Sicko
After exploring the predominance of violence in American culture in Bowling for Columbine and taking a critical look at the September 11th attacks in Fahrenheit 9/11, activist filmmaker Michael Moore turns his attentions toward the topic of health care in the United States in this documentary that weighs the plight of the uninsured (and the insured who must deal with abuse from insurance companies) against the record-breaking profits of the pharmaceutical industry.
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WOW!!!! really puts a new perspective doesnt it! and people call Obama a socialist!!! GEEZ!!!!
I have never been more embarrassed of my government then I am at this moment!!!!!!!
I live across the border from the U.S. (Cd. Juarez, Mx.) and I would often see or hear about american people coming here to see a doctor, go to a dentist or buy their medicines and always wonder why. Now I clearly see why
The grass is always greener on the other side but here in the UK, America seems like a health desert in serious drought.
Very entertaining, clearly bias, no depth analysis of the american health insurance.I believe that it was not necessary for Moore to take these sick people to Cuba just to make his point clear, wasting lots of valuable time which could have been used for a more comprehensive report.
By the way, I’m from Germany, we have a compulsory health insurance over here, just like in Britain.
The disadvantages of compulsory insurance are not explored by Moore for example HIGHER TAXES!!!
***Stars
Regards,
Der Oberst
Der Oberst – I understand what you say about HIGHER TAXES, however, if we lose our job that MAY have health insurance, to continue it and be insured is upwards from $350 a mo. (for one person). Are your taxes equivalent to that? Plus we get hosed with the pharmaceuticals and their enormous markup on the prescription drugs.
Moore is a SICKO…
The one documentary everyone has to see, and see again…
wow…I’m glad i saw this.
The people of the USA are good people.
But they sold there freedom.
Easy done!
So buy it back with votes. Elect an independent.
The poor of the USA are slaves to the system.
Poor education for the poorso they do as they are told.
You could lose your job if you didn`t work hard!
So do the same to your politicians.
You can not buy good government .
But you can buy “A” government.
Michael Moore is the best. His movies have really educated the masses. Thank you Michael. Love Always.
My best friend dead from cancer June 01, 2009, She finally got her first health care plan at 47 one year ago with 2K deductable. I LOVE YOU ANGELA, single mother of 3. My heart is broken. I can’t believe you’re gone. Cancer of the gall bladder and intestines.
Der Oberst: That’s a common argument against universal healthcare, in return i just gotta say that a bit higher taxes is a small price to pay for knowing that you won’t be abandoned on the street cause you can’t pay your healthcare bill.
Alos, yes the cuba part is a bit exxagerated, think he actually got legal issues cause he closed in to guantanamo bay.
This movie makes me so angry at this medical’ system. …And the ****** who fuss about taxes (which they will pay one way or the other) I don’t even understand them.
who would live in america,,,,not me,,,,the american dream?….more like a nightmare…good luck to mr moore,,,a david and golieth battle ahead,,,,,
lol why are Americans so dumb like their president? Makes you wonder what they learn in school.
Schools, Health, Defense, Postal services should all be partially/fully under government control.
hey gfto im a american and Im probably smarter than you are, with the ignorant comment you made.
Wow, that was amazing.
It’s absolutely mind boggling that they would turn a dying person away because they couldn’t pay. Or make a person choose between two fingers. Michael Moore is hilarious.
I hope this new age of internet starts getting people in America more aware of how corrupt their government is and how biased their media.
I wish this documentary would be played at congress and they somehow found a way to feel the disgrace of their actions. Taxpayers being thrown under the bus is a disgrace to the world. WE as a Nation that is suppose to be a world leader is meaningless when we put profits ahead of human life.
Brovo! Michael Moore. What can be done to have this info
spread to commercial TV and Radio. I watch PBS, Moyers….
but not everyone does….we need this impressive, uniterrurted message to reach everyone in this nation.
yea micheal takes sick people to get health care from a poor country run by a dictator while we have millions of illegals from mexico and everywhere else in the world getting health care in the ER of every hosptial in the country. We need to secure our borders and american citizens wouldnt have as high healthcare costs because the illegal burden would be gone! Michael moore is a NUT!!
I have seen SiCKO several times and I have to admit that I am not a fan of Michael Moore. But if even 25% of SiCKO is true, then the American people are being controlled and manipulated by the Drug companies, the insurance companies and the politicians they have purchased.
I pay $4500 per year in health insurance premiums, maybe $375 to $400 in co-pays, and perhaps $1400 in pharmacy bills. That is $6340. If other countries are paying equal to that in higher taxes, then they can keep universal health care. But if it is anything less than that amount, count me in.
Social market economy > all
i’m glad to pay higher taxes for good health care(,good roads and stuff like that)
i really don’t understand the American fear of socialism… You don’t have to get a 2. UDSSR if you act in favor of the poor and not so rich.
I have watched this video more than once and the more I watch the more angry I get. I watch the current debate on healthcare and what come through loud and clear is the message from the health insurance providers, hospitals and drug companies. The people who are the easiest lead in the wrong direction are the ones who are the most vocal about not wanting any changes in the current system or systems. If the President does not prevail in this matter and healthcare reform goes down in flames like it did in 1994, we will never see the opportunity come around again until it is too late. All the folks running around ,running down what is trying to be done in 2009 will come to realize that they no longer have coverage, their coverage is too expensive, heathcare is rationed and will want something done and guess what guys we are too far down the road and no one, but no one will be able to turn the big bus around.Coupled with the other social and economic pressures which will occur at the same time will throw our country into anarchy and revolution. All this time, the other folks in our small little globe we live on today are just laughing and waiting for the crash subside and just walk right in and have their way……Not a very pleasant series of thoughts……wake up America before it is too late.
Joel S. just like Obama is a social marxist who wants the government to ration care just like canada and the uk. Its time for America to stand up for FREEDOM, not a social agenda with big government who tells us what doctor to see and if our treatment is to expensive. The only way government cuts cost on healthcare is to deny care. I am fine with paying for my healthcare knowing that the government is not choosing whether i get care or not. I DECIDE WHEN I GET TREATED AND NOT A FREAKIN BREAUCRAT!!!
To tell the truth I would much rather have a publicly elected bureacrat bargaining for me and all my fellow americans, Rather than having an ONLY profit driven insurance company making the decision to deny me of coverage.
Stop the scare tactics. The public option is the most effecient way to group ALL of us together. a pool of 50 million customers is a HUGE bargaining chip to use.
