Re: Michael Moore's SiCKO (NHS in Britain)

[pistol987]

everything should be privately run. just like back in the day when fire companies would drive past a house on fire because it didn't have a contract with them. i mean that is such a wicked system eh?

[stckytree]

In the UK, If you require an 'urgent' treatment on the NHS then the waiting time is no longer than it would be through a private alternative. But for non-urgent treatments, private is faster. And the NHS does provide *some* free cosmetic treatments that are not considered luxuries, ie for people who have suffered severe burns, children born with disfigurements that could lead them to be bullied etc

[JayEey]

We dont want people to be healthy, educated and confident because they might get out of control.

[Wolfdale11]

He has a great voice. I could listen to him all day.

[mahammadabba]

bwahahhahah Cuba has BANNED this video because people might actually think it's true and flock to get their 'free' healthcare!!!!!!!!!!!

Lies and more lies.

[gratex]

@mahammadabba

what you just said makes absolutely no sense.... if cuba banned this video how would it stop anyone outside cuba seeing it and believing that? think before you type.

[davijeph]

Sorry ImNeilPatrickHarris but you can easily change your Dr in the UK (at least all UK citizens have one) urgent medical care just a "free" 999 call away. A&E always available. . Please see “the U.S. Healthcare system in international Context:” NATIONAL DISGRACE: US Health Care System Kills and Bankrupts” “Libertarian Mistakes” and “Tom Daschle: US Healthcare Best In World a 'Myth'

[MrFreeLibertarian]

Was Bill Clinton or Barack Obama or even Sarah Palin for that matter born to wealthy parents? No! Now how many recent PMs were born to wealthy parents? 100% ???? Any questions???

[DaMarsBar]

@MrFreeLibertarian erm, Our previous two pm's? Tony Blair and Gordon brown were neither born to wealthy parents..

[scottishlad1987]

@DaMarsBar tony blair was, he went to the top schools.

[MrFreeLibertarian]

@DaMarsBar Tony Blair went to a prestigious boarding school, Fettes College. Gordon Brown, while at University of Edinburgh, had a royal girlfriend, princess Margarita of Romania, whose godfather was the Duke of Edinburgh and rumor has it old Gordo didn't know many working class people while at university. "Wealthy" is a relative term. Yes maybe they weren't born into Richard Branson type wealth, but their families had money that's for sure.

[jimbobjimminy]

Tony Benn.

Just thought I'd say it like everyone else has. What a LEGEND

[stedav]

Benn should have been Prime minister

[theunderone1]

Very ironic, Americans always say how bad taxes are in Europe, and how it is becoming Communist or Socialist.

We are born with Healthcare and a great education waiting for us.

What are you entitled to at birth in the U.S? well, it depends on your parent's wealth.

[ImNeilPatrickHarris]

@theunderone1

yeah, great government-sponsored education. rationed healthcare. how long does it take to get a hip replacement?

oh, you dont like ur doctor? TOO BAD BITCH. u need urgent medical care? SORRY, ER is closed on Sundays!!!!

britain is going bankrupt, far worse than usa. and it is become of these socialized policies. unsustainable. even obamacare is not nearly as intrusive as britain's failed NHS.

[dawatticus]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris If you dont like your doctor, you just go get a different one... Dont want to wait on your hip replacement? You can always pay... you can get private health insurance here too :O Oh noes! The Choices!

[ImNeilPatrickHarris]

@dawatticus

i see, so you're forced into a shitty universal system but if u really want quality HC you have to take out private insurance in addition to the government take!

frack that. SiCKO was exposed as a fraud a long time ago. read wikileaks b4? liberals love that shit. the irony is cuban documents show them frothing at the mouth of MM's BS docu. that showcases cuba's glorious health care system.

even the doctors in britain dont use public HC. LAWL.

[davijeph]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris What you are not "forced" into by UHC systems like the NHS is bankruptcy, unlike the shitty US system.

