Sicko
Ever since we saw Food, Inc. we’ve been looking for new documentaries to watch. Sicko was next. (Flow is coming soon.) Because I’m out of the loop on most of what goes on in the US, I had never heard of this movie (which came out back in 2007) until a doctor of mine down here in Argentina recommended it to me. She had worked briefly in the US at one point, and not surprisingly was horrified by the medical system up there.
After years of not living in the US, it’s become clear to me how terribly wrong the health care system, and how amazing it can be in countries like Argentina. (I won’t even get into Canada and Europe, because excellent health care is something you expect in first world countries…except the US, where apparently it’s reserved for the elite few).
Independently of how you may feel about Michael Moore (while I think he’s spectacular, I know he grates on a lot of people), this is another film that must be seen, especially by Americans. Health reform is something that needs to occur, and ASAP. The system as it is today is a total disgrace.
Lately I have been doing some thinking. We (Americans) pay taxes and the salaries of our politicians. They get FABULOUS health care…so in a sense, we are paying for their health care. Yet, they refuse to figure out a way to return the favor! Ugh! I know it is a very complicated system and I am not a huge fan of government run programs. They tend to be heavily top heavy and not much service actually gets to the people. That said, something needs to be done. I am tired of it being a conservative v. liberal issue. It is a health issue that all of us pay because the majority of uncovered people go to the ER, which is way more expensive then a typical doctor’s office. On the flip side…working for a Medicaid service, there is a ton of abuse, even in my own company. There are ways that we pad the billing to make up costs, which is wrong, but there is no other way to do it and provide services. Anyway, I could go on for days and days about this. This last Saturday we passed a “tea party” rally at our local mall…granted this is a “Danville” kind of mall with a Nieman Marcus and Saks Fifth Ave…so they chose their venue well….and I am sure they are all employed and have health care. I would like to see them go to the city of Detroit and have a rally against health care. Not going to happen.
I know that no system is perfect, but there are a lot of countries out there that manage health care way better than the US. I think there are a lot of interests from major groups (insurance companies, pharmaceutical corporations, etc.) that are taking priority over the health of the people.