SiCKO

[Verily]

Haven't seen the movie, and don't really plan to. Michael Moore isn't exactly the guy to go to for a completely accurate documentary. I did read one review that made some quite good points - while Moore does a good job of pointing out problems in our system (though often cherry picked exceptional cases rather than general ones) he doesn't give any problems that happen in countries with universal health care. Take for instance that in Canada dogs can get a hip replacement in a week, but for humans it might take months or even years. Like most things Moore makes, all indications are that it's almost completely one sided.

The point that's often missed is that in most universal health care countries (Britain being the only exception I know of), you are free to pay for your own elective health care and receive more prompt service if you so desire. This is basically the same as the US system, except, if you can't pay for the expensive hip replacement, you'll be able to get one anyway, just slower.

The movie was decent. I tend to agree with reviews that it could have made the same point without some of the omissions although detailed explanations would really just confuse most moviegoers. It certainly showed the myriad failings of our system well. Bowling for Columbine was better, but this one is much better than Fahrenheit 9/11.

[Verily]

Haven't seen the movie, and don't really plan to. Michael Moore isn't exactly the guy to go to for a completely accurate documentary. I did read one review that made some quite good points - while Moore does a good job of pointing out problems in our system (though often cherry picked exceptional cases rather than general ones) he doesn't give any problems that happen in countries with universal health care. Take for instance that in Canada dogs can get a hip replacement in a week, but for humans it might take months or even years. Like most things Moore makes, all indications are that it's almost completely one sided.

The point that's often missed is that in most universal health care countries (Britain being the only exception I know of), you are free to pay for your own elective health care and receive more prompt service if you so desire. This is basically the same as the US system, except, if you can't pay for the expensive hip replacement, you'll be able to get one anyway, just slower.

The movie was decent. I tend to agree with reviews that it could have made the same point without some of the omissions although detailed explanations would really just confuse most moviegoers. It certainly showed the myriad failings of our system well. Bowling for Columbine was better, but this one is much better than Fahrenheit 9/11.

No, Britain is a two-tier system too. The exception you're thinking off is Canada. However, most liberals are proposing a Canada-like single payer system, not a two-tier system.

Hmmm?

To quote Wikipedia:

"Many Canadians have private health insurance..."

I want to trash Micheal Moore and/or the concept of universal free health care. 

That yellow avatar looks unhealthy, perhaps you should seek medical advice.

Fine, but to be fair to you, I shall pay for the treatment all by myself.  Without your tax money.

obviously the solution to the health care crisis is for everyone to get a job at mcdonalds.  then theyd have no problem paying for health care!

and by the way mac, why should the taxpayers of michigan help pay for your education?  since you are obviously opposed to these things.

Did you see the Joe Lieberman thread? MaC thinks public education is a far-left program.

[Verily]

Well I live in a country with what is really socialized medicine, and let me tell you it's got nothing on that. Even today, a Ministry of Health study came out saying the average waiting time for a cancer patient to get surgery to remove the cancer was three and a half months, reaching seven months in some cases.

On the whole, I'd prefer people have to wait for surgery than to never get it in the first place.

Hospitals don't turn anyone down.

no.  but if you are uninsured and have to spend any length of time in the hospital....it means....financial ruin.

O well, should have gotten a job with better benefits

And we should all take employment advice from a kid who really doesn't understand how difficult it can be even for a highly qualified person to get a job, especially after quitting a previous job. Companies aren't going to hire you if you say, "I quit my job because it had poor health coverage, but you have good health coverage." They don't want to pay for you.

[Verily]

And we should all take employment advice from a kid who really doesn't understand how difficult it can be even for a highly qualified person to get a job, especially after quitting a previous job. Companies aren't going to hire you if you say, "I quit my job because it had poor health coverage, but you have good health coverage." They don't want to pay for you.

If you have cancer and a bad job, you deserve to die!

I still fail to see why I should pay for a broken government system.  Does anyone really believe that socialized medicine would work?  I mean we've just had so much success with medicare and social security.

It's definitely worked better than our current system in, well, everywhere else.