If we go with the republican co op plan, it will break up the 50 million into tiny chunks, and we lose our voice. I hope people realize this. United we stand.
“social marxist”, John?….heehee, now you’re just making sh*t up. I live in Canada and wouldn’t trade it for anything, despite your inevitable “nanny-state” comments.
“big government who tells us what doctor to see”…I can only assume you’re referring to HMOs here cause Moore’s observations of the Canadian process was bang-on.
Speaking of which, dig a little deeper into the case of the woman who went to the Mayo Clinic because of her brain tumour…I’m sure you’ve seen the ads.
Sorry John, but you’re not paying for the healthcare that you say you’re ok paying for, you’re paying to line the pockets of insurance providers who (like any insurer) will try to deny coverage – that’s Moore’s whole point and is the basic problem with the for-profit insurance model when it’s applied to social programs. To extrapolate the same model to…say…public schooling, you would have your local school board institute policies of exclusion for the poorest and for any that may be difficult to teach for whatever reason.
“By the people, for the people” my ***….more like “paid for by the people” and “do it to the people”…
The bottom line is that a private insurance program artificially installs a middleman who needs to be paid. Who do you think covers that significant piece of the pie ?
To John: Greetings: I am a Canadian Eh! And I agree with “Shreque” I can see any Doctor, or any other type of Practitioner that I want to see, also any Specialist that I want to see, without any Government intervention or approval! We do not throw anybody out on the street, because everybody in Canada has free Medical Care! I do not know where you got your erroneous information from! Micheal Moore was dead on!…Regards.
ADDENDUM; In Canada our taxes sometimes go down, not up. Our G.S.T. went down. Plus most people get personal G.S.T. rebates every 3 months. business’s get rebates every year. If I want extended health coverage It will give you a private hospital room, free ambulance, eye exams, 80% coverage for all prescriptions, eye glasses, and dental care. All that for 40$ per month…. cheers!
I am a american and i just cant understand how my fellow americans cant see the garbage that is the american healthcare system is. America pounds its chest about being the best in the wolrd about everything ,it seems to have no commonsence i just love the part when an american got some care other than here ,how shock they were when they did not have to pay WAKE UP SHEEPLE
John, you do have a bureaucrat standing between you and your doctor – it is called an insurance company. the insurance company ie the middleman is why Americans spend more on health care than the rest of the Western world but get poorer results. Lets get rid of over-priced drugs, and treatments, kickbacks and pie cuts and we will have better healthcare for a lower cost. Amen.
Karen and Dynce and Joel S. and all the other marxist who believes in Michael Moores social propagana are crazy. Why arent americans flocking to canada to receive healthcare??? because it sucks! Thats why the Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had successful heart surgery at the Cleveland clinic in ohio. Because the garbage universal health care in Italy is no good. Just another example of big government officials imposing their will on the people of their country but when government officials get sick they come to the USA for treatment. Universal healthcare just doesnt work.
to Achems: Greetings. i am from the usa and i sure as hell wouldnt go to cananda for healthcare. Wait 45 minutes to see my doctor or 6 months to see a canadian doctor, easy choice. and you’re still under the illusion that your healthcare is free….its called taxes. Thats why everything is more expensive in canada.
To John: Greetings: You say why aren’t Americans flocking to Canada to receive free Health Care? My answer is, how can they? You figure it out. Every body pays taxes! that is a given. For “Canadians” all you have to do is walk into any “walk in clinic” anytime, no waiting. Everything is more expensive in Canada? It could be, but not more expensive for us. Regards:
To John: I should of mentioned to you our basic wages in Canada are higher than U.S. So what seems more expensive to you in Canada is not more expensive to us.
I spent 6 weeks in a hospital, countless tests and drugs,
I paid..about 10 for drugs. I live in australia, michael missed us:-)
but we have a less corrupt government, although your disgusting businesses are trying to corrupt our health care, mainly the diagnostics sector. however we have a watchdog that makes sure exorbitant and unjustifiably ****** prices aren’t paid for services.
Michaels stay in Cuba was justified, and any dissenters need to examine themselves.
Wake up, your government lies to you all the time, its basically owned by the argi businesses food mega giants and the pharma medico bast*rds.
Wake up Amerika. youv’e been had!
and do NOT take the H1N1 Vaccine, it’s a bigger lie!:-)
looking forward to the new movie!
in Belgium we have some of the highest tax rates in the world. fine by me.
at least I know that I, and my future children, will never be denied any top class medical assistance; that the best schools and universities will welcome us for no more than 700$ a year; that I will keep on getting paid even if I loose my job; …
if this is your Americans idea of a socialist nightmare, well then call me a pig, be happy paying your coverages and entrance fees, and live long and healthy (better don’t get sick!) in your land of the free :).
I love the U.S.A. but unless your “RICH”, don’t get sick!!!
John
August 15th, 2009 at 22:47
to Achems: Greetings. i am from the usa and i sure as hell wouldn’t go to Canada for health care. Wait 45 minutes to see my doctor or 6 months to see a canadian doctor, easy choice. and you’re still under the illusion that your health care is free….its called taxes. Thats why everything is more expensive in canada.
did you even watch the movie? they waited 20 minutes you dum****… no matter how much taxes you may have to pay in Canada it still wont ad up to all the money they steal fom us…f*** it i would rather pay a little more sales tax knowing i wont pay 200 dolars and more for a little 2 mile ambulance to the hospital..choice is yours ignorant dum****.
the video is down! :(
No it’s not. Let it buffer/load a little bit. Youku is kind a slow.
I would rather get my healthcare in Canada or Europe than here, in the USA
I agree if 25% of this is true then we are all f’d up here in USA. People are denied medical care and others are tossed outta hospitals while Americans in France, UK and canada get medical care for free to the point they are embarrassment jeez this American dream is no longer a dream but a nightmare if you get sick and you live in usa. I am a consertive and now i understand the difference between socialized and universal medical care – political rhetoric. I am supporting Obama’s health care plan from this day on. i have good medical benefits from a large company but i as soon as that health care bill passes i will take the public option. and i hope many more millions than the 50 million of us w/o health insurance take it too so we can send this big insurance companies out of business so they can stop raping us live, left and right. you can boast all you want that you live in usa and have health ins. but your day of reckoning is when you get sick and a middleman is determining whether you can see a doc or not. that is sick. yet you have been a “nice boy, nice girl” going to work to pay your insurance coverage, college loan etc. the nightmare is real. wake up people it’s time! shame to us if even cubans have access to free medical care. and by the way it’s not socialized medical care but universal medical care. but what does that matter to you any way. you have your health insurance don’t you. just don’t get sick. bravo mr moore. i promise to watch all your works objectively henceforth. i was so wrong about you, you can be nutty but you do make sense.
i had to get something else off my chest. do we call our public schooling socialized education? no. if we have universal public education, why not medical? think people, think. college education is so darn expensive yet it’s public institutions. i bet if the governement made college education free would anybody yap their mouth about socialized education? no! why not health. and while you are at it college education too. this is not communism this is provision of basic human dignity.
