SiCKO Questions - Asking about Michael Moore's Movie

[Yanirakarola]

You ignore the main principle at hand...non-aggression. You can't force people to pay money just because they were born in "your" country. I'm all for privitizing the fire department because it will become more efficient and the private charities will be allowed to help the actual people in need as opposed to the overworked underpayed gov workers...

[colour749]

if your really against big government then would you rather a private police, and fire service or would that be chatoic like the current health system.

the american health system is the 2nd most expensive in the world but 37th in quality ?????.

and you fucking tell me my british NHS is shit ahahahahhaahah you dont know unless you fucking leave your american house turn off your brain washing news corporations and see with your own eyes the NHS IS AMAZING

[silkentresses]

Canadian here, happy with our healtcare system for the most part (no country's system is flawless and without complaint after all) and would never consent to having it changed to a privatized system. I've lived through 2 very serious illnesses which would most likely have resulted in my death had I not been a Canadian with access to care. I was treated well and able to see the top specialist in Canada in neuro-opthamology at no cost to me.

[rickbar123]

Show up at a American Hospital with a chronic desease and no insurance. See what you get.

[louisgdehaut]

Japan didn't have a military to operate for many years. There's the US economy right there: the ARMY.

[ulysseinvest]

Unassimilated,

I see many wrongs I think in the reflection you posted in this video. I have been in Japan for 15 years.

First in Japan corporations have HIGH taxes - the employee pays little. You should try to launch a business in Tokyo. Yes, individuals don't pay much but...

Also, it took 76 years ('90 - '14) for the USSR to collapse. France, Canada, Japan are slowly but surely building serious debt... Would be unwise to take last picture today and assess... sustainability is the issue...

[louisgdehaut]

you got a point, but don't the US have a greater debt over to China?

[ulysseinvest]

Not sure I understand the point of your question.

The US govt current debt floats around 14 trillion usd today (that's not including the upcoming liabilities for medicstuff and social securities yet to be paid for of about 40 trillion usd). Private and corporate in US also most of them are pretty leveraged. So yes US is currently the greatest debtor in the world and reserves are only 50 billion USD (even Poland has more than that today). China is currently one of the greatest lender nations.

?

[balsubu]

I have known of what the elderly gentleman from yorkshire is referring to,that people go to India(my home) to get treatment. Infact ,it is a thriving industry called medical tourism.We have a sysyem where poor people opt for govt hospitals which are largely poor in terms of maintenance and staffing but they have no choice.The people with money go to private hospitals which give good services at a reasonable price,still much less than what you people in the US are paying.Hence the tourism.

[waynewin]

Open question to Americans. Seriously, do Americans really believe the garbage they are being told by their leaders about the Canadian Health Care system? I am over 60, lived in Canada all my life, have had some health problems, and have been looked after when needed, by a doctor or hospitial of my choice and never paid a dime. For the life of me, I can't realistically understand why the Canadian system is considered inferior to the US Health services in any area.

[louisgdehaut]

Well, here's my story: I am Canadian, had a doctor screw up my leg. I won 300 000$ for that mistake. I know for a fact some doctors use our healthcare card like a credit card, because the more patients in a day, the more money, I'm not 100% sure it works like that, but bottom line, I didn't have an x-ray at a certain time because of a doctor in a rush, and there you have. no more ankle on one side, and lost a great job and sports. So, I'm pretty sure I would get charged 150.00$ for each x-ray.

[giggan1]

The people who want to privatize fire and police are called 'anarchists'. They are our friends, even if we differ on those issues. There's a way to do anything without the guns of government.

[gfresh6]

anyone know the music playing in the video footage where the old lady gets dropped off in the steets by a cab?

[opaz79]

USA needs public healthcare, combined with private options. Its the best way to solve it, despite its drawbacks. People will abuse the system, especially immigrants, women usually, who cant believe its free and brings their kids every other week, causing wait times that exceeds to over a year. And politicians will have a solid argument to continously raise the taxes and then still cut healthcare funding once he gets elected.

