John Q

I'm happy that we have great health coverage in Canada and Québec, and I'm glad that everyone has access.

I'm glad my friends and family and neighbours can see a doctor or visit the hospital without having to pay out of pocket, and that the wide variety of services available continue to expand beyond limitation.

I know it's frustrating having to wait.

It would be nice if things moved more quickly.

But the services are still available and they're available across the board.

Watch Michael Moore's Sicko watch John Q check out the nightmare, awaiting the privatization of health services if there's less of an emphasis on public health.

Imagine you suddenly had to come up with over $200,000 to pay for medical bills, which the insurance plan you had paid into for your entire life wouldn't cover.

Imagine that if you couldn't come up with that money one of your loved ones would die.

Without public health this isn't a rare occurrence. 

Without universal health care it's par for the course.

Universal health care is a sign of enduring progress and practical community, a sustainable way to ensure widespread health at all times across the land.

If we can hire more doctors and invest in hospitals wait times should decrease, and more of our medical school graduates will find the jobs they've worked hard to get.

One of the big differences between private and public health care, as outlined in Maude Barlow's Too Close for Comfort, is that public health care workers put people before profits, while private health is more interested in money.

Thus, the private hospital sets a goal of profits to be earned in a specific month, and then sets about trying to earn them. If there's a shortfall come the 31st heads will roll and people will lose their jobs, hence services are cut for employment security's sake, as administrators with no medical knowledge try to save money. If they save money and produce higher profits the private board running the hospital is more impressed. Therefore, there's an impetus to be as cheap as possible while pretending to provide expert service.

In the public system people care about health and finding more efficient ways to take care of each other.

While providing access to all kinds of different specialists.

For a thriving culture.

It's a total win-win.

Sicko

Michael Moore's new film Sicko presents a critical examination of American Health Care. The style Moore employs is similar to that found in his other films, simultaneously tragic and comedic. If you haven't seen the film the following contains spoilers regarding its ending.

I for one am in complete agreement with Moore's message. While I haven't researched the subject vigorously, and know that universal health care systems are expensive, these expenses maximize a population’s health without supplying it with any significantly increased financial burdens. The picture Moore paints of the state of the American Health Care system is grim to say the least; grim isn't really the right word to be using here, but it seems as if American HMO's are much more concerned with maximizing profits than taking care of the sick. Since I've grown up with universal health care, trying to imagine what it’s like living in a country where access to medical care is a burden upon those responsible for its delivery is difficult, and witnessing the stories Moore showcases within is frankly revolting, especially since America is such a diverse, wealthy country.

But points regarding health care aside, the rest of this piece is about Michael Moore the filmmaker. In the end of Sicko, Moore makes a monumental move that instantly reminded me of Werner Herzog's commitment within Fitzcarraldo, Moore's move resonating with inspired political audacity, Herzog's with ideal artistic integrity. We don't know how they arrive there, but during his research Moore discovers that the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are receiving first rate health care free of charge, and decides to travel there with several sick Americans, some of them rescue workers from ground zero, 9/11, who have no health insurance. After they are denied access to Guantanamo, Moore decides to seek assistance within Cuba where he is greeted warmly (apparently prescription drugs that cost 120 dollars in the States can be purchased in Cuba for 3.2 pesos). Moore's examination of the Cuban Health Care System and the ways in which he gallantly includes them within his film (at great risk to his own personal freedom back home I'm sure) is an act worthy of sincere applause. What balls!