[Eldomina22]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris I love how non-Brits like you lecture Brits on "what we do in our own country". Of course Doctors in Britain use the NHS. It helps your argument to pretend they don't but I'm afraid they do.

And why you're criticising a choice between private or public health care when most countries don't have the luxury of that choice, only you will know.

We believe people are more important than money. Judging by your channel, your ethnicity keeps that to those that are like you..

[01Ubermensch]

@Eldomina22 Typical doublespeak from socialists. "People are more important than money" would persuade even the most hardened hearts. But once you deconstruct that statement, you'd realise that the dichotomy put forward by socialists isn't between living "people" and non-living "money" but "money from others" and "money from me". It's disingenuous for socialists to distort the issue and appeal to emotion. Just admit that you prefer living in a society where others pay for your bills unreservedly

[Eldomina22]

@01Ubermensch I'm not a Socialist (you didn't even ask if I was)

By the way, the National Health Service is the most loved part of UK society is by UK residents. There isn't a political party in the nation that would dare touch it because it would be electoral suicide for them to do so.

One other thing about people like you - you talk, and talk, and talk about hard work, but people like you never actually do any. I'll bet my life the hardest work you have ever done is open a briefcase.

[Eldomina22]

@01Ubermensch Do me a huge favour here, don't write back and pretend you're a coal miner, or a sea fisherman, or a doctor, because the job you're about to invent for yourself won't fool anyone.  You're someone who pushes a pen.

[Reverbful]

@01Ubermensch i have left wing opinions, ive had a job since i left secondary school all the way through college and still do it as the current government is fucking everyone over, i dont like the job i hate it but i do it because its a job and i never get anyone to pay for my things, i pay my own way in life but there are people out there that are worse off than us and if my tax goes to better them through a rough time im happy to pay. You are just brainwashed by conservative propoganda.

[loudman12]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris 1. people dieing in america that are not covered 50 million last time i checked . Also families going bankrupt through medical care, name me one person in the UK who has ever gone bankrupt through that ??? thats why we british have a longer life expectancy than americans, we carry on with our "Socialised care" while you can get back to screwing your people thorugh the insurance companies hahahahahahaha

[ImNeilPatrickHarris]

@loudman12

have you gone outside loudman? your whole country is falling a part. london is on fire. your social welfare system is bankrupt.

[loudman12]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris 1. it was over a shooting over a black man by police, so actually watch the news, we bankrupt hahaha no not really were not trillions like you americans give my regards to china who owns most of your debt now :)

[ImNeilPatrickHarris]

@loudman12

your social welfare system IS bankrupt, don't u read the news? and britain has a higher national debt proportional to their GDP than the USA so - good luck with that!

[SamoIsKing]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris Whats that? Sorry, I cant hear you over my AAA rating. Haha. AA+ bitch.

[polygamous1]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris how much do You OWE is it getting lose to 14 Trillion now Most "owed" to your master bankers who print money based on FA n "loan it to u r gov with Interest money your country should a been printing n owe the bankers FA Most u owe to the bankers who produce FA If u have the right to compair Jesus n the devil then u have a right to compair civilised caring Britain n Ruthless usa what country is that with Millions living in tents caravans cars n in the open 16M live bellow

[polygamous1]

the poverty line while the gov gives the thieves of wall str $800Billions in one go?

[manhunt48]

@ImNeilPatrickHarris not sure if trolling or just very very stupid.

[lukeraynor85]

"Did I say retire? Hahahahahaha"

[johant23]

i'm not a real left winger but tony benn is the greatest politician in our country ever.

[METALMAN4Wii]

@johant23 Ask yourself are you

A, for the people ( democracy ).

or

B, for the corporations ( capitalism )

if you picked A then your a Democrat......!

[silversurfers7]

The British man in this video clip telling about this "controlling the mass through fear & demoralizing, I thought his thinking of this, when aged 14!! If a 14 year old can see through this, then why hasn't anything been done about it?!!

[iburnedthedinner]

Because there's profit to be had

[JayEey]

@silversurfers7 too many people have an interest in maintaining the status quo.