NEWS FLASH it’s not normal to wake up be a “nice employee” run to one job, then another all to pay bills. and not enjoy a yearly vacation in another country if you so choose. cause that’s how life is in europe. but i know you have no concept of this cause us americans work all our lives with one life time dream of making a trip to disney world or hawaii and we are done in life. and before you start your insults i am one of them too. but why bother this flies over an american concept of life anyway. how can a country be so rich yet it’s people are such economic slaves?
Not only that, but Americans are raping Canada out of free health care!
Costs Canada Billions of dollars! Shame on you!!!!
:(
Hey Vlatko do you have a link to the new M.M. movie “capitalism : a love story”
lets review. 22yo is denied cervial cancer treatment bc she is too young to get cancer. an old woman is cabbied and abandoned in the streets. 911 workers who have been denied medical care are given the same in cuba for free. what is wrong with this picture seriously. now your insurance companies command you not to have certain diseases because of your age? gee thanx. your prezo said ask a canadian. here’s my answer – i want nothing of your system i will stay in canada thank you very much. i agree if even 10% of this movie is true all americans form usa should be supporting obama’s bill overwhelmingly. ******.
No I don’t have the link Kyle, but I’m sure it can be found via torrents somewhere.
I really dont want any documentary film but since I have watched the CAPITALISM I get pretty interested…Its true that theres a lot of corrupt polticians…Hopefully one of this day those corrupt politicians open up their eyes,and think that life is like a “wheel”….and theres no way that they will remain on top…hopefully they will think the that there is a posibility they might be at the bottom one of this day and imagine that they are on poor people’s shoe…
It does not want to play and i dont know why but i would really like to watch this.
wow!
It is unbelievable to me that people can actually be unemployed and still get good healthcare. And at no cost or very little cost. Though I have been fortunate enough not to have had any serious health issues so far, I fear the day I will begin to. The cost I have endured so far where socking to say the least, when so little was done. If my taxes pay for ambulances and the people who operate them, why do I get a bill for using them? This movie actually has me considering moving to a different country where healthcare is free. At 46, with all the junk in our food supplies and all the stress that comes from living in this country, I am sure to have some sort medical problem in the future. I think my savings are going to be my way out of here and not to increase the profits of a hospital I may have to visit. Thanks Mike for the heads up.
Tony:
Yes, that is true, here in CANADA you do not have to sew up your own knee caps, and you do not have to choose what fingers you want to keep!.
And nobody is thrown out on the streets, ever!
I have never been unemployed, or on social assistance, but if I was, you even get more medical benefits, everything is covered 100%, medical, dental, all prescriptions, etc: nothing to pay for at all. period.
I personally could not envision paying for any medical, etc:, that would be like living on an alien planet.
Canada rocks! American’s throw them.
Its simple: either you go for the “American dream” freedom b*******, or you go the social path.
It is PROVEN (!!!) that the social way works (Canada, UK, Germany, France).
It is PROVEN (!!!) that the American model works for 90% and doesn’t work for 10% of the population. This leads to people dying, end of discussion, no doubt.
I hope you egoistic right wing conservative Americans choke on your supposed “dream”. Someday the people will wake up and chose the right thing.
I’m crying after watching this! I lost my best friend and it is just unbelievable the way we our controlled from our food to our healthcare. I am in shock. Thank you Mr. Moore for telling the truth!!!
I never knew that the US had no health care system. I learned to appreciate more the place I live :D. Always thought that the US was a great country to live in, but as it sums up they are far behind (not only in the health domain). It truly saddens me the fact they believe socialism (which is not communism) is harmful, the free market system takes care those who lead it not those who compose it, its not the land of opportunities any more.
omg this totally changed my perspective towards health care. i m feeling so lucky that i m not in the US atm. poor americans :(
My name is tony and I am a redneck hick who knows about the health-care system. Therefore I conclude that Canadian health care is like a thirld world country compare to my great American system.
I agree many of us in US are affraid if they have to pay taxes but if you look at it this way politicians they know our weekneses so they threten us with higher taxes so people wont go after what makes sense they shut our mouths that way .They spend so much money on ****** thing when they would stop that nobody should pay healthcare and emplyers of big companies should.What I am trying to say here is WE WILL PAY HEALTH INSURANCE FAIR ONE 600/MONTH +2500DEDUCTABLE SO YOU PAY THE INSURANCE BUT YOU PAY THE DOCTORS TOO,SO YOU ARE STUCK YOU CANT PAY THE DEDUCTABLE BUT “YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE INSURANCE”BUT CANT USE IT .iF YOU CANT PAY THE INSURANCE YOU ARE OUT.BUT THEY KEEP THE MONEY YOU WERE PAYING THEM .tHEY KNOW MOST OF US CANT MEET THE DEDUCTABLE OF 2,500 IN A YEAR.sO THEY DONT HAVE TO PAY YOUR BILLS WHILE YOU ARE FILLING THEIR POCKETS.WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO WAKE UP,HERE IS NO FREEDOM THEY CONTROL EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE AND HAW WILL YOU DO IT.AND IF THEY DONT LIKE IF YOU STAND OUT FROM A CROWD YOU ARE DONE ,KISS YOUR LIFE GOODBY!THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.THINK ABOUT IT.DOES NOT TAKE SUPERGENIOUS BRAINS JUST LOGIC.
