It's a Sunday afternoon here in the great state of Washington and I have been in a foul mood ever since my Aunt Flow came to visit on Thursday. She is in a particularly pissy state this time and I have found myself mimicking her antics and possessing her sour mood. It comes with the territory, I guess.
My state of being has put me in a rather defiant and just plain pissed at the world kind of mentality and my brave husband asked me if I wanted to go see the new Micheal Moore movie "Sicko". Being the very opinionated woman that I am who rather enjoys debates about the injustices of the world, I quickly said yes and off we went to check the times and places the movie was playing. Much to our surprise, we realized it is only playing in a select few theaters in our area. In fact, there was only one movieplex showing the movie within a 30 mile radius of us AND it was only playing on one screen. Hmmm....wonder why?
I'm still feeling crabby as we get in the car and head for the movies. My husband and I have a discussion about my well being....er...if you can call me ranting and raving about how cruddy I feel a discussion....while we make our way to the next town to see the movie. We arrive with five minutes to spare, just enough time to buy some popcorn and find a seat just as the previews are starting.
The theater is about two thirds full of mostly middle aged, white, middle income couples. Being the Seattle area, there is a handful of the younger politically active types (whom I would definitely be considered one of if I was 15 years younger and not a fat housewife, though mentally, we're the same).
The movie begins with a speech made by President G. W. Bush disparaging about how much fear of being sued America's doctors live in as practitioners in this country. You know the speech...it's the one where he says something to the effect of, 'OB/GYNs can't practice their love with the women of this country'. Typical GW bumbling speech. Go Yale!
Then the real fun begins. Michael Moore took us on a journey into the very dark side of American medicine in this great country of ours. This movie was not about the nearly 50 million Americans without medical insurance, no. This movie was about the 250 million of us who DO. The average Joe Blow who pays premiums regularly, yet still finds himself at the mercy of the whims of the insurance companies. Defining procedures as experimental or unnecessary in an effort to stall until death makes the need for their permission a moot point.
The families portrayed in this film are just like you and me. It was hard not to put yourself in their situation and feel their pain as they dealt with life and death situations. To be at the mercy of an insurance company's policies will always put you on the losing side. There is nothing to be gained from allowing insurance companies to decide....not your doctor....what's best for your health. It sickens me.
The most amazing thing that I walked away from after seeing this movie was the condition of socialized health care in Canada, England, France, and even Cuba. They just get it. They understand that part of a government's job is to provide healthcare for ALL it's taxpayers. There is no morality in forcing one to suffer with a condition that can be cured, or at the very least, made more liveable. Socialized medicine IS What Jesus Would Do!
I realized throughout this movie that I had believed the LIES propogated by the paid off media and politicians, that socialized medicine meant substandard care, long waits for procedures, old technology and machines, and far less advanced doctors. The truth is, the POOREST person living in Great Britain in the most substandard of conditions, will live 3 years longer than the RICHEST American. All the money in the world (which the richest Americans have the majority off) will buy you less time on this planet than the poorest beggar on the street and living in squallor in England. Bugger off!
Another truth from this movie was the World Health Organization's ranking of the quality of health among civilized nations. The United States ranks 37th! Just above Slovenia! WTF?!?! The U.S. is ranked just above a war torn nation once lead by a genocidal dictator??? That just seems wrong, dontcha think?
The real clincher for me watching this movie was seeing how the French and English actually live. My impression has always been that they must be overtaxed and controlled by their government, limited in some way because they cannot bite the hand that feeds them. This was soooo not the case. In fact, the French government is more afraid of the people than the people are afraid of them. France and England really value all of human life, and feel it is important to provide the most basic needs for their people. Things like six months of paid pregnancy leave, mandatory 5 week vacation time, mandatory paid sick time, even nanny and housekeeping services for new mothers! How does that fly compared to the mere lipservice we give that we "highly value" our children in this country? They actually put their money where their mouth is, and have the statistics to prove it! Infant mortality in the U.S. is HIGHER than it is in EL SALVADOR!!!! Hello?!?!?!? Isn't that almost a third world country??