[1878EFC2008]

"generalised anxiety disorder" lol

So Glad we don't have that shit in England.

[JayEey]

@1878EFC2008

Erm, but we do have GAD in the UK.

I work for the NHS and have seen people with it, but its not smething you see used in commercials to tout for business. You just go to your doc or nurse and get the treatment(s) you need.

[basandwichyo]

But don't the poor still have freedom to save up for health care and possibly, over time, find a better job?

[iburnedthedinner]

But not always the opportunity to. When you can barely pay bills, how can you afford insurance.

[JanineRobin]

I've always admired Tony Benn. Even if you don't agree with his politics, he has kept his principles throughout his life and they're very decent principles.

[bxnyfordham]

i agree and I lean conservatively. I respect Tony Benn very much

[WadeBlazingame34]

Agreed. Imagine if Democrats actually stuck to some prinicpples instead of caving on every issue? They might actually be respected for once...

[herbaissimo]

@JanineRobin

Oh very very decent indeed , it's a great thing to be a lackey and a minion and go on killing Innocent people without the slightest justification ,only because Uncle Sam told him to do so .If you think that these are decent principles ,please look up decent in the dictionary .

[davijeph]

@herbaissimo From your comments made to JanineRobin you have no idea who Tony Benn is or anything about his believes or political values. Before making such comments again please look up Tony Benn and learn a bit about him. Like Janine said you might not agree with his politics but "decent"? Certainly, "Lackey and minion"? No he was probably one of the most anti establishment , independent, freethinking MP this country had.

[polygamous1]

@davijeph not since T Jefferson did the world had a man Like T Benn the greatest waste ever in British politics

[djeclarke]

Could some one please tell me who is the elderly gentleman in this video please?

[ajdunning63]

Tony Benn is the son, grandson and father of MPs, he retired from the House of Commons in May 2001, after fifty years in Parliament making him the longest serving Labour MP in the history of the party.

[22623501]

Thats Tony Benn, an ex british member of parliment.

[vulnerabledonkey]

Tony Benn

[primalsuspence114]

Tony Benn. One of the greatest labour ministers of all time!

[welshmagic]

Trained to flight fighter aircraft in WWII in fact, ol' Tony :)

[markasol]

A highly privileged son of aristocrats who became the most left wing MP in Parliament. Pretty much a communist, supported the USSR during the Cold War, singlehandedly destroyed the traditional working class unionised labour party making it unelectable during the 1980s. Totally loopy and off the wall, kindred spirit to Michael Moore but without the humour. An embarrasment even on the Left in Britain. The only good thing he did as a minister was Concorde, typically by throwing lots of cash at it.

[krazykeys88]

SHUT UP. You are wrong.

[markasol]

Ah diddums, but where exactly? All of it gospel fact. Lived through all the events described first hand. Benn almost destroyed the Labour party, ensuring Thatcher's dominance. The old respectable working class moderate left disappeared to the SDP, leaving Labour in the hands of extremists or the ambitious middle class intolerant third way types with no principles like Tony Bliar and the NuLab mob. So all in all Benn was pretty disastrous for Labour.

[rossybeary]

The fact that Tony Benn was born into privilege but dedicated his life speaking and working on behalf of people who weren't make him all the more exceptional. He's admired and respected across all parties in Westminster. And far from being an embarrasment he is an inspiration for most on the left.

[JonnoGM]

I thoroughly agree with you. I live in the town where he last served as an MPand he was an excellent MP, and well respected across the town. Everyone I knew who had cause to visit him always spoke of him in the highest regard; a true gentleman, and incredibly down to earth.

I bet if he was still an MP you wouldn't have found him with his fingers in the till, unlike the current lot!

[inkey2]

statistics show that Americans save less money per year than any other "industrial nation"......now you know why. it all goes to health insurance

[brakmatik13]

"A baby born in El Salvador has a better chance of surviving than a baby born in Detroit."

Proof, please?