Speaking from personal expierence, I feel abondonaded by the universal health care system here in Canada. It is very costly to the indivdual taxpayer and the fact that 3 million Canadians pay for the bulk of the system seem’s a bit unfair to me. The federal government takes $1000 dollars a week from my pay check but yet I have had alot of trouble getting the right diagonsos for my condition. And if I wasn’t part of a labour union then the drugs I was prescribed to use to treat it would have cost me a fortune. I can’t help but think of the kind of health care I would have been provided with if I paid for my health care privatly as in the united states.
young:
Where the hell do you live because it is definitely not where I live (which is in Canada), I work for a grocery store and I basically get everything I want from the healthcare system for free. And if you are not happy with the diagnosis that your family physician is giving you, you are welcome and free to seek medical advice elsewhere. I was not happy with my family doctor for the longest time (I did NOT get along with him), so I met with a doctor who is doctor to a friend of mine, and I am now very happy with the medical attention that he gives me.
tony is from texas:
It is spelled THIRD not THIRLD
and your use of the word COMPARE should really be COMPARED
..and it is not possible to make an actual conlusion about anything without first presenting a series of well supported arguments or experiments that allow you to arrive at a conclusion
@LET
I’m from Canada and I live in work in 3 different provinces. I don’t expect general practitioners to be experts on everything concerning medicine so I dids my part and researched the symptoms myself and pretty much begged for them to check for that certain condition and when they did sure enough that was it. I went to 5 different hospitals and clinics before being properly diagnosed. Before that I had various misdiagnoses, one went even so far as to say it was all in my head. You work in a grocery store and get the same treatment I do, that’s my point! It takes a month for you to net what the government takes from me in a signal week. You get everything you want from them for free? Well good for you, but for me, my diabetic supplies cost a lot, and as I said before if I wasn’t in a labor union they would cost much more, and as for the drugs they prescribed to me for the other condition, well they would have cost a fortune too. I’m speaking from my personal experience here, our health care system isn’t perfect, it isn’t even good (unless you make $200 a week). But for guys like me who make thousands a week and pay for the BULK of the system…IT SUCKS! Your welcome for the free ride.
Young, its people like you with the attitude you have that is the reason in America our system is the way it is, yes I know you’re in Canada, but its that same attitude. If you don’t like it move to America and see how far your money goes then. Try switching doctors and hospitals then and then try paying for it and see how far your money will go. Stop complaining and be grateful. Theres people here that are DYING and would love to have that free choice!
@ Young:
Must be some weak labor unions you belong to. Most have extended health coverage and , or through the employers themselves everything is covered 100%, at least 80% for all prescriptions. For no more than 80 to 100$ extra per month.
And as for diagnosis, that has nothing to do with the subject at hand,
Good for you you can diagnose you own medical malaise.
But than you must think “all” medical practitioners are infallible and do not make errors. In Canada you can have second or third opinions at no extra cost.
@P.F
“If you don’t like it move to America and see how far your money goes then.”
Imagine what would happen if everyone in my tax bracket moved to America. Would like to see the shape of the Canadian health care system then.
@Achems Razor
“Must be some weak labor unions you belong to.”
Nope, Steamfitters Union, very strong, covers 80%. My point was it would have cost me a fortune if I wasn’t part of it. I wasn’t always and the cost of my diabetic supplies alone near crippled me financially in those times.
“But than you must think “all” medical practitioners are infallible and do not make errors. ”
I believe my statement “I don’t expect general practitioners to be experts on everything concerning medicine” answers that.
I didn’t say that Americas system is better, I said “I can’t help but think of the kind of health care I would have been provided with if I paid for my health care privatly as in the united states.”
Am I not allowed to ponder?
Regarding my “attitude”. I’m sorry but I have the naive belief that those who work hard and make choices in their life to put themselves into a position of making a high income like myself, deserve greater privaledges than those who don’t.
And I worked VERY hard to do that. Comming from a low income single parent household in an econmically depressed part of Canada. Everything I have, I got for myself, and I don’t think I am any better than the next guy, so I don’t see any reason why he can’t do it too. So if he doesn’t, I don’t want to pick up his tab.
If you were in America first off you’d probably be out of work right now. But you’re boasting about your income,thats all you’re really saying. From your name on here it says young, that explains why you are boasting so. Be careful with that because changes can occur swiftly. Too many young professionals think they are on top of the world and then it all comes crashing down. Don’t belittle someone else for not being at your tax bracket. You obviously don’t understand the situation your were fortunate to be born into. We aren’t that lucky in America. We are driven in debt, driven to make harsh sacrifices or they are made for us based upon income and politics. Money is what decides whether we get basic health care or not. And theres millions of working Americans who can’t afford heathcare who go without until its too late or who’s insurance denies them so they don’t have to pay and whose government cares more about lining their own pockets than our health and welfare, to hear of someone complaining because they had to go to several doctors before they were correctly diagnosis when we may not have that one chance to see a doctor without piles of debt being charged even for the medication and pillows they give us, it just seems ridiculous. Be grateful for what you have. Be grateful you are able to have such a choice!!!
@ Young:
Are you just pondering? I do not see your point on this topic.
Like P.F. said, trying to tell us how much money you make?, not interested.
And like P.F. said it may come crashing down, life can turn on a dime. But if it ever does come crashing down, “all” your medical will be covered for free 100%! so you should be very grateful that you are Canadian!!
P.F
I am not claiming to know much about what happens with health care in America but you seem to be claiming you know a lot about it here in Canada. It;s not perfect, not even close, you have to wait hours upon hours to get anything short of a heart attack taken care of. We have Doctors who are less qualified and get paid the same amount regardless of the quality of their work. They genuinely don’t seem to concern with their patients because of this. Be grateful? It doesn’t come for free like how it’s shown in this film, it’s paid for by the taxpayers. And research has shown that Canada’s work force is 3.3 million people. Then when you take into account how many of them actually make more then 50,000 a year that leaves a very small percentage paying for the other 30 million people. I guess this doesn’t seem like a big deal to those who benefit from it, those who don’t pay into it. They’ll just call me greedy, but I’m not, I just want what I believe I deserve considering the work I’ve put in. Be grateful I am able to have such a choice? How about the choice to pick a medical plan best suited for my needs, or the choice to no longer pay for a doctor who’s integrity and skill I question. Those are choices we don’t get here.
If I WAS in America and I WAS out of work I wouldn’t sit around and cry about it and expect someone to bail me out, I would pick my self up and make the necessary choices and work towards bringing myself back up. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again if needed.
I know your system in America sucks, but that doesn’t mean privatized, or semi-privatized(which is what I would like) health care doesn’t work. From what I gathered from the film, the biggest problem with your system is lack of regulations.
@Achemz
Again…ummm diabetic here. All my medical costs will not be covered free by the federal health care system. I am out of work right now. Do you think I was living check to check? I financial plan for times like this. In fact, If I had to pay $300 a month on a medical plan I would still be covered for at least another 2 years without work before I have to reconsider. It’s called being responsible for your own life.
