Michael Moore's "SiCKO"

I have never seen one of Michael Moore's documentaries before and I am actually not a documentary fan per se; however, that being said, I got caught up in this one titled "SiCKO". Say what you want about Michael Moore and where he stands on issues, say what you want about HMOs versus free universal health care, and say what you want about patriotism versus anti-Americanism but I came away from this documentary agreeing with the main points:

(1) Our system is broken. I have been a victim of it, so I can attest to this.
(2) Something needs to be done and the government doesn't truly want to do anything about it. It really DOES stand to lose in the long run. It maybe even can't afford to do anything about it in this economy as it is. I don't know, I just know we're broken and we need repair.
(3) The other countries that he compares our health system to have longer life expectancies, less medication dependencies, less chronic medical problems (they focus on prevention), and they just seem happier in a lot of aspects.

People actually laughed at the idea of having to consider a bill before leaving a hospital in some of the countries. I can't tell you how many times I have been lying in the hospital bed worrying about the cost of my stay, or even sat by my daughter's side worrying about the dollars and cents accruing instead of focusing on getting her better.

I have no idea what the answer is and I will be the first to admit that. I don't think it is to jump ship and move to GB, France, or even Cuba. I have to trust that someone with a degree in the right field is going to come up with that innovative plan or that the "powers that be" will agree on a plan that isn't going to necessarily put profit in their pockets and will instead help all of us take care of each other.

I don't know that the NHS in Britain or the government-funded program in France or the medical system in Cuba have the answers. I do know, however, that Mr. Moore has a point that we've all forgotten as HUMAN BEINGS...it's about "we", not "me".

Love one another as I have loved you.

Whatever you do for the least of these, you have done to me.

To watch people get "dumped" on Skid Row by hospitals because the patients couldn't pay for the care was a disgrace to our country. To see volunteers who helped to reunite this country in the effort to uncover evidence of loved ones in the rubble of 9-11 be denied much needed medical assistance, medications, and tests is a disgrace to our country. Finally, to see a family lose their husband and father at the age of 37 because the treatments he needed were considered experimental (although there were at least 3 different types requested on at least 3 different occasions, all backed up by medical evidence of chance for survival), THAT is a disgrace.

At least the first 2 would not have happened if our system were fixed. Only God knows about the third, but the health care system didn't give the man a chance.

It was a sad, heartbreaking, and moving documentary