. And having done that, made my decision that health care should NEVER be a profit making enterprise for insurance companies. It's a built in conflict of interest.
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mcgrievysr
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:03 a.m.I have not seen "Sicko" yet, but I will make sure that I do. Michael Moore's effectiveness can be measured by the rancor directed at him from the Bushbots. I find him to be on target most of the time and love that he ruffles the feathers of the radical ranters.
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gamahuche
Dec. 11, 2007, 12:38 p.m.Definitely no one could accuse him of being a peacemaker!
Feather-ruffling is a mild expresssion!
Paroxysms of spleen and rage would be my description - I'm sure we'll see some here before long!
The paradox is of course that the more violent the reaction he evokes the more publicity is created and ultimately he laughs all the way t
to the bank.
Ah me! Western culture!
Is it just a contradiction in terms?
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jordan11
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:04 a.m.Suspecting it is abstract. Seeing it, is like a punch in the stomach.
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Francisca
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:13 a.m.As usual Michael Moore realized an excellent documentary! But forgive me Spade: does he exaggerate sometimes?
On the other hand: it's in exaggerating that we can get something.
PS: I think that French System is too much idealized. Here too we have a lot of problems when we wait in the emergencies!!
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jordan11
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:49 a.m.I guess it stands to reason that if you have a day when a lot of people need care, you'll have a long wait depending on your problem. That's to be expected, IMO. It's rather silly for Americans to use long waiting times for emergency care as a reason not to have universal health care. Our wait times are already long.
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Spadecaller
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:39 a.m.Congress has taken every opportunity to give themselves cost of living increases while we provide them with the best healthcare coverage available in the nation.
But for someone receiving disability benefits (which they have earned through paying into Social Security over the course of their years of employment)... cost of living increases are grossly insufficient and rare; nor does the government provide an insurabilty guarantee for Medicare disability recipients to purchase supplemental benefits to cover the dedutibles, the 20% of uncovered dr bills, or the $964.00 entrance fee for hospitalization on Part A of Medicare.
To be frank, people like myself who are disabled are suffering from the inability to pay for medical costs despite our eligibility for benefits. FACT not FICTION
I'm disenchanted with so many who care nothing about their fellow Americans and as a result, seniors, veterans, children, and the disabled are severely neglected in this country.
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Spadecaller
Dec. 11, 2007, 10:59 a.m.The "I've got my own" syndrome in this country will be its undoing.
I have received calls and messages from people who have been good citizens of this country for their entire lives and for the first time, they have lost faith in the people and this government and are considering leaving.
I guess some Americans will be glad; they are the ones that often recommend: "if you don't like it, leave".
Are those the "family values" people? I wonder...
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vvv63vvv
Dec. 11, 2007, 12:27 p.m.americans aren't just considering leaving... they are leaving
it's not easy to uproot and leave but it's the law of the jungle here
those here 'earning' their bread and butter off health care related profits are busily demonizing hillary to keep their standard of living.
it's an ugly story and makes makes me embarassed to be an american
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Retirement...
Why retirees are fleeing the U.S.
"A move to another country may make economic sense, especially for seniors who don't have enough savings to live in retirement without a dramatic cut in lifestyle."
"The question is: Can a move to another country offer a cost of living so much lower than the cost of living here that moving is a positive solution?"
"I believe the answer is yes. I also believe that thousands of older Americans will be crossing the border in the years to come."
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flyonthewallzz
Dec. 11, 2007, 12:08 p.m.From WHO
"The U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of GDP on health services, ranks 18 th . Several small countries รข;; San Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore are rated close behind second- placed Italy."
http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_...
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Spadecaller
Dec. 11, 2007, 12:15 p.m.Is it acceptable that so many Americans, especially seniors and the disabled have to choose between filling their prescription drugs or putting food on the table?
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Dicax_Maximus
Dec. 11, 2007, 3:25 p.m.Fly - I can only say that the WHO has NOT been to the UK in the last 5 to 7 years......
18th ????? I can only assume that someone made a little booboo, as that should more accurately be 18th from BOTTOM !!
Why do you think there are thousands of people getting treatment abroad (including India, Europe etc) ??
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cherev
Dec. 11, 2007, 12:28 p.m.I'm going to post one thought on this BS subject:
Anyone who focuses on Michael Moore's BS, is in it for politics only. There's a bigger picture.
You have children of all socio-economic backgrounds who can't do 10 pushups or pull up their own body weight. The rate of Juvi diabetes is through the roof. The kids are getting fatter and fatter. The adults are worse.
And yet, you focus on the fat-@ssed Michael Moore and his BS? His agenda is obvious and it's not for the betterment of the American condition. Your callous disregard of the big picture and focus on this one aspect of health care has to be deliberate. You can't possibly be that stupid or ignorant.
If any of you truly cared about the health of Americans, you'd drop this cr@p and start focusing on the best way of getting Americans off their @sses to exercise their bodies and make better nutritional choices.
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Spadecaller
Dec. 11, 2007, 1:29 p.m.I mistakenly gave cherev a postive vote ... his mean-spirited absurd comment is too abhorrent to even read. They are like hardcore pornography. Some people enjoy that stuff; I'm not one. LOL
I am not obese; but I am disabled as a result of heart disease and myalgia encephalomyelitis. For those who are dangerously overweight, they can count on people like cherev to make their problems even worse.
The kind of idiotic stereotypes that come from his posts have reached that point where I will block them from view; they are that far from merit or intellectual value.
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bluetexasvalley
Dec. 11, 2007, 1:59 p.m.Countries with national health care ("socialized medicine") place a strong emphasis on preventive health care. That's what you are talking about, isn't it? Our doctors and pharm companies are more interested in making sure their "services" are needed. Do you know how much time medical schools spend on teaching good nutrition? Very little. We need more doctors like Andrew Weil, www.drweil.com
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Natureboy
Dec. 11, 2007, 2:21 p.m."And yet, you focus on the fat-@ssed Michael Moore and his BS?"
A sure-fire indicator that MM is right and the poster has no legitimate argument - The only card they have to play is -
Oh, yeah, well, uh, um, MICHAEL MOORE IS FAT! HAHAHAHA.
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