SiCKO Update

If SiCKO is playing in your local theatre, I do encourage you to support the film by attending a screening. As with most matters in the US, the more MONEY the film makes, the more attention the media might pay to the issues it presents.

However, if it's not playing in your area, or you simply can't afford to pay $8 or $9 right now to see it, the full movie is available online for free, with the permission and encouragement of the producers, at this site. Very generous of them, I'd say.

The folks at Blue Cross are certainly taking note, as a leaked memo shows, complete with talking points meant to distance Blue Cross from "the bad guys." I like how Moore isn't afraid to show the entire memo, which contains a lot of criticism for the film, and points out some of Moore's narrative manipulation and omissions, which I believe Moore freely admits to using to make his point. The Blue Cross memo also suggests "blaming the victims" by saying the reason health care costs are so high is because Americans are getting fatter and lazier... while that may be true, lack of health care prevents people from seeking treatment for problems that keep them from exercising, or keeps them from receiving preventive care or even getting diagnosed for minor problems until they flare up and result in a trip to the ER at ten times the cost. I think the insurers know that they're selling an inferior product at an inflated price, but most of us have no choice but to buy it. I'm glad Michael Moore is calling them on it, and hopefully his voice is loud enough that it will be heard by the people who can make a difference, because left or right, everyone needs medical care from time to time, and Moore is speaking out to help all of us.

The image is Mas69ter, demonstrating her feeings for the medical system...