Sicko - a must see movie

[johnwang]

After I have seen the Michael Moore's movie "Sicko", I was speechless. Does anybody feel the same way as I do? There are so many thing that's wrong in our US "health care" system. If the insurance company win, we all loss. Let's all get together and make the universal health care program be possible in US.

[grzegorz]

It is a good movie. 65% of Americans want the public option but I don't think it's going to happen.

Because hasn't been a real debate. Just fear-mongering and buzz words.

[Michael]

Been a while since I saw it, but Sicko does a good job of showing some of the problems in the US health care system. We had a thread about it more than a year ago. I think it's not a fair representation of the health care system of other countries, especially Cuba.

[everything]

Haven't seen it yet.

According to the WSJ (fairly conservative business-oriented paper) the last few days, according to lobbyists from both sides, the debate is no longer about whether a bill will pass, but what will be in it. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found it will actually help the deficit, possibly easing some concerns of House Democrats.

I don't watch the boob tube for anything intelligent ... except for scripted dramas and comedies... the writing for good shows is getting better all the time. Forget Faux News and all that other crap.

[Buddy]

Moore is a propagandist, not a documentarian, which is fine if he'd just 'fess up to it.

[Michael]

He may not be fully aware of that fact. Rationalizations help documentary film makers do the second, third, and fourth takes without losing that touch of reality they strive for.

[grzegorz]

Anyone see his new film?

[Chris Fleming]

I'd like to see Sicko but like all of his films its the kind of thing that you have to look at with a critical eye. Just take the parts that are accurate. Remember when someone here posted that video criticizing his 9/11 film? The main point to take from it was the Bush/Saudi connections and the subsequent push for war and oil. That is what was going on. His tendency to be more of a movie maker rather than a documentarian detracts from what he puts out but the good points to take away are still good points to take away.

Regarding his new movie, not seen it but came across this review:

[grzegorz]

Moore is a propagandist, not a documentarian, which is fine if he'd just 'fess up to it.

Dude fully admits to being a leftist liberal.

[Buddy]

But not to very handsomely profiting from the very form of economics he so roundly scorns.
It's like academics hiding behind tenure while espousing socialism for everyone else. As they continue paying the mortgage.

[somatai]

actually he acknowledges the irony in that too.....he is using the greed of his very bosses who make far more money on his work than he does to get his voice heard and to call them to task, perhaps he will get enough attention that he will no longer be given a voice, but not likely considering the collective apathy and amnesia that abounds and the money he generates for the studios for who he works.

[Buddy]

Sorry Derek, that's a lame apology for his hypocrisy. He could always give all of his money away.

[somatai]

i think giving all his money away would certainly be exceptional and incredible beacon for human behaviour, but i do not know what he does in his private life in terms of philanthropy and spreading love, but his making a living and certainly a very good one does not negate his voice or perspective.......he is pointing toward something, why focus on the hand that points?

[Buddy]

Because the hand doesn't exist in a vacuum. Your point is a valid one but I am against what I see as his fundamental philosophy which I believe is Socialism. And even that is a ruse (although not on his/their part). The people who are accused of Socialism (like Obama) are actually setting us up for One World Big Government which will only benefit the ultra rich.
That's big brother knocking...and he has his hand in your pocket.

[somatai]

I have a similar fear about consolidation of power among the ultra rich........ however I see it as being moved forward by collusion between corporations, lobbyists and politicians who lack integrity....if we have no regulation via government than this power triangle continues to drive forward their agenda under the guise of capitalisim and there is no ability of the people to stop these corporate giants because they own the lawyers and they are the engines of all this........the government is at least answerable to the people in theory so we at least get a vote.......i see capitalisim as equally loaded and fallable as socialisim.....both need to be defined, not just thrown out as a blanket terms.