Sicko is another controversial Micheal Moore documentary,which investigates the American health care system, focusing on its for-profit health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the non-universal and for-profit U.S. system with the universal and non-profit systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba.It was released in June 2007 (U.S).
Sicko uncovers some shocking facts and incindents concerning the American health care system.For example,we see an almost 80 year old man,who still works in order to get his medication.We also see the role of lobbies and mainly the role and the practices of health insurance companies.U.S does not have a universal health care system,a system which some defend,arguing that the application of such a system would be "one step before socialism".Senator Hilary Clinton,was involved,when Bill Clinton was president,in an effort to introduce a universal health care system,but with the fierce opposition this plan was scrapped.It is revealed that Ms.Clinton is the Senate's second-highest recipient of health care industry campaign donations.Now during the campaign for the presidential nomination,Hilary Clinton says that she's for a universal health care system.Barack Obama says that health care should be mandatory only for children.
During the movie there is also a retrospection to the origins of the current U.S health care system (among other references,the reference to the Health Maintance Organization Act of 1973).As i mentioned before, the non-universal and for-profit U.S. system is compared with the universal and non-profit systems of Canada, the United Kingdom , France and Cuba.
However,there are simplifications,generalisations and a sense of populism.Furthermore,i think that the whole incident with the 9/11 rescuers was unfortunate.Anyway,Sicko is a documentary that reveals one of the reasons for which U.S.A could be regarded as "a giant with glass legs".
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8BJyyyRYbSk
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sicko
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