I'm just curious. What effect do you think the movie "Sicko" had on the health care issue?

[Canuckistanian]

I saw Sicko last year and DAMN, I was fired up to do something about the outrageous health care system in the US.
I was genuinely moved by the horror stories of individuals, especially by the 9/11 paramedic woman finding out how CHEAP her medicine was in Cuba. I cried along with her at her utter frustration and disbelief.

I was ready to call my Congressman, to write letters to my local newspaper, anything.

But, I'm Canadian. I don't live in a country where a major illness could cost me my house or an accident could destroy my credit rating. I just couldn't believe that people would live in such an unfair system and remain relatively quiet.

What do you think was the major impact of Sicko? I remember hearing of people forming ad hoc activist groups in the lobbies of movie theaters after the film. Whatever happened to them?

Did the movie make a major impact on your current opinion? And why isn't it being CONSTANTLY quoted and referenced in this debate?

[CTyankee]

1. I didn't see the movie, didn't have anyone interested in attending with me.

So I can't really tell. But it did play at an art movie house in the city.

Next time, I'll line up somebody to go with me.

In the meantime, me and hubby are just fine advocating for public (if not single payer) health care...

[Canuckistanian]

5. SEE THE MOVIE

Rent a DVD, buy it, whatever. I think it should be shown in schools, like Schindler's List.

It's that important.

[newinnm]

2. The excitement died.

Its easy to say Im gonna do this and Im gonna do that in the heat of the moment. We have all been there like after I watched the first rocky film, I was gonna drink raw eggs, run miles a day and become a great boxer......That never happened.


-nnnm

[MADem]

3. I think it fired up the choir, briefly. The Congregation, though, slept. NT

[Laelth]

4. Not enough. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Canuckistanian]

10. Not enough, meaning what?

Did it not make a valid point? Was it the style? Do people accept the status quo too readily?

What Is it?

[Laelth]

16. The movie was excellent.

Moore made his point very clearly. I wish the movie had a greater impact. I fear it did not do enough to change the current debate over health care in the United States.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Canuckistanian]

19. Yeah, too bad

Thanks for your view.

[Mind_your_head]

6. It was VERY IMPORTANT......Sicko allowed the discussion to become "mainstream"

it opened up/began discussion on many fronts.

Thank you MM!

[Canuckistanian]

13. Yes, I suppose it did that

I do think that the actual making of a documentary actually brought attention to the problem.

But I thought it would something more.

[L0oniX]

7. It's still having an affect.

I just watched it -again- on HBO.

[Warpy]

8. Oh, people are a lot more aware now than they were

before the film was released and they're not happy about it.

I'm hearing the same sort of rage just below the surface that I heard against the last administration in 2004.

The Senate needs to stop laughing at health care professionals if they want any longevity at all.

If they sell us out--again--I guarantee the will all be defeated.

[HERVEPA]

9. None, unfortunately (nt)

[Mike 03]

11. All I know is that I and my father sobbed uncontrollably. But did we do anything about it?

No.

It's so overwhelming. Where do we start?

I know it's lame, but if someone would say: "Do this, and then do this..." to get health insurance, I would do it.

What I feel lately is more akin to paralysis.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

12. Sicko is still rippling. And it was major in that it covered the INSURED

I really think that is where Michael Moore's brilliance is evident. It wasn't just "oh, look at those poor uninsured people" it was "OMG they got SCREWED! And they had insurance (like me)!

It's still worth it to get people to watch the DVD if they haven't. It is NOT a do-good liberal screed preaching on behalf of the downtrodden. It has a very high educational component for the complacent.

[Blue_Tires]

14. it did punch a lot of holes in the popular RW memes against the

Cuba/Canada/Europe systems...I was a little surprised the film didn't resonate longer in people's minds...

The RW and the media, while attacking F-911 and Bowling For Columbine nonstop for months before, during and after their release, pretty much ignored Sicko, other than the "MM should be in jail for going to Cuba"...That proved to me the movie *really* hit a nerve, and they figured the less they talked about it the better...

[Canuckistanian]

17. Well then, why doesn't someone use the examples?

I can tell you that the descriptions of the Canadian system were accurate.

Nobody has seriously questioned the veracity of the film.

Why can't it be used as a source of true information?

[Blue_Tires]

21. i use it, personally...

whether or not anyone on capitol hill sees the big picture is anyone's guess

[snappyturtle]

15. We bought a couple of DVDs of "SICKO" three months ago and

pass them around to anyone who hasn't seen it. I think the movie made a bigger impression than we may think now. I hear more and more references on teevee to the French healthcare system and I accredit that to "Sicko". imho

[Kansas Wyatt]

18. Mikey should have followed up with a sequel to Sicko, with a better title...

That showed the comparison of the U.S. to other "socialized health care" countries again, and who benefits by it, and exactly who is controlling the debate in Washington today.

Until the Death Merchant Parasites are exposed, and spotlights are put on those who are doing their bidding, then this country will NEVER have any Health Care.

Even if it means exposing Democrats in the very highest office of the government. They still need the spotlight put on them, until they do what is right by the American People. Blind loyalty will only get you rhetoric and empty promises, and nothing more.

[Mythsaje]

20. I just saw it a few days ago...

And, yeah, I'm fired up. The crap they're feeding us right now is nothing more than a shit sandwich.

[cherokeeprogressive]

22. 300+ million citizens in this country. How many of them actually SAW it?

There's your answer.