[NorthPlum]

Copy and paste your quote into Google, and bingo, you have your answer.

[brakmatik13]

Well, to be honest, after I googled it all I got were reviews from SiCKO, people trashing SiCKO, and how unsound and unreal the statistics from SiCKO are. So I'm left to believe, that this was indeed, entirely from SiCKO.

[NorthPlum]

If you go to Michael Moore's website (Which you should be able to find or it should come up in the first result of that quote) it has an answer to your question, along with a relevant source. For your particular question, his comment is backed up by the UN and the state of Michigan's health website.

[zipacna1980]

That proof do you need? Just compare a number of babies who died before 12 months age. In fact it is not a single sphere making Detroit worse than half of 3rd world places.

[NIRL91]

yea people always talk about tax increases, cut the crap its being spent on, like unneccessary wars, that would save a lot of money spend that on healthcare, why do the the rich in america think the poor should pay for their wars for their oil interests but they shouldnt contribute to the poor's healthcare.

also there arent really classrooms with 40 kids in it in America are there!?

[inkey2]

to nirl91: I don't know how many are in classrooms today in the USA but when I was in the catholic schools many years ago we had as many as 53. Maybe thats why the nuns had to beat the shit out of us.....to maintain order

[NIRL91]

woah there are about 9-12 in each of my classes, its unlawful here for a school to have more than 30 children in a single classroom, as is corperal punishment that catholic school sounds scary!

[inkey2]

yeh, I went to Catholic school from 1960 to 1966 here in the USA. There were 6 rows of 8 seats/desks "bolted to the floor" = 48. Then there were some extra chairs/desks if needed. Now keep in mind this era was known as the "baby-boom". The population of kids at this time was huge so the schools were flooded with students. When I went to the public school from 1967 on there were about 30 something in a class

[inkey2]

I am an American....I am not a professional Republican basher....I have voted the gamut from George McGovern, to Jimmy carter, to Ronnie Reagan and even once for G.W. Bush.....and I just have to say that G.W. Bush is just a stupid, ignorant, hillbilly asshole. What a terrible thing to say to that woman in this clip.....Like "bravo, thats great that at 70 years old you have to work 3 jobs". What a total "fuck-tard".

[sonofcy]

My father and grandfather used to tell me horror stories about pre-NHS times in Britain. My grandfather had a finger crushed by a coal-cutter in the 1920's. He got no aid and had to go to a charity hospital. He could not pay so they did just enough to save his life and no more. They stiched him up and sent him home with no pain-killers. My father remembered his agony to his dying day. We must never never let them abolish the NHS. With the global crisis, they will try...

[chrisdahms]

Basically if you live in the Uk and you get sick you get free treatment. You go out, get hit by a a car and they take you to the hospital and treat you, no questions asked. If you get ill you get treated free of charge. Why some people in America think thats a bad system is a mystery to me and probably most other people in Britain.

[paulaitchison]

The reason would be that the USA medical insurance groups are unnessacary and highly profitable middle men - they pay a lot to lobbyists and PR groups to uphold the myth that a national health service would be a logistical mess, inefficient and un-american.

my fav quote was "if we had a socialised medical system you'd have to speak to a polotician before you speak to a DR"

Ive used the NHS many times and never and a single problem - As a brit, I feel rather proud of the system - esp Vs USA

[YoungSteve17]

Yes i now live in the USA , been here 5 years and have had MANY encounters with the notorious US healtcare system. I didn't even like England that much when i lived there but i am am proud to be from England now and the NHS is a large reason why.

[redraiders2K9]

Im glad i get to have the elite medical care at my hands when i need it. In fact, poeple come to america just to get elite healthcare. "oh but people just want to make a profit in america" you say, but doesn't innovation result from personal greed? I mean look at our cell phones. They are thin and cheaper than they were 12 years ago. Why? Is it cause companies want us to be happy? the same goes with healthcare. The US system is broken because of insurance, but NHS is no solution.

