I'm surprised that no one made the million-dollar-question yet .... WILL THEY SACK HER OR NOT ?????? :)

I doubt it. So long as they aren't posting confidential info about Google, the company tends to be pretty laid back about such things.

Pathetic. Who cares what one person says about something. There's bound to be some yap after a movie like Sicko. Blogs ARE personal thoughts for christ sake.

the goverment here in canada...

well civil serviants are no longer civil, nor are they servents of the public, so id hate to see anything else getting tainted by civil servents. but i dont think that nessissary tihngs should cost soo much, id like to see a barter traiding system going again, instead of all these peices of I.O.Us.

if our country and many others can pay 3-20 million a year for a sports player, and the people that make their clothes, and food, and service all their needs.. make minimum wage? i think there are far more issues in this world then just health care.

I think many are missing the point. It not about starting a universal healthcare system but more on trying to get the government to enforce new rules on the Health Insurance Providers. We pay huge dollars each month in order to have health insurance we should get the care we are paying for, but the providers are finding any and all reasons to deny your claims. What would you do tomorrow if you was diagnosed with cancer? You can watch everything you do and take care of your body 100% and still develop this. Then when you need the treatment you are denied the care. Say you developed a tumor in your head and you just got on an insurance plan 6 months ago but that tumor was diagnosed to have started a year ago but you had no symptoms the insurance company can deny you due to pre-existing condition. That is where the insurance company get you. There are plenty of examples.

Someone mentions that we need to take better care of our body in order to stay healthy well sorry to inform you but alot of health problems are hereditary so no matter what you do you can still end up with major health issues.

I am pissed off with alot of you who diss Moore over this movie. He may not always show the whole story in order to prove his way of thinking, but he is spot on in this movie with the way our current HealthCare system has turned to crap. Give me one example where Moore isn't right and I will disprove you.

"It not about starting a universal healthcare system"

Perhaps it not, But SiCKO is clearly and plainly an appeal for a single payer government run health care system.

"Someone mentions that we need to take better care of our body in order to stay healthy well sorry to inform you but alot of health problems are hereditary so no matter what you do you can still end up with major health issues."

Doesn't matter how much money you tax away from people there will always be death, sickness, and tear jerking stories of life's unfairness. Don't stop trying to fix the world, but do it with your own money.

There is only one good health plan in the United States.
It's called eat right and exercise.

If we didn't have to pay health care costs for the slovenly pie-eaters insurance would be reasonable, and hospitals wouldn't be overcrowded.

I am not interested in universal health care that doesn't require every one to eat their vegetables, take a walk, quit smoking, and take it easy on the coffee, the red-bull, and the booze. And I'm not interested in giving up that much control over my life either.

I've seen SiCKO and it convinced me that the heath insurance companies are blood sucking ghouls. If we could dump all the multi-million dollar executives and the huge bureaucracy that exists to prevent health insurance "medical losses" there would suddenly be a lot more money in the system to pay for preventive care, patient education, and research.

What we really need are tax-exempt medical saving accounts and then give every individual complete responsibility, personal and financial, for their own health care.

Health care isn't a right it's a product, just like indoor plumbing, roofs, and transportation. You can't very well get along without them, but that doesn't make you entitled to them.

Apparently, genetics doesn't run in your family. That's great! Many people suffer genetic health problems and they can't walk them off.

Oh, there is an answer for that, isn't there? Adolph Hitler was working on it....perhaps we need to have more specific human breeding.

It doesn't matter how much tax money the government takes people will still get sick and everybody will still die. The only question is how public money should be spent on an individual to prolong the inevitable. No politician wants the job of answering that question, and I don't want it either. Too complicated, too many factors, no mater what you do you will be wrong.

Fortunately we have a system for establishing the value of a person's life and it has been in use forever. Just ask "how much money to you have?" Now that is simple, inexpensive, and as close to a fair system as we will ever see.

You're right...it's much better to spend the public money on world domination and blowing hundreds of thousands of innocent people to bits, halfway around the world. Now, that's well spent money....about as "well spent," as giving oil companies huge tax breaks.