[jeAh7]

That's the best solution. Public healthcare along with private hopsitals just like our education system. Every American will be covered and we'll have the option of using a private hospital if we want so called "instant" care.

[Rantaholic]

You didn't want your wife gone that long??? What???

[bluenote71]

Unassimilated - I'm currently in Japan, although I have private care. However, after being here for four years, I haven't seen any stories in the news about someone going bankrupt due to medical bills. I've also been taking effort to bring us care in the Us by writing congress (I'm still a Us citizen). Everyone should do the same if they want universal care.

[LastNickNameOnEarth]

That is the thing that is happening in Canada now. Wait times for non-emergency care where pretty bad for a bit, shaped up a lot recently while, purely elective surgeries are still have plenty of room for improvement. Many Canadians want more funds injected into the system but the politicians aren't listening to them so much as American health industry lobby that may have ventured across the border looking for more people to exploit.

[KingHeathen]

Great into in there. Thanks for sharing this with me. I find that there is a fair percentage of atheists that are also Libertarians and they feel the same way you did.  I'm all for smaller government too...but in the right places. Government still has its purpose.

[KingHeathen]

That's a fantastic point, rodwasp. You can see that in effect here in America with the way they keep trying to abuse the VA and Medicare systems. When the truth is that they are STILL superior to dying because you can't afford to go.

[AtheistAaron]

Very big of you to make this video. In fact, very rational of you. Great video!

[unassimilated]

Thanks AtheistAaron. I think that the greatest challenge in rational thought is flushing out my own irrationalities. I love being right but it is almost more gratifying to find out when I am wrong since I then at least know I've seen both sides of the issue. I hope a lot of people switch sides on socialized medicine.

[AtheistAaron]

Me too, and I haven't even seen the film yet. I am really eager to see it, now. You are so right about finding out when we are wrong - it reminds me of that inspirational story Dawkins talks about in The God Delusion, where his professor congratulated the man who has proven him wrong, happily. We must rejoice in progress!

[unassimilated]

I think of myself as a freethinker but this movie showed me that I have still allowed myself to be led around by the nose on some issues. I wonder what other issues I'm on the wrong side of...

[superfisto]

My mom crosses into Canada for treatment. She has duel citizenship.

[unassimilated]

I have a good friend who is Belgian. He is heading back to Belgium to reinstate his ability to use the medical system there just in case of a medical emergency. It is a safety net. If he or his family need important, expensive care, they can leave California and fly to Belgium.

[kurtilein3]

its the same with education, if you have no universal education in a country and children dont need to go to school and there is only private education and something done by charity... doesnt work. its obvious that every child should get basic education.

its the same with healthcare, just the same. you cant leave that up to free markets, america is just starting to understand it.

[unassimilated]

I agree with you on education, kurtilein3. Education, protection (police, fire, medicine, military) and infrastructure such as roads are necessary functions of government.

[kurtilein3]

perhaps you should really think about adding at least parts of the medical system to the list. i dont see any other alternative.

imagine yourself lying in a bed, everything hurts, its hard to speak, and you need 25.000 dollars within 3 days or you are dead. this happens in the USA, it doesnt happen in germany or canada or england.

[unassimilated]

kurtilein3, I do have medicine on my list. "protection (police, fire, medicine, military)" You are correct. You should never need money in order to keep from dying of a disease or injury.

[DblOSmith]

Very good video.I've worked in US healthcare for several years, and helping sick people is a side effect of their business, not the main goal. Insurance companies tell the treatment facilities how to treat patients (instead of by need), doctors bilk insurance companies. You spend more time playing tug of war with money than treating patients.

[unassimilated]

The part of the movie where the British doctor was explaining his incentives was very revealing. They were all around improving the health of his patients. What a novel concept!

[pvukosavljev]

There is a video (TV station news report) on youtube of an HMO paying doctors $100 for each patient they switch from Lypitor to a generic.