Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Mike?
When I sent you the e-Alert “That’s Sick!” (7/3/07) with some thoughts about “Sicko!” (Michael Moore’s documentary about health care woes) I had a hunch the topic might touch a nerve. But after reading the surprising deluge of e-mails I would describe it more like this: The topic attached a 1,000-volt electric current to a nerve.
No e-Alert has ever generated so many responses, and never have the responses been so passionate.
Moore mania
In “That’s Sick!” I noted that a high profile no-holds-barred expos of the U.S. health care industry was welcome, regardless of whatever opinions you might have about Michael Moore’s controversial persona. I still stand by that comment, but many HSI members did not agree.
RJA: “I think the U.S. health system is despicable as is Moore and his cleverly crafted ‘expos’ of the U.S. health system and its abysmal failures. We need to look at the U.S. failure to provide adequate health care to its citizens, but not through the jaundiced, politically motivated eyes of Moore who has never seen a half truth he cannot embrace if it serves his purposes!”
Lori: “I think Michael Moore is an egotistical, unconscionable, money-making liar. He knows nothing about scruples and uses his lying methods on Americans to line his pockets.”
Many other members joined RJA and Lori in venting their strong personal distaste for Mr. Moore, while others, just as vehemently, zeroed in on specific details. A member named Ken writes, “You call it free universal health care. It most certainly is not free to anyone anywhere on the planet. Its cost is born by the entire economic system, whether by higher taxes, or other fees rolled into the cost of every product sold. Because one does not receive a bill or one’s employer is not paying for an insurance policy, that does not qualify it as ‘free’.”
Several members actually defended our health care system, blaming its drawbacks on those who allow their health to fail. Steve writes, “The main reason people are so sick here is because they simply refuse to be disciplined enough to do the right things in their lives and for their families.” And a member named Joleen offers a slightly different take: “The problem with health care in the United States is that Insurance Companies have NOT been allowed to deny coverage to high risk people, therefore the costs are astronomical. Why on earth should people who make bad lifestyle choices be paid for by me or you?”
Meanwhileback in Canada
A member named Tom has a question about my comment that “Sicko!” wouldn’t pass a “fair and balanced” test: “I’m curious as to why you don’t think Sicko! is fair and balanced. Is it factually incorrect? Please explain.”
The government-run health care systems in Canada, France, Britain, and Cuba are portrayed in the documentary as free and highly functional. I wrote, “Mr. Moore doesn’t show us any downside to this type of health care. Can it really function as effortlessly as he portrays it? That’s hard to imagine.”
Others found it hard to imagine too.
Lori: “MM claims that Cuba has a fantastic healthcare system. That is such a joke.”
Sandy: “Jenny Thompson wrote that the film ‘Sicko’ was a good portrayal of socialized medicine. I urge Jenny to at least make some comment about that country being a dictatorship as a downside to extolling Cuba’s medical virtues.”
Christopher: “Universal health care? The reason why England has an epidemic of STD cases: state sponsored medical care has patients cued up for about 30 days for treatment! Plenty of time to keep sharing the love!”
Marion: “I am a Canadian. Our Govt operated health care is not without cost, and in some areas it is very hard to even get care if you want to pay for it!!!! Our wait times are atrocious, and in Ontario we PAY for health care ourselves, unless you are fortunate enough to work for one of the few employers who cover it for you. The costs are covered for some specific care, but not everything.”
John: “Having lived in England and now in Canada I am very familiar with socialized heath. Did he tell you your taxes will go up away up? Did he tell about the long waiting lists to see a specialist? Did he tell you any doctor in London worth his salt has a private practice where if you have the money you can jump the queue? Did he tell you that in Canada that the cost of the health system in some provinces is half the provincial budget and going up? Did he tell you that the average doctor visit is 5 minutes? Did he tell you that more and more doctors will only discuss one issue per visit? They get paid by the visit not how long the visit is. This is the other side of socialized medicine that the Michael Moores of the world conveniently forget to mention.”
Controlling government control
A majority of e-mails we received expressed a nearly fanatical dislike for Michael Moore, making it clear they would never watch this or any movie made by him. But not everyone felt this way.
Bill: “My wife & I just saw Sicko today. People in attendance laughed and cried. I did too. HOORAY for Michael Moore. I hope he makes another million or two on this movie.”
Charles: “Sicko is indeed excellent. And once we get angry, do you have any suggestions about what we can do about the disgraceful mess we call our ‘health care’ system?”
Suggestions? That’s a tough one. Relying on insurance companies isn’t working, but turning health care over to the government is certainly less than appealing. A member who doesn’t give a name writes: “Universal health careequates to total government involvement for crying out loud!” And a member named Steve makes a good point: “You complain about the FDA, but then you wonder if it would be better if the government controlled EVERYTHING considering our health.”
Excellent point, I must say.
Along similar lines, a member named Margaret writes: “I’ve not heard anyone mention that Mr. Moore covered anything about how alternative (natural) treatment was usually not an option.” And Marion (one of the Canadians quoted above) adds: “Our standard cancer care is radiation or chemotherapy, even though some of us know there are better options.”
Whether you appreciate Michael Moore or scorn him, his movie has succeeded in one respect: It has contributed to a much-needed national discussion about health care. To paraphrase a comment from the “That’s Sick!” e-Alert: Hopefully this discussion will move us closer to a system that emphasizes actual health care instead of just healthy profits.