For what we spend on killing, we could save a lot of lives...but then, we have a lot of people in the U.S. who are merely an oxymoron..."Pro-life....Pro-war."

Ironic, that "money should decide whether you live or die," yet the very same government and very same people continually fight against laws for the "right to die" for terminal patients. Only Oregon has an assisted suicide law. Yeah...people who choose that option cheat the poor doctors and hospitals out of a lot of fine profit.

How we went from altruistic futility to funding a war is something I missed.

To paraphrase the late great FZ "The only thing more common in the Universe than hydrogen is stupidity"

Just because our Government does many stupid things is hardly a reason to give it more things to do stupidly, while forcibly taking your money to do them.

"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful,is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." - FZ

We went there quite simply by the argument of how expensive universal medical care would be for all Americans.

My point is that government is going to spend money...and will continue to do so. So, where would be money be spend in the best interests for Americans.

Would the money be best spent in establishing a universal health care system for all Americans and more research to deal with common disease, or better spent on world domination plans. Simple as that.

Just as so many argue here that universal medical care takes away choice, as if it is strictly a "one or the other" option. Not the case.

I've lived in countries with universal medical care....free medical for all people.....and at the same time, they maintained the option of private medical care, for those who opted to to use a private insurance scheme and their own dollars to use private doctors and hospitals. One was not forced to use government medical care services. It did not take away choice. It merely gave more choice...two options instead of one.

Given a choice between stupidity and compassion for other human beings...I'll gladly take the stupidity.

Given a choice between stupidity and compassion for other human beings...I'll gladly take the stupidity.

...I think you just did. Did you intentionally word it that way, or were the fingers moving faster than the brain?

No, I pretty much meant it as I said it...given the choice, if having compassion for others is stupidity....I'll stay with the stupidity. Most in my generation grew up in a far different America...one that had a lot more compassion for people. Perhaps it had something to do with growing up in rural areas, where people all pitched in and helped the less fortunate, rather than using them as someone to blame.

This week, we've had the worst flood in our town that has been seen since 1951. A lot of elderly and poor live in the section of town that was devastated. I suppose those of us on high ground could have merely called them idiots, since most had no flood insurance. But being fairly rural, we haven't waited and have done whatever possible to help those people. Just a small piece of older American attitude. We haven't been infected with the, "I've got mine....the hell with you" disease yet.

where people all pitched in and helped the less fortunate, rather than using them as someone to blame.

Admirable. But the implication is that such behavior should be *forced* upon us by *laws* that tell us *how* to express our humanity.

We should all be allowed to help others as we see fit. Let me say that again: As *we* see fit. Not by how the government, SIGs, or lobbyists think we should.

Compassion is great. But it is no longer compassion when forced. It becomes, instead, totalitarianism, "in the name of the children".

Edit: BTW:

given the choice, if having compassion for others is stupidity....I'll stay with the stupidity.

Given a choice between stupidity and compassion for other human beings...I'll gladly take the stupidity.

If Compassion=Stupidity, there cannot be a choice between the two. That's what confused me.

/nitpick

FYI, here's a good review of Sicko that talks about some of Moore's "selective use" of facts:
http://www.mtv.com/movie...les/1563758/story.jhtml

Moore is known for his twisting details to fit his agenda, and usually not true.

NO RLY??

While it's true that Moore is well known for stating *only* the facts that support his view, and only pandering to the emotions and situations that support his view, most (not all of course) of his claims are, in fact, true.

He just utterly fails to mention any truth that could negatively reflect upon his view.

It sparks conversation, it gets folks (hopefully) thinking. Especially when they hear the other side (which they eventually will).

The US healthcare system isn't perfect. There's always room for improvement. I don't personally think Socialized healthcare is the way to go, butt he discussion is valid.

I don't think that the American tax payer will go for the incredible tax load that this would require. I have heard first had from relatives in Scotland and they think that socialized medicine is a mess over there. I think that when ever you get government involved things get messed up.

My thoughts exactly. Like I said, it isn't perfect, but it's a far sight better than Socialized Healthcare.

No options to shop around, no options to opt out entirely, you pay what the government demands and that's it. Even if you never use it...

