Controversial Michael Moore Flick 'Sicko' Will Compare U.S. Health Care with Cuba's

[HM2VikingRN]

Health care advances in Cuba

According to the Associated Press as cited in the Post article, "Cuba has made recent advancements in biotechnology and exports its treatments to 40 countries around the world, raking in an estimated $100 million a year. ... In 2004, the U.S. government granted an exception to its economic embargo against Cuba and allowed a California drug company to test three cancer vaccines developed in Havana."

http://alternet.org/envirohealth/50911/?page=1

[ProudGayRN]

I disagree. I don't think its necessary to be a victim of the US health care system to tell a story about it. My opinion of Michael Moore is that he's more of a story-teller than a messenger, and when it comes to Hollywood movies, the more controversial the story, the more movie tickets they can sell.

I don't believe that MM intends to 'fight' anything or to complain. All he's doing is putting the story out there. MM may be far to the left, but I bet 'Sicko' is going to be a huge smash at the box office.

Yeah ok Nurseguy, all MM does it put a story? You smoked up? MM is extremely biased - just watch any of his movies or listen to the words that come out of his obese mouth. I remember him saying "there is no terrorist threat" when the towers went down...yeah what a great unbiased guy.

His movie will be a joke like he is.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Dissent and questioning of the status quo (especially when the status quo is failing) is simply a way of asking "How can we do better?"

[Maxs]

Although MM is not credible to speak of this subject, he is however, a celebrity/journalist and has the resources/right to make such documentaries and report it. The point of this documentary is to inform the public of this health desparitie (corrupt in the insurance business, congress and etc). On top of that, politicians are governed by three important principles; votes, funding, and publicity. Therefore, if this topic becomes important to the people, they're more likely to vote for the candidates in their best interest. So, we have raised this issue in nursing school, and guess what, none of us made a documentary about it because were not journalist. Therefore, I cheer for MM for his effort to make this documentary because you are not likely to hear such issues on the news (publicity) or from who ever pays congress (funding). And for those that believe MM is bashing this great nation, remember that this great nation is shaped by revolutionist who find the current policies/trends peccable.

Maxs

[Pumpkin1621]

[Fonenurse]

I don't understand what you think is sicko about this - it's all true! We don't pay at the point of delivery (except for dental work) - and we do give people money if they can't afford their travel expenses... health care is funded from taxation...

[hushpupgrl]

i wouldn't believe anything from micheal moore....his film does not show the true healthcare that the average citizen gets in cuba

[Pumpkin1621]

I don't understand what you think is sicko about this - it's all true! We don't pay at the point of delivery (except for dental work) - and we do give people money if they can't afford their travel expenses... health care is funded from taxation...

Sicko is the title of the movie.

[ProudGayRN]

Hmm now we're into politics.

Personally I admire people who have the courage to speak their thoughts. That is what the 1st amendment is all about. Now do I have to agree with them? Nope. That's one of the reasons this country is what it is today.

Yes Craig, i have heard through the grapevine this forum actually discourages debate by banning or limiting posts of people that have alternating viewpoints...for instance, you will see a lot of support for universal healthcare on these forums but relatively little opposition. Reason being because people with conservative viewpoints are censored or banned by the moderators, its a pretty sad thing actually - so much for debate right? so much for freedom of speech? Not so much here....

[Freedom42]

i wouldn't believe anything from micheal moore....his film does not show the true healthcare that the average citizen gets in cuba

Just curious: On what are you basing your comment? Is this film being shown anywhere in the United States at this point beyond news clips? I have not seen it.

From the New York Times:

"The Cuba segment of the film has drawn most of the attention, but occupies relatively little screen time. Much of ''Sicko'' consists of moving testimony from Americans who have suffered at the hands of insurance companies, drug firms and HMOs. That includes a mother whose daughter died because the nearest hospital could not treat her, and a man who was told the cost of reattaching his two severed fingers would be $60,000 for the middle finger and $12,000 for the ring finger."

For what it's worth, Cuba's infant mortality rate is lower than that of the United States.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Posts #14-20 merged with existing thread about same topic.

[Simplepleasures]

Personally I admire people who have the courage to speak their thoughts. That is what the 1st amendment is all about. Now do I have to agree with them? Nope. That's one of the reasons this country is what it is today.

I agree 100% I dont like it when people deride or degrades this great country., i have heard through the grapevine this forum actually discourages debate by banning or limiting posts of people that have alternating viewpoints...for instance, you will see a lot of support for universal healthcare on these forums but relatively little opposition. Reason being because people with conservative viewpoints are censored or banned by the moderators, its a pretty sad thing actually - so much for debate right? so much for freedom of speech? Not so much here....

Whoa there dude, we have had many very heated debates on this forum about universal healthcare and the conservatives voiced their opinion vehemently against universal healthcare, they certainly got to speak as loudly as any liberal on this issue on this forum, you are misinformed, look up the old universal healthcare threads, see for yourself.

[bethin]

How Un-American of you to hold up France, of all places as an example to us. Don't you know we are in a war against the terrorists? I bet you don't even have a ribbon magnet on your SUV! You probably are aiding and abetting illegal aliens too! You are the reason Taco Bell had to pay an extra penny per bushel to those illegal aliens and forego giving their CEO an extra million dollars last year!

Shame on you!

You're kidding, right? Ok, you don't want to be compared to France. How about being compared to China, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq? We're in the same group as them when it comes to the number of executions.

As an American citizen I consider it my duty to question the government and not blindly follow wherever they may lead us. Checks and balances.

And what does Taco Bell have to do with the price of tea in China?