Most of Europe lives very well under the oppressive culture of socialist programs. They earn decent incomes that afford them a lifestyle similar to ours. They have many of the same indulgences as we do. They even drive many of the same cars as we do, though they don't have the space for the mega SUVs we drive. It is a proper comparison to make. Their freedoms are acutely similar to ours as well. We are the same, save one thing, land. But who cares about that, really? If all this space and opportunity can't afford us the ability to live a long life, what the hell are we killing ourselves for in the first place? Why is it more important to protect the insurance company's profit margin and keep government out of our health, than it is to ensure that it's people are provided with a standard of health that allows them to prosper? Can anyone explain that to me?
I have long been a proud American who believed in the freedoms our forefathers fought so hard for. I was raised in the Midwest by southern parents who felt that our government would look out for us and protect us from harm. I know what it's like to struggle and work hard to meet your needs and I know what it's like to earn a good living and not have to decide which bill to pay this month. What I don't understand is how our government can exclude a healthcare program for all from it's list of rights for the American people. There are hordes of families in this country who have to decide whether they should eat or buy prescription medicine. Whether they should pay the mortgage, or have cancer treatments. How is that ethical, christian, moral or humane? Where is the outrage from the christian coalition about this?
Why aren't more people un an uproar about this disparity? Time. Most of us don't have the time to demand more from our representatives. We are too busy commuting to work, working two and three jobs, driving our kids to soccer practice because schools no longer offer gym class, and trying to make enough money to pay off the debt our government encouraged us to incur for the good of America. We are afraid to stand against those in power because we might lose our ability to live a decent life! There is so much at stake that we can't possibly think we are free in this country. I feel enslaved.
I left the movie theater feeling angry and helpless. I am but one person. There are not enough of us organized enough to demand that changes be made. We all seem to live in fear of having another 9/11 that we give up the freedoms that make this a truly great nation. Most of us are just one medical catastrophe away from losing everything we have. There is no safety net because we can't afford to save as much as we should. I am truly sickened by the injustice of it all and wonder what it would really be like to live in France......
My state of being has put me in a rather defiant and just plain pissed at the world kind of mentality and my brave husband asked me if I wanted to go see the new Micheal Moore movie "Sicko". Being the very opinionated woman that I am who rather enjoys debates about the injustices of the world, I quickly said yes and off we went to check the times and places the movie was playing. Much to our surprise, we realized it is only playing in a select few theaters in our area. In fact, there was only one movieplex showing the movie within a 30 mile radius of us AND it was only playing on one screen. Hmmm....wonder why?
I'm still feeling crabby as we get in the car and head for the movies. My husband and I have a discussion about my well being....er...if you can call me ranting and raving about how cruddy I feel a discussion....while we make our way to the next town to see the movie. We arrive with five minutes to spare, just enough time to buy some popcorn and find a seat just as the previews are starting.
The theater is about two thirds full of mostly middle aged, white, middle income couples. Being the Seattle area, there is a handful of the younger politically active types (whom I would definitely be considered one of if I was 15 years younger and not a fat housewife, though mentally, we're the same).
The movie begins with a speech made by President G. W. Bush disparaging about how much fear of being sued America's doctors live in as practitioners in this country. You know the speech...it's the one where he says something to the effect of, 'OB/GYNs can't practice their love with the women of this country'. Typical GW bumbling speech. Go Yale!
Then the real fun begins. Michael Moore took us on a journey into the very dark side of American medicine in this great country of ours. This movie was not about the nearly 50 million Americans without medical insurance, no. This movie was about the 250 million of us who DO. The average Joe Blow who pays premiums regularly, yet still finds himself at the mercy of the whims of the insurance companies. Defining procedures as experimental or unnecessary in an effort to stall until death makes the need for their permission a moot point.
The families portrayed in this film are just like you and me. It was hard not to put yourself in their situation and feel their pain as they dealt with life and death situations. To be at the mercy of an insurance company's policies will always put you on the losing side. There is nothing to be gained from allowing insurance companies to decide....not your doctor....what's best for your health. It sickens me.
