In college, I studied abroad in the Dominican Republic. There my tour guide informed us that the Dominican people are provided with a national healthcare system, which he proudly described as the best free healthcare in the Caribbean. I found this surprising, considering the poverty rates and lax environmental laws, but then I noticed the plethora of local amputees. Just because a country has national healthcare doesn’t mean it’s as competent as those without. But if any country could find a way to provide all of its citizens with free superior healthcare coverage it would be the United States of America. So, why doesn’t the wealthiest and most powerful nation on Earth have universal healthcare? That is the question Michael Moore poses to us with his latest sickening success, ‘Sicko’.
Sicko is humorous and heartbreaking, but ultimately as important, if not more so, than any other film by Michael Moore. Of course, Moore is up to his usual antics, playing the muckraking pseudo journalist as he confidently exposes the American hypocrisies that drive him crazy. With Bowling For Columbine and especially Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore alienated the conservative audience due to his scathing and unapologetic anger at republican ideals. But this time, he is more composed and completely sincere in persuading liberals and conservatives alike that universal healthcare is the logical direction a moral society should head. I still don’t think many Bush lovers will bring themselves to see a Michael Moore film, but they should see this one. A Sicko ticket would surely be better spent than wasting money on Evan Almighty, right?
It should be noted that Moore doesn’t appear until 40 minutes into this film. Perhaps he is attempting to be taken more seriously after Fahrenheit 9/11 didn’t succeed in electing John Kerry. But Moore is ever present, as he narrates the cases of several people that were severally mistreated by their medical insurance companies. Watching Sicko may remind you of your own close encounters with insurance sharks. In our society we must navigate fine print exceptions and cryptic language when dealing with company contracts. It’s hard to trust companies when they make what they offer so difficult to acquire. Maybe you’re not aware that the healthcare industry treats its clients like business opportunities, but in the long run, they’re corporations too. For example, we meet a woman who was in a car accident and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The insurance company wouldn’t cover the ambulance ride because they said it wasn’t pre-approved. It’s a little difficult to check in with your insurance company when you’re unconscious. Another 22-year-old woman came down with cervical cancer and wasn’t covered for treatment because she is considered too young to have that form of cancer. I can’t believe they write such idiotic excuses to people who are clearly suffering from serious diseases. We even meet a couple who move into their daughters basement after the loss of their life savings due to paying off insurance bills for three heart attack related hospital visits and cancer treatments. But wait a second, these people aren’t deadbeats who are taking advantage of the system. In fact, the woman was a newspaper editor, her husband also had a good job and they both had benefits. Still, company medical coverage only last so long and eventually you will have to go into your own pocket. I know life’s not fair, but why should people who fall on especially hard times be punished more with endless medical bills? Moore says they shouldn’t, because a just society that puts its citizens first should come to their aid when help is needed. In my case, I guess Moore is preaching to the choir, but I would like to think that this film is so convincing it would change even the Scroogiest conservative minds.
Moore explores the perception that many people in America have of universal healthcare coverage found in similar first world nations. The general consensus being that it’s inadequate compared with our medical practices. I mean, this is America after all, where anything is possible. Strangely enough, many Canadians get along fine with their free health coverage. At the hospitals, people generally wait a half hour or forty minutes and leave without paying a cent. Moore’s relatives are so comfortable with the system, the only way they will visit him in the United States is by applying for medical insurance prior to their stay.
Moore also takes us to France, England and Cuba, to show us our other neighbors who all manage with universal healthcare. In England, one of our closest allies, we see how important universal healthcare is to its citizens. When Moore asks a few hospital patients when they pay for their medical services most of them laugh, one even jokes “what do you think this is, America?”. In France, the government goes above and beyond what many American’s would consider “proper” management. I mean, universal healthcare is one thing but could many American’s imagine mothers on maternity leave being provided with government-funded nannies that cook, clean, and even do laundry! The French national law even requires its working citizens to have five weeks vacation time. Those lazy French, no wonder we hate them so much. When will they learn that true freedom means working extra hard and shopping at Wal-Mart?
As it turns out there is one place in the U.S. that receives universal healthcare: Guantanamo Bay. In one of Moore’s typical humorous routines, he brings three boatloads of volunteer 9/11 rescue workers to the bay to see if they will treat the heroes ignored by our government. Of course, this was just staged for laughs, but seriously isn’t it somewhat ridiculous that enemy combatants are treated more humanly than American heroes?
Michael Moore is one of the great American satirical artists of our time. His films are insightful and hysterical, but more importantly they make a statement. Like most great artists, he is driven by a passion to shed light on important issues and it’s hard not to be taken in by his engaging films. Of course his wit and tone has a liberal bias, but would you expect an artist to censor their work or ignore their feelings? And yes it’s true that Moore is a provocateur who doesn’t provide all the answers. But at least he shows us that universal healthcare is possible in democratic societies. Moore’s films are rewarding experiences, filled with humorous gags and emotionally devastating moments. Sicko is one of his best and I just hope this film will have a greater impact than Fahrenheit 9/11 or at the very least win best documentary at the Academy Awards.
A
No comments:
Post a Comment