@ Young:
You say only 3.3 million people are working in Canada?
I sure do not know where you get your info. from?
There are approx. 14 million people working at one time in Canada.
Actually Women outnumber Men at 7.1 million Females. 6.9 million Males.
I am in no way an advocate for the privatized health care system of the United States. I don’t think they’re health care system is better than Canada’s BUT I do think it would be better for me.
Achemz Razor
“Are you just pondering? I do not see your point on this topic.”
The purpose of my original comment was to show that our health care system in Canada is not a free, fairy-tale perfect system as depicted in the film, it is falling apart and is in drastic need of reform. I was not whining about what I had to go through but rather drawing on my own bad experiences to show that point. So please don’t tell me I should be grateful with what we have rather than working for something better.
P.F
“We aren’t that lucky in America. We are driven in debt, driven to make harsh sacrifices or they are made for us based upon income and politics.”
You say that it’s my attitude which is to blame for the system you unfortunately have. I would say it’s your attitude which is the reason it’s in bad shape. Your above comment implies that you, as a citizen, are powerless to change the country your living in. It’s that kind of apathetic approach which will ensure it never gets any better.
Achemz Razor
I got that number from an article I read sometime ago. The information they gave was when you take into account students, retired, senior citizens, wel-fare, unemployment, those not working and not on unemployment, children, disabled, stay at home parents, you are left with 3.3 million. Could be an underestimate, but your number seems like a gross overestimate.
@ Young:
Any pertinent data I put on these forums is always checked by me via internet.
Check statistics Canada, for my inclusion of number of people working in Canada.
sad
Europe’s healthcare isn’t so great anymore either. Ever since we’ve had the compulsory system, a lot of things have been taken out of the insurance and you now have to pay for them. For me that includes my anti anxiety medication (I have had panic disorder for YEARS and suddenly I have to pay up), all dentist work (I don’t go anymore) and lots of other things. On top of that, I pay double of what I used to pay.
I want the old government health insurance back :(
I just wanted to say how offensive it is for you to say that I am “taking a free ride” – Maybe you should live in America if your attitude is so elitist, you would fit right in. It is that kind of attitude that has always impeded progress in the world, and been the cause of the “I am better than you” attitude that keeps so many people all over the world living in the most gruesome conditions while the few rich prosper. I have always believed a prosperous country is one that takes care of the poorest and finds a way to make them working members of society. Just because I work in a grocery store and don’t make as much money as you do doesn’t mean I am any less deserving of the type of healthcare you receive. Just for the record, I am a Master’s student at the moment, so I really can’t commit to a full time professional job, so I work in the service sector to supplement my schooling costs. I pay my taxes just the way you do, but unlike the American government, they make sure the people who don’t make the right amount of money pay their taxes appropriately, just not on the levels you do. But the point is, is that I still contribute. I am happy where I work in a system where students like me can live and be protected while we work on living out our dreams. And in the future I will be happy to pay my taxes in that same system (when I have finally reached the pinnacle of my career)where me and my kids will be entitled to healthcare without fear of rejection or insurance companies, and they too will be protected and taken care of the same way I was.
Also I forgot to address your point you made (young) about how far your money would go in America for quality healthcare rather than here in Canada. I just wanted to remind you that the QUALITY of the healthcare systems on an international scare have been ranked, and, like the documentary said (and its almost a known universal fact now), America has been ranked at 37, while Canada is at the top of the ladder. So I am not sure how you think your going to get better quality healthcare in America, when their quality has been ranked so much lower than ours?
I think Young is just talking off the top of his head. I don’t think he has the experience to know what we’re saying. I don’t think he really understands what we go through. I mean, Sicko shows you how we’re charged for everything. Young, We have to wait for months and most of the time our insurance companies purposely try to deny us coverage… we have to wait for care but the depth of our coverage is based upon economics. One person can have one type of insurance and have tests, surgery and all costs paid for. The next person may have a different type of insurance that doesn’t cover all of the expenses or there isn’t a greater return for the doctor, so they are denied further tests and even surgery.
I could have breast cancer right now but I’ll never know because my insurance won’t allow me to be seen. I had a doctor tell me he could remove the lumps in my breast and test them but when he looked at my insurance he told me to just live with the lumps. Its amazing to me to see someone put down a system where they can go to another doctor if they so choose and get that test result, when many, many people in the U.S. cannot.
Did you not see on the news this summer the long lines of people for days on out when they were having free health-care camps set up in certain locations in the U.S. These were doctors volunteering their services and there were so many people that they had to turn them away, some waiting days in line. And as far as your money stretching here, there are young professionals who are living without health insurance because the premiums are too high and we’re floating the bills for millions of illegals while we are billed and many end up losing their homes over hospital bills.
Young, do you know how many people would trade places with you right now? My god, be grateful because if you actually did come over to this side of the border, you’d have a rude awakening. You’d realize that Big Business lining Big Business’ pockets is whats important here, not our general welfare. You’d realize how truly blessed you are! And if you had to pay health-care here in the U.S. you’re money wouldn’t go very far.
I agree with @ P.F.:
A lot of Americans are coming across the border into Canada to try and get free health care illegally. There are whole websites on that, costing Canada millions if not billions.
who are we indeed…this is the saddest thing i have ever watched i want to move to France
@LET
First off let me say I’m sorry for offending you and good luck in your Masters Degree.
Regarding your comment:
“Maybe you should live in America if your attitude is so elitist, you would fit right in. It is that kind of attitude that has always impeded progress in the world, and been the cause of the “I am better than you” attitude that keeps so many people all over the world living in the most gruesome conditions while the few rich prosper.”
I don’t see how you made that conclusion. Please refer back to my comment when I said:
“Everything I have, I got for myself, and I don’t think I am any better than the next guy, so I don’t see any reason why he can’t do it too. So if he doesn’t, I don’t want to pick up his tab.”
In regards to;
“just wanted to remind you that the QUALITY of the healthcare systems on an international scare have been ranked, and, like the documentary said (and its almost a known universal fact now), America has been ranked at 37, while Canada is at the top of the ladder.”
I disagree, here is a lnk:
http://unitas.wordpress.com/2007/06/30/ranking-of-world-health/
@P.F
I think that from my previous comments you should have been able to tell that I don’t claim to know of the situation in the states as intimately as you, and that I do not think that the system in America is better than Canada’s.