Not necessarily true. I lived in one country where we had Socialized Medical care, if that is the term one would use for a place where government hospitals and doctors were freely available for all people.

We still had private doctors, hospitals and insurance schemes. One could opt to go to a private doctor or hospital, using insurance and personal payment for services. Or, one could opt to use the available government medical services at no charge (We paid one dollar for a hospital trip).

It doesn't have to be an "either or" system. One such as we had actually gave more options.

Depending on how the "socialized" version was funded, folks "choosing" to go to the private doc likely ended up payin twice. Once, for the socialized care, through taxes, and again at the private doc's office.

Not exactly utopian.

The only way it could be anything other than a fair either/or system is to make the socialized service 100% funded by donation (either through straight up donations, or via opt-in taxation).

The US government should give you all your medical care for free... because you want the
US government to take care of every problem....
Maybe the solution is to force everyone to buy medical insurance just like they force you to buy car insurance.

Already happening.

Minnesota is doing it and I believe several other states now do as well.

It'll kick in here by years end, I believe. Time to move elsewhere.

MA is testing water too. I have NY will follow suite. The health benefit sucks really bad here. It cost less just to pay out of pocket than to have insurance. And this is from the company too.

Taking away our freedoms one by one to prop up the idealistic fallacy that is Social Welfare.

stop enforcing rules on every aspect of my life. The government should NOT be telling ME what to do. Life, LIBERTY, and justice for all!

The government isn't a parent, and it should never be unless you want to live in a communist country or some other fascist place.

I know ... Next thing you know, you won't be able to leisurely drive your M1 Abrams to the mall ... Tssss ...

Nah, that's what the Humvee is for.

Having received major and minor medical care in the U.S. and a couple of countries with universal medical care...I'd have to say the U.S. isn't the "best health care money can buy." The most expensive I've seen, but not the best. Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to try Cuban medical care at all.

This is hardly the "best medical care money can buy."

"An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, according to a new study of 37 million patient records that was released today by HealthGrades, the healthcare quality company."

You go right ahead...

Geeze, even Castro has his doctors flown in from foreign countries. You'd think that would give folks just a bit of a clue...

I would and I have. Some of the best medical care I've ever had was with a very serious injury....and treatment in a small African bush hospital. One of the doctors slept in my hospital room for the first four nights, after getting off duty....not even going home.

Undoubtedly, Castro did have foreign doctors brought in...not unlike being referred to a "specialist" here in the U.S. It's not the least bit uncommon here to require a specialist. I live in a semi-rural area here and often, people are sent to "the big city," as the equipment and personnel are not available here.

If you haven't experienced some of the world's universal health care, just happily keep buying the propaganda. It's always easy to deride something you've never experienced.

Go ahead and go then. I bet that they don't tell you how many people die there for lessor things.

You have evidence to this?

Last I heard was that Venezuela brought a whole bunch of doctors from Cuba.

Did you know that in Cuba Anybody who works at a hotel has to be a university graduate.

The great thing about being Canadian is that we don't go around offending everybody, so we are welcome places that our neighbours are not.

And that's why I usually like Canadians more than their neighbours .... :)
Good post, Wanderer

P.S.: just for the record -before any myopic MacCarthist starts complaining- I'm neither American nor Canadian nor Cuban. In fact, it's winter right now where I live. If you know your geography, that excludes an awful lot of places.

I saw the leak of Sicko. Fantastic movie. It's fun to see things like this starting in response to the movie - it's what Moore wants - people to react.

well maybe moore should stop being a typical american an excersise so he isnt so fat, he will end up with all kinds of medical problems from it.....

I really wonder if Mr. Moore would really go to Cuba if/when he really gets sick? Don't think so. He would use his money on the best health care money can buy.

In Germany?

Take your pick, top 10 by the World Health Org.
1 France (Gov. Universal Health Care)
2 Italy (free public health system)
3 San Marino (independently managed national health care system)
4 Andorra (basic free)
5 Malta (national insurance)
6 Singapore (private)
7 Spain (free w/social security)
8 Oman (?)
9 Austria (Social Health Care)
10 Japan (Universal Health Care)
...
37 U.S. (one of the few developed countries with no universal health care system)

Just one question for you all advocating goverment run health care... Have you ever waited been to a Post Office or DMV? Do you want your doctor's office to become just like that? I don't understand why people think our government would be better at providing health care than a private company. Give me one example of the goverment taking over the services of a private company that has made it better. People want universal health care because they don't want to have to deal with it, or pay for it themselves. Take some personal responsibility for your health and pay up.