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

Stop talking out of your arse. You can PAY for elite medical care. What if you couldn't? I am British, and the NHS never failed me or anyone I know. It's barbaric, inhuman and backward to not provide the basic human right to be cared for when sick. And if you think a price can be put on health and human life, and can compare it to a mobile phone, then you aren't just a moron with more $ than you deserve, you are actually evil.

[inkey2]

to redaiders2k9: gee, i'm glad "you" get "elite health care". I'm certainly not. High deductables, insurance company fights with me every time my prescriptions need to be filled....I pay over 800 dollars a month for single payer health insurance. This has kept me broke my entire life

[Gecko7291971]

Well, the pharmacutecal companies over here in the U. S. are basically using that as Propaganda

They'd deny it, that's exactly what it is

[inkey2]

to chrisdahms: I am an American, free health care sounds great, I pay $800 a month for health insurance....believe me...I would love free care. I think the problem is: just trying to figure out where the money will come from and the logistics. When you are spending billions on foreign aid to other countries, billions on a useless war, billions on bailing out Wall Street, billions bailing out banks billions bailing out the auto industry, printing up worthless paper money..etc, you know the rest

[sonofcy]

to inkey2

refering to MM's interview with Tony Benn in Sicko. "If you can find the money to kill people, then you can find the money to help them". As it stated in the film, we were flat busted broke and the country was in vertually ruined after WWII, but we did it, and we did it in 8 months overcoming all the opposition from the General Medical Council who were then dead against it. Now you can't find a doctor who isn't. for it.. Where there's the will theres a way.

[chrisdahms]

You pay $800 a month for health insurance - that's unbelievable. Do you have any money left to feed yourself?

[inkey2]

to chrisdahma: yes, before I was able to get on my wifes health insurance plan (here she works) I was paying ever increasing premiums until the monthly payments were over $800. a month. And even at that the insurance companies are always looking for ways to deny you coverage whenever they can. As to the question..."do I have money left to feed myself'"? yes but....I have no children (by choice, can't afford them), I drive a 16 year old car....etc....anything to cut costs

[damilkman91]

ahhh yes and u

[piro6220]

Tony Benn = Legend

[zing10101]

i know we cant live a communist lifestyle until the goverment changes. You all are just stupid confused americans wanting to change from capitalism because your country aint doin well at the moment. Communism is just pop culture thrown around the internet now. its sad. It used to stand for something. But you are all giving it a bad name.

Prove me wrong, if you are all so dedicated to keepin it alive, join the communist party in your country.

[zing10101]

can someone please tell me why there are so many communists online?

Your not communist! Communism is seen as a fashion statement now. People think they communist because they wear t-shirts of che Guevara and go to labour rallies waving a red flag on the street.

Thats not communism. Thats sappy liberalism. Dont get the two confused. Communism should be executed miltairly. Force the current government out of power. Your all hypocytes. "i hate capitlism" well obviously not that much, u have a pc!

[robinaali]

Practically all of my communist friends (Yes I have a lot.. and yea, there nice people)are in high paying jobs. Some of them even have 3 jobs on the trot. Yet I don't see any distribution of personal wealth on their part. It reminds of the uncle we caught drinking alchohol during Ramadan, the guy spent a lot of time dissing muslims not praying and fasting and wishing them ill health and shame!

Or a muslim girl living HERE praising the Taleban.

IF YOU CAN'T LIVE IT DON'T PREACH IT.

[robinaali]

I always wondered how communists, members of every religion, liberalists, conservatives, everyone with every and any conceivable belief can live in a democracy and talk about their beliefs openly and form parties to advocate their beliefs. In Bradford we have an Islamist party (advocting gay executions and all) with complete Freedom. Yet any country with the state idealogues stated above has to abide by those beliefs.

[robby2k]

Capitalism sucks, and Mr Benn has just pwnd it in these eloquent and true words.