@young
You may have said that you are no better than the next person, but you were still passive aggressive in your last line when you said “your welcome for the free ride”. Indicating that you think you are working harder than others. I could just be guessing and i could be wrong of course (and I apologize if you were giving a sincere welcome for me taking healthcare from the system while people like you paid for it), but when someone makes a passive aggressive cheeky comment like that, I can only take it as some sort of mockery?
that was an interesting blog entry, but I didn’t see exactly what part says my previous comment is unjustified? the systems are ranked by healthcare access, life expectancy, etc….is there a particular sentence or paragraph that I missed?
http://www.who.int/healthinfo/en/
This is the world health organizations site, and the numbers are there, and the statistics speak, whether that particular blog entry says there are people in the states who live into their 90s or not. Of course there are given people in every society who live into their 90s, and even 100s, no matter what, but its the statistics that matter and give meaning to how many people are dying young and sick that bring down the calculations for a country.
So in order to get to the route of the debate: I just want to say that I am not saying your money would not go far in the United States, because if you have the money to pay, then you are most likely going to see someone (I believe this was your initial point young? that your money would go further in the states, and someone would be able to diagnose you better than you have been diagnosed in Canada?) You definitely would get care if you had the money…
Now this is just conjecture, but hear me out: if we are too go off what this documentary says, then we should believe that doctors in the states and insurance companies don’t want you to get any healthier (this is not all doctors, because I believe that you need to be committed and dedicated to take up an occupation like a doctor), so they try to keep you on drugs that will treat your symptoms in order to have you continue to pay for pharmaceuticals, and have you continue to see doctors on a regular basis. Now From what we saw in France and in Cuba, where healthcare is universal, they seem to try a good amount of preventative medicine (as that one American living in France said he had type 1 diabetes) – of course this is because it is universal, and no one is trying to ‘profit’. So doctors and hospitals have no incentive to try and keep you paying where healthcare is universal, because they are all going to make money off the tax system regardless. So i think doctors where there are universal healthcare benefits are actually a bit more likely to help you (just a bit), because they are not influenced by the idea of making a profit? Just a thought based on the documentary, I could be wrong
@LET
You’re correct with your thoughts regarding my “free ride” statement, but let me clarify I don’t actually feel like this it was more of a frustrated, defensive comment.
Their is a list at the bottom of the link I gave you which ranks Canada at 30th in terms of quality of health care and America at 37th.
If we are to go off of what the documentary says then my comments are absolutely ludicrous. But I’m actually basing my opinion on first hand knowledge from friends in the states with premium health care plans. One of whom got seriously ill while in Canada and compared his treatment here with that of a third world country. He actually fled to the United States in very bad condition to get his condition properly treated. This is a very compelling film but one must recognize that Mr. Moore is well aware of the power of propaganda and uses it by presenting facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission).
My opinion on health care in Canada and in The States is that they both are in DESPERATE need of reform. The States needs regulations and Canada well, I would be all for trying out semi-privatized health care (seems to be working in Quebec). But I am well aware that wouldn’t fix all the problems.
I am a the type of person who likes to see an equal playing field and have all sides considered objectively. So if some American was bashing our health care system I would point out the good it does compared to the American model. When I see this film and it’s inaccurate depiction of health care in Canada, and all the Canadians seemingly full of themselves because of it, it makes me want to bring them back down to reality.
oh how i love canada…id rather pay a few bucks tax then pay 60,000 incase i lose a finger
three cheers for canada!
@ eh tee
im with you, i live in australia and we have a similar system to the canadian system.
we live in a country where we can access whatever we need for free. we can change doctors, see specialists and have all treatments done without costing a cent.
we also have the option to get private cover if we want but everyone in my country is given equal access.
we do not have people selling their houses to pay for medical costs or who getting denied cover that they have paid for, infact that sounds ludicrous to me.
i was really sad watching this film knowing that so many people in america are scared of something so great.
we take for granted in this country that when you are out of work you will be supported, that if you are a single mother you will be supported, if you are elderly you will be supported.
i would not want things any other way.
This is some sick stuff :|
Where I’m from, the Netherlands, the moment you get born you’re automaticcaly health-insured (no matter what condition you might have) by our government. If you saw off your finger, it gets re-attached practically for free, for it wouldn’t serve the public interest if you’d lose you’re job because of it.
The way the American population has been brainwashed by fear of socialism (among other things), and congress hijacked by legalized corruption (called lobbyists) is so freaking shocking and bizarre to me :S
Almost like a third world country if you’d add up the following:
- Corporations making millions from other people’s suffering
- Corruption
- Unemployment
- Poverty
- Health insurance conditions
- Waging wars non-stop
- No social benefits for the poor and the weak
- Huge gap between the very rich and the very poor
- Locking up millions of people for a bit of weed
- Unbelievable defecit and debt (really.. too f*cking huge!)
- Gangproblems (I couldn’t even imagine those here)
- You can buy a shotgun, but a bit of pot is illegal..??
I could go on for a while, but the list above sums up pretty good of what America means to me and a lot of Europeans.
Glad i’m not living there!
I love America, but France has never sounded so good.
@charlie – This was the point of the document. It was to make France (and many other) health care systems seem much better.
Check out
“Frontline – Sick around the world”
Its a good docu’ that isn’t nearly as biased as Moores films.
@ hate machine,
you dont really think that the point of this documentry was to simply
“It was to make France (and many other) health care systems seem much better.”
Michael Moore is an american, why would he make a docu that makes his country look so bad, unless he felt that the situation was bad enough that it needed to be brought to the attention of people all around the world.
It is apparent to me from both the doc and the comments here that America has tricked the world into thinking that the are a patriotic country who stand together, but it does not take too much scratching under the surface to discover how devastatingly divided that the whole country is.
@ Nielsch- You list what America means to you and most Europeans– Good points, I am an American, and you sum the list up well. Some Americans believe that about America too (maybe even most Americans. Truth be told
Now I know why I didn’t receive any treatment for my back & fibromyalgia when CA changed to managed care from reg. Medi-Cal. At least my carpal tunnel was SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BEFORE MANAGED CARE!
All I got were prescriptions of 800mg of Motrin 3x day for 5 years. It destroyed my gall bladder. I ended up with many more health problems.
I originally went to the Dr. because I hurt my back! I WAS NEVER TREATED FOR IT EXCEPT FOR THE MOTRIN! IT DIDN’T REALLY WORK THAT WELL FOR PAIN. On a scale of 1-10 & 10 being the worst, my pain went from 12 to 10 with the Motrin!