- Health care isn't "free" anywhere. Someone is paying for it. Advocates of "free" health care are really saying is they want any/all health care available and someone else to pay for it.

- The "World Health Org" has a political agenda (socialism) and hates capitalism and the USA. I bet the head honchos at the WHO all live in New York and don't fly home to get the "best" health care, and when they are home and get a serious illness, they fly to the USA to get treatment.

having many many friends all across the us, I hear the joys of doctor visits here ( I live in the us and rarely get sick and in 44 years have only 2 instances where i required a doctor or hospitalization - so I dont have much personal experience withe the health care system here)
from PA - you get sick and you call the doctor. you talk to the nurse or receptionist who then says she will call the pharmacy to give you a prescription for your symptoms. Sick person is charged an office visit on their hmo and pays for the prescription which is usually only 50% right most of the time.
from GA - You get sick and call the doctor and they tell you the first available appointment is 2 weeks later.
from CA - go to the emergency room or any doctor and wait in line for hours to be seen - look around and listen to most of those sick around you speaking spanish and when the intake person interviews them they need to speak in spanish because the patients "no habla" english, and 3/4 of them look like the last time they bathed was when the cold war ended.
I can go on and on with this list. so ya, it seems the us healthcare system isnt perfect, and further that when you get sick, if you cant fix it yourself - look forward to a longggg wait for care

My monthly prescriptions come to $200.00/month more than my Social Security Retirement check....and not being 65, I am not yet eligible for Medicare. What would you you like me to "pay up" with?

So because you did not plan properly or have good insurance, my tax dollars should be forced to pay for it?

There are many millions of people in the same situation. It's not so much a matter of not planning properly or having good insurance. It's a matter of how far money will go. That, and understanding medical insurance.

Example...company medical insurance is offered through my wife's place of employment. Monthly premium for her? Almost $500/month...it would be double to cover both of us. Neither she nor any of the thirteen employees she has are able to afford their company's medical insurance premiums. That isn't planning...that's just a matter of economics. Perhaps you can explain to me how people are supposed to pay that kind of premium, as well as house payments, car payments and other living expenses, in an area such as we live, where the median hourly wage is something around $9.00/hour??? Incidentally, that premium if for "group insurance coverage" through a very large corporation.

It gets even better. After paying that kind of premium, what kind of coverage do you get. Well, here's an example of that.

My wife recently needed a surgery. Had she been paying the nearly 500/month premium, the insurance would have covered about 30% of the cost of the surgery. On the other hand...since she was uninsured and had to pay the cost herself, the hospital immediately cut the cost of their bill by 45%. IF she had insurance and IF that insurance had paid even ten dollars toward the hospital bill, the hospital would not have reduced the cost of the surgery by even one cent.

Do your math? Does that add up to you???? This insurance system is out of control. Hospital costs are out of control and feed into the insurance business. That is reality.

As for the cost of my medications...and the cost of medications for many older people, there would literally be no way to "plan" for that in your retirement. Well, maybe if you were making the money Bill Gates makes there would...but not for the average wage earner. You'll see when you get there.

If you take a look at figures, you'll find that the majority of bankruptcies in this country are based on medical bills. Not on poor personal finance management, but on one specific economic factor. And with bankruptcy, no one wins...and that includes the health care industry, which isn't going to get paid either.

I might also mention that many of my working years were outside the U.S., where we had universal health care systems in place, so it wasn't a matter of carrying one health insurance coverage for your entire lifetime.

Yes, the insurance companies are scamming us. This is nothing new. Yes, we need to do *something* about it.

But no, I do not need to be paying the medical expenses of others unless *I* choose to do so.

My charity and my donations are of *my* choosing. No government, SIG, or lobbying group has any right to take my money and donate it to someone else.

We can fix the problems with the insurance companies without destroying my rights, can we not?