Michael Moore's "Sicko": My thoughts
Finally watched the whole film via this link I read about in Consumerist. Moore is an irritating blowhard, but valid points are made and the issue laid bare. I would be interested in seeing a rebuttal from the insurance and pharma companies; I'm sure it would have to do with profitability, viability, their providing a needed service, etc. and a denial that they (HMOs and hospitals) ever throw indigent people out on the street. But the points made by the ex-Humana medical director about HMOs being run as dispassionate, greedy, cruel businesses were damning, and very believable.
What it boils down to is: Is the U.S. as a country and Americans as individuals willing to shell out the huge amount of money it would take (in the form of taxes) to fund universal healthcare? Somehow, I don't think so. This seems to run counter to the emphasis on individual freedom and responsibility that's ingrained in our culture. Am I wrong? Has the tide turned? I mean, even our current govt-run services (postal service comes immediately to mind) are inefficient, bureaucratic, and frustrating to deal with.
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