AND TAXPAYERS PAID FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT! HOW DO YOU TREAT A PATIENT BY JUST WRITING A PRESCRIPTION?
I have had insurance on and off for years-paying a disturbing amount. I have recently become ill in many areas-and because I had thyroid problems one of the times I was on BCBS it is considered a preexisting condition with BCBS because I had a short time between with no insurance. I now have to pay $350 mo. for individual insurance (I am only 30) and have to pay for my doctor visits, CAT scan, and whatever else lies ahead. I am a victim of the economy (unemployed), the ruined environment (sick) and health insurance. I’m sure it is only a matter of time before I lose what little I have left. I am not so patriotic anymore.
The latest thing in this country (US) for those in debt is JAIL!!!!!!!!!!
Yet the BANKSTERS… corporate CRIMINALS DON’T GET ANY PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR CRIMES!
Now they’re trying to put more poisons on CA strawberries! The one they want to use is a neurotoxin!
@ Cathy Consoli:
Strawberries you say, am in Canada, trying to eat CA. Cal Fruit strawberries, tasteless and bland, like eating cardboard, never again will purchase anything from USA!
Thanks for the info.
Like all of Michael Moore’s doc’s they make you sad, cry, angry & mad about what’s really happening in this country!
They say we have free health care in this country, the ER. That’s only true if you have no Social Security number or any other form of ID.
They will send collections after you, garnish pay, place liens on your property & get judgments, take you bank account money even if it is Social Security, Veterans benefits, etc. They will also take money from a joint bank account, even if all the $ left in it isn’t yours, but your disabled adult son’s SSI!
@ Cathy Consoli
I was unaware of any debtors prison in the US. Can you explain please? I have heard of garnishments, seizure of property, even siezure of federal tax returns- but not jail. i had a friend, well I knew the guy I wouldn’t call him a friend, but he got a car and never paid a single payment. It was one of those zero down- zero interest for so many months type deals. So he never gave a penny and even hid out with the car when they tried to repo it. Now he went to jail for fraud but that was cause they proved he never intended to pay. he had told someone he was going to get the car and not pay and just keep it as long as possible. This constitutes fraud as he signed an agreement with the fore knowledge that he would not live up to it. But I was unaware they could arrest you for just owing a debt that you intended to pay but couldn’t.
@Achems Razor, yeah, most of the fruit you buy in the store has NO FLAVOR. I found out it is because they pick it before it’s ripe so it will survive the transport to wherever.
They poison us from here & there, in fact from EVERYWHERE! Heaven forbid the FAT CATS lose a dime! Must keep us sick to ensure that they keep making obscene amounts of money so they can continue to buy our so-called elected reps. who have sold us out to the highest bidder! Isn’t that treason?
@ John Seals:
I do believe that Florida, has debtors prison. Among others.
@ John Seals
I read it on alternet.org
In fact if you ignore a summons, even if it was delivered by regular mail & looks like it came from a collection agency you can be arrested for not showing up in court. Most people with debt ignore mail from creditors, collections & so forth. I recently found out that the statute of limitations for old CC debt in CA is 4 years! Wish I’d known that sooner.
Also you cannot discharge a student loan by bankruptcy in usa.
With you forever. Not so in Canada.
@ Nielsch
Amen brother, I wished I could come thier. Sounds like a great place. Of course if all us Americans come running over thier we will bring the sickness with us, trust me. capitolism gone amuck, it is the American way. Above all make that dollar for you and yours right now, all other considerations are mute. I am not sure where along the way we all seem to get this ingrained into our thought pattern but I think it comes at an early age here.
Man that is screwed up. I have a lot of debt from an old car wreck that broke my spine in two places. I get letters all the time but I just toss them. I assumed at the worse they would get a settlement for garnishment against me but so far so good. Thier is no way i can pay the debt, its over forty grand. I have thought of bankruptcy but my lawyer says wait as long as I can. My disablity settlement covered a lot of it as it was retro active, but thiers plenty left. Funny how you can be just going to work one day and the next you will never do that kind of work again. I had started welding, cause believe it or not I can make more money doing that around here than I can in IT. Now I really can’t do either, I help out at the local Junior college now, in the theology department. Life is so very different now- lots of pain on a constant basis, I feel like I don’t matter anymore, and my wife split. I just take care of my parents and try and stay busy, spend a lot of time here lately. Does everyone feel like dying now, sorry- did not mean to bum you all out. I gotta get over this funk.
@ John Seals
I know how you feel. I wonder why I survived my car accident to end up the way I am now, Fibromyalgia, jacked up back & hip & more. I DID RECEIVE GREAT health care when CA had regular Medi-Cal, but they changed to managed care. From then on it was a “catch-22 paper chase”. All I received was prescriptions for 800mg of generic Motrin, 3x a day, for 5 years, then I needed emergency exploratory surgery- was my gall bladder- 100% gangrenous. They told me I was lucky to get to the hospital when I did. It goes downhill from there!
@ John Seals:
Sorry to hear all that John, I suppose most people have their trials and tribulations though. certainly had my share, but what does not kill you makes you stronger.
I do not know what to tell you, only hang in there, life is still grand and everybody matters. It is the little things in life that are worth living for.
My motto is F**k everything, nobody owns you.
Somehow I have to find a way to leave this country if I don’t want to die from no health care. even though it passed in this country, the same health insurance companies are what you get to choose from.
I just wish there was somewhere warm I could go. Cold weather is bad for my condition.
I wonder what family values do we really have? They keep screaming family values on Capitol Hill, I want to know where they are.
Maybe our gov. is the “Great Satan” I see NOTHING that resembles anything CHRISTIAN. It’s sad…….
@ Cathy
Wow, at least I didn’t have it as bad as you. I wish i could help you somehow, of course I can’t. I know some what how you feel, I never had life threatening injuries. Have you tried any local charities, I know it is hard to ask but its your life we are talking about.
As far as i go Achems your right, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. I am definetly stronger than when this all began. And something good is coming of it, I am starting over. I wasn’t really happy with my IT job and didn’t really want to teach theology. Its hard for me to sit home three and four days a week and not get depressed. I hate sitting still, I like to move forward or change course. It’s all good though, Cathy sounds like she has some real issues though, I wish you well Cathy. Keep us informed.
@John Seals
Thank you for the kind words. I went to the Dr. when I hurt my back & was also diagnosed with severe carpal tunnel.I know it was related to the car accident 2 yrs. earlier. I NEVER got treated for my back except for prescriptions, (which I know caused other health problems, like thyroid & HBP)after CA changed the reg. Medi-Cal for managed care.