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

Your government has spent years convincing Americans that socialism is evil. Well, Europe is socialist. Oh, poor things we are, labouring under the iron fist of a mixed economy, so we have complete political freedom, and can make all the money we want if we work hard, but we still have the safety net of a civilised welfare system for hard time and poor health. We feel sorry for you - pure capitalism is just greedy grasping bastards in action. It's shameful. You should stand up and shake it off.

[JacobTrue]

Uniquely american? Hah! What a fucking idiot.

"Its great she's working three jobs!"

Thats one of the stupidest things I've ever heard from him, and thats saying something.

[gratex]

yeah he totally missed the fucking point. it's not as if he understood, no-one could understand what was implied when she said that and turn it round to be so callous. not even bushy.

[JacobTrue]

Silly bushy.

[ManlySlut]

Get any sleep?

[zing10101]

shut the fuck up, your country sucks ass and your corrupt politicans say the same thing every single fucking election. "CHANGE! CHANGE! CHANGE!God bless america!" thats what george bush said, and look what he did! how about you change the fucking record and try doin something different from all the other failures.

George bush was americas favourite man for the job. but he messed up and now you all hate him. cunts!

[gratex]

im not american, so why are you responding to me with this shit?

[zing10101]

dont care

[gratex]

you just wanted to make 3 comments that had no relevance to this video or anything going on in it. fine.

[zing10101]

shut it bitch

[marcosinnie]

youre a scumbag, well done!

[loudman12]

corrupt politicans wake up you idiot so does america not have any? you voted george bush an idiot in and you have the nerve to tell us the shut the fuck up, god bless america, god bless them now as you owe china a trillion dollars 25 years your country will come crashing down.

[mbvtx77]

why does michael moore choose to keep living in america? why doesn't he become a citizen in either cuba, el savador, or one of the many other great third world nations that he always speaks so highly of? this guy is freaking crazy!! and a socialist to boot.

[gratex]

well if americans vote for the changes he's talking about, then will you move to a different country?

[blackdice23]

If we can sustain it, socialism is the only path humanity can take. It may take ten generations, it may not happen for an aeon, but we should favour a social utopia or we're doomed.

[aaroneu07]

i like this video. Majority of Americans and British are cowards, ignorant ... and they are manipulated by their government everyday...

[SillyGrandpa]

This gentleman is right on the money !!! We in America can relate to what he says !!!

[SillyGrandpa]

Michael Moore is fantastic. Agree with him completely !!!

[lcyw20]

I was expecting the bit where Moore was exploring the NHS! This isn't it!

[ManlySlut]

On a further note, Tony is right. If we don't treat poor people, they can't treat themselves. Welfare and socialism helps the problem, capitalism avoids it.

[ManlySlut]

Tony neglected to mention that Democracy doesn't give the people what they want, it gives the people what the majority want. Voting isn't choosing, voting sucks.

[theleadpussycat]

this guys. pisses me off .really .

[Nine1215]

Because he actually knows what he's talking about and you don't?

[CallumMclarty]

Hahah!

[madastonniesuh]

How do people who voted for Bush feel?

[gratex]

blame-free and righteous, I imagine.

[Nine1215]

Only if they are self-centered sociopaths.

[Nine1215]

Wait...Bush supporters would HAVE to be self-centered sociopaths anyway. Never mind...

[ColNeil]

All very true things he speaks about its a shame ppl are sheep now a days

[pinskip1]

Tony Benn is a fucking genius

[Unit06JAW]

@pinskip1 Wonderfully British throwing in the F word in a compliment! <3

[kazimieras1988]

Hilarious but true...THANKS FOR POSTING!!!

[jonmel]

HOW the blue ***l does this happen if this type of thing happened in the UK the goverenment whould of been kick out of office

[Toddo31]

Wow. Too bad he can't run for President of the US!!!

[ChrisEdwards2004]

Benn was married to an American until she passed away a few years ago. So, I imagine that he could have gained US citizenship if he wanted.

[Toddo31]

Unfortunately, the US constitution only allows US citizens who were born US citizens to become president.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Madelyn Albright cannot be president without an amendment to the constitution.