On May 29, 8:45 am, John Forrest Tomlinson <
[email protected]>
wrote:
> On Thu, 29 May 2008 05:34:27 -0700 (PDT), Bill C
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >JT we agree that the system here has problems. If that was Moore's
> >whole argument I'd support it wholeheartedly. It's not. The US was
> >built to be a capitalist country, our founding folks were VERY
> >concious of that. Profit is NOT evil,
>
> You just don't get it. You're responding to a right-wing parody of
> what Moore says.
>
> Add "socialist medecine" to the bogeymen they play you with.
I said distortions and I stand by that; here's part of an evil
corporate CNN piece and the link:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/09/sitroom.03.html
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Millions of Americans are filling theaters across the country to see
Michael Moore's controversial look at the U.S. healthcare system.
"Sicko" was number nine on the top 10 box office draws this weekend.
But the movie is being criticized by some who accuse Moore of playing
loose with the facts.
Michael Moore will join us here in THE SITUATION ROOM in just a
moment. But first a "Reality Check" from our chief medical
correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Sicko"
throws hard punches at the United States healthcare system, and it
seems just about everyone has something to say.
(SOUNDS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Moore was spot on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The facts, I think, support what I believe.
GUPTA: And Moore presents a lot of facts throughout the movie. But do
they all check out? Keeping them honest, we did some digging and we
started with the biggie. The United States slipped to number 37 in the
world's healthcare systems.
It's true, 37 is the ranking, according to the World Health
Organization's latest data on 191 countries. It's based on general
health level, patient satisfaction, access and how it's paid for.
France tops the list. Italy and Spain make it into the top 10. The
United Kingdom is 18.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello!
GUPTA: Moore brings a group of patients, including 9/11 workers to
Cuba, and marvels at their free treatment and quality of care. But
hold on. That WHO list puts Cuba's healthcare system even lower than
the United States, coming in at number 39. Moore asserts that the
American healthcare system spends $7,000 per person on health, whereas
Cuba spends $25 per person.
Not true, but not too far off. The United States spends $6,096 a year
per person versus $229 a year in Cuba. And astronomically more money
doesn't mean far better outcomes. In fact, Americans live just a
little bit longer than Cubans on average. So Americans do pay more,
but the United States also ranks highest in patient satisfaction.
<<more there and other places>>
I think the last line is THE telling factor, I don't remember Moore
using that in Sicko, along with the actual cost in Cuba being more
than 9 times what Moore said it was.
It seems that there's absolutely nothing I could show you that would
get you to say anything other than Moore is 100% accurate, and
includes all aspects in painting a complete and total picture of
things he investigates so I give up.
I'll just send out for my "vast right wing conspiracy" memebership
card now.
Meesha used to work for the local Community Health Center, if you
haven't checked out that movement it's a good thing with lots of good
info, goes well with non-profit hospitals.
Bill C
)
