This might hurt a little.

The sub-title of Michael Moore’s newest film, “SiCKO”, is same as the title of this blog entry. Yes, Mr. Moore, it did hurt a little. The original reason that I waited so long to watch the film was because I knew that it would be depressing. Who wants to hear about the woes of sick, dying, and *gasp* deceased people?

Being that I’m at home with a cold, I finally pushed played on Quicktime and watched my pirated version of Michael Moore’s SiCKO.

The movie was obviously biased as all Michael Moore films are. However, is it truly possible to create an unbiased work of film? Or at least one that would be worth watching? I don’t believe so. Either way, I’m not going to offer a synopsis of the film as many are available with a simple Google search. You can find Moore lovers and haters alike. I’m sure that conservatives already have released an anti-SiCKO movie with the title of “Moore is a Sicko. A dirty commie sicko” or something similar.  Seriously, just see the film.

I could sit here and argue about for profit versus non-profit in America. Hey, who likes waiting for hours at the DMV? Or who likes paying hundreds of dollars in speeding tickets to the government? Wow, did you hear how long it took for the fire department to arrive at Mr. Jones’ house last week? These are all painfully trivial concerns.

The truth is that there ARE millions of Americans without health care. The truth is that those with health care are not receiving the coverage that they should be. Often times, people are forced into debt in order to pay for relatively minor procedures. Worse, people end up dying due to improper coverage. The truth is that people that you know are not receiving anywhere near the care that is necessary. The truth is that people are taking drugs that they don’t need and can’t afford the ones that they do.

But we’re talking about America. We’re talking about a place where people will argue until they are blue in the face about the prospect of paying for another person’s health care. “Why should I pay? It’s not my fault they are sick. Why should I have to pay more taxes so some jerk that I don’t know can live a few more years?”

I don’t have the answers to these questions. I do know that I would pay whatever it took for my grandma to go a single day without coughing. I would do whatever necessary to have a few extra days with the ones I love. I know that everyone out there; conservatives, liberals, hippies, and socialists alike would like the same things for their loved ones.

So, what is it really going to take to change the minds of American people? Will we continue to be terrified of a scary socialized medical system? Will be cower in fright over the thought of non-profit health care? Will we get the willies when we consider the idea of the continuation of capitalism by means that don’t KILL us?

While we consider these grave issues, I hope everyone can take comfort in the fact that Kaiser Permanente continues to get richer, the CEOs of Blue Shield will all get their bonus this Christmas, and that I will relieve my cold with Taiwanese medicine for 80 cents.

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