The most amazing thing that I walked away from after seeing this movie was the condition of socialized health care in Canada, England, France, and even Cuba. They just get it. They understand that part of a government's job is to provide healthcare for ALL it's taxpayers. There is no morality in forcing one to suffer with a condition that can be cured, or at the very least, made more liveable. Socialized medicine IS What Jesus Would Do!
I realized throughout this movie that I had believed the LIES propogated by the paid off media and politicians, that socialized medicine meant substandard care, long waits for procedures, old technology and machines, and far less advanced doctors. The truth is, the POOREST person living in Great Britain in the most substandard of conditions, will live 3 years longer than the RICHEST American. All the money in the world (which the richest Americans have the majority off) will buy you less time on this planet than the poorest beggar on the street and living in squallor in England. Bugger off!
Another truth from this movie was the World Health Organization's ranking of the quality of health among civilized nations. The United States ranks 37th! Just above Slovenia! WTF?!?! The U.S. is ranked just above a war torn nation once lead by a genocidal dictator??? That just seems wrong, dontcha think?
The real clincher for me watching this movie was seeing how the French and English actually live. My impression has always been that they must be overtaxed and controlled by their government, limited in some way because they cannot bite the hand that feeds them. This was soooo not the case. In fact, the French government is more afraid of the people than the people are afraid of them. France and England really value all of human life, and feel it is important to provide the most basic needs for their people. Things like six months of paid pregnancy leave, mandatory 5 week vacation time, mandatory paid sick time, even nanny and housekeeping services for new mothers! How does that fly compared to the mere lipservice we give that we "highly value" our children in this country? They actually put their money where their mouth is, and have the statistics to prove it! Infant mortality in the U.S. is HIGHER than it is in EL SALVADOR!!!! Hello?!?!?!? Isn't that almost a third world country??
Most of Europe lives very well under the oppressive culture of socialist programs. They earn decent incomes that afford them a lifestyle similar to ours. They have many of the same indulgences as we do. They even drive many of the same cars as we do, though they don't have the space for the mega SUVs we drive. It is a proper comparison to make. Their freedoms are acutely similar to ours as well. We are the same, save one thing, land. But who cares about that, really? If all this space and opportunity can't afford us the ability to live a long life, what the hell are we killing ourselves for in the first place? Why is it more important to protect the insurance company's profit margin and keep government out of our health, than it is to ensure that it's people are provided with a standard of health that allows them to prosper? Can anyone explain that to me?
I have long been a proud American who believed in the freedoms our forefathers fought so hard for. I was raised in the Midwest by southern parents who felt that our government would look out for us and protect us from harm. I know what it's like to struggle and work hard to meet your needs and I know what it's like to earn a good living and not have to decide which bill to pay this month. What I don't understand is how our government can exclude a healthcare program for all from it's list of rights for the American people. There are hordes of families in this country who have to decide whether they should eat or buy prescription medicine. Whether they should pay the mortgage, or have cancer treatments. How is that ethical, christian, moral or humane? Where is the outrage from the christian coalition about this?
Why aren't more people un an uproar about this disparity? Time. Most of us don't have the time to demand more from our representatives. We are too busy commuting to work, working two and three jobs, driving our kids to soccer practice because schools no longer offer gym class, and trying to make enough money to pay off the debt our government encouraged us to incur for the good of America. We are afraid to stand against those in power because we might lose our ability to live a decent life! There is so much at stake that we can't possibly think we are free in this country. I feel enslaved.
I left the movie theater feeling angry and helpless. I am but one person. There are not enough of us organized enough to demand that changes be made. We all seem to live in fear of having another 9/11 that we give up the freedoms that make this a truly great nation. Most of us are just one medical catastrophe away from losing everything we have. There is no safety net because we can't afford to save as much as we should. I am truly sickened by the injustice of it all and wonder what it would really be like to live in France......
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