I was healthy & active. I LOVED to DANCE! Now I can’t.I learned how to do lots of things. I had been a pretty good mechanic for more than 14 years, it was fun. I learned how to sew, redesign clothes I already had, cooked, baked, decorated & kept a “spic & span” house. Learned how to do some plumbing, window panes, patching the garage roof in a down-pour, from the inside! Never leaked again! I learned how to fix quite a few other items, Including the washing machine. I taught myself by reading & viewing online demos.
Sorry for getting off track. I miss being able to do……..
I’m trying to figure out what CA paid for… all I know is I ended up worse than before I went to the Dr.the first time.
The time I did have the State paid Medi-Cal I received excellent care. Not fancy but decent care. I believe that had they NOT changed I wouldn’t be disabled.
Seeing the women put out on the street like last weeks garbage after being released from the hospital made me have to literally take a moment of silence. Is it worth it to be an American?
Capitolism is just not a good system when it comes to certain things. In the general market it is fine but when it comes to things like health care, utilities, insurance, eductaion, child care, and several others it is just not ethical or productive. The Republicans have tried so hard to privatize everything for a reason. These things are necessary and they know if they can control themn they can charge what ever they see fit and we will have to pay it. More than that they will have a mechanism of control that is strong and direct. I am thinking very hard about moving out of this country to further my education and build a new life after my parents pass away. Of course I would never be able to come up with the money I would need to move and all probably- Can’t even make ends meet yet much less get ahead.
I am currently at the mercy of the medical system with a bulging disc that is resting on my left leg’s sciatic nerve. You would think that since the accident that caused it was on the job so it would be covered right? As I sit here with a messed up sleeping habit, a leg that loses power, shakes, kicks for no reason, goes numb, has shooting pain and creates pain with every step in the area that I can only imagine as the source of the problem, I can say without a doubt that no matter the insurance, the system has failed. I am currently in a court case against my former employer and the insurance company. It has been almost 2 years now and it is finally almost done. As I say that, I wonder if I have jinxed it. For those that say Americans are dumb, I’ll agree, which is part of the problem. After defending her, taking care of her, and being a contributing part of her, I feel that America has not reciprocated. My wife is also experiencing health problems. I am thinking that once we are done with our education, we are both currently working on our bachelors, that maybe we should take it to a country that will not turn it’s back on us for our hard work.
Jeff Y,
Sorry to hear about your situation. You were able to sue your insurance company? Most policies MANDATE arbitration now. They big monied corporations in this country managed to take away our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO GO TO COURT (with the blessing of our elected reps) & instead have grievances heard in arbitration hearings by a judge that is MOONLIGHTING for big $$$$$. These people are very biased in favor of the business that hired them. If I’m not mistaking you cannot appeal the decision in arbitration.
I know the kind of pain you you have. It’s not living when you have pain all the time. It’s TORTURE, but for what? Just existing or trying to isn’t a way to live, sometimes I pray to die because the pain is so bad. If I could I’d trade 20 hours of having the pain of labor every year if I could be like I was before the rest of the time.
What I’d like to know is what morals are the politicians (mostly Republicans) always talking about? How about the “claim” that this country was founded on Christianity & still is? What those elected have done & are doing is to sell us out for the corporate money they get if they do what the corporations want. No matter how it hurts “Main Street”. They outsourced most of the good paying jobs to 3rd world countries, import cheaper foreign workers for those they couldn’t outsource. To make matters worse they allowed & have encouraged unfettered illegal immigration. That results in wages being pushed down again & again. Amnesty will only further wages being pushed down even more! It won’t stop illegals from coming either. It will do the opposite!
American citizens DON’T GET FREE HEALTH CARE, BUT ILLEGALS DO! That is WRONG!
I’m English and lived in the U.S. for ten years. I have a friend there who had a thyroid problem but couldn’t afford medication for it till her father died and left her some money. Her ex husband recently needed a heart by-pass operation and he had to sell his house to pay for it.
We complain about the NHS in the U.K. but it’s the best thing that ever happened to us.
Good to be in Canada. Longer lines, but it’s free. Lucky UK has shorter lines.
My aunt works for Kaiser and is constantly complaining to us about how they’re just ******** with people’s health or sometimes their lives. Unfortunately, my family members are the only ones that hear from her about certain “happenings” because she’s too afraid to lose her job. Heck, I was raised with Kaiser. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I began to understand why my mom would wait until last minute to take me to the hospital to get seen for anything. When I was 16, I began to have blood in my stool that was inconsistent with anal fissures and hemorrhoids. I had seen doctor after doctor for the next year. While the personality of each one had varied, all but one had kept me on a treatment of suppositories that clearly weren’t working. Finally, one doctor had referred me to a gastroenterologist because of my family history with colon cancer. I felt like I was finally getting somewhere just when I thought it was time to give up. The specialist was incredibly nice and his explanations of the colonoscopy were simple to understand. Unfortunately, I was denied the exam by Kaiser, regardless of the fact that Kaiser’s own doctor had requested it, because of my age. That was the final blow. I began to question the trust I once had in doctors of all practices, but I now know it is not the doctors I should necessarily question but the system they are forced to work in.
I feel lucky that I now have access to TriCare and live in Germany while I am pregnant with my first. I received most of my prenatal care in the states and didn’t arrive here until the beginning of my third trimester. I love being here! And I will gladly say the care here is much better than anything back home.
But at the same time, I feel terrible that everyone I know back home still has to deal with all of that BS. For instance, an old high school friend of mine was kicked off of her dad’s insurance plan a few years ago because she wasn’t a full-time college student, she can’t afford even “cheap” insurance, and even if she could afford it no one will take her since she has heart problems and anxiety attacks.
I just don’t understand why so many people (even some of my family) are against a universal health care system. Why, because they’ve paid for it all this time? Well, good for them. Yet wouldn’t it be better to take care of one another rather than be a greedy fool? I mean, if you saw someone recently in an accident with serious injuries, do you hope for the best or do you think they might as well be tossed aside in a ditch because you don’t want to pay higher taxes?
mike you rock, you are one good friend who can actually share a piece of information. As an immigrant I could only know so much about my adoptive country. Don’t get me wrong I am still thankful for the opportunities. I probably learn things that would of cost me tuition and time. yup! anymore films coming up? they should put you into schools, so that these kids would actually be informed. I love you man! You want to be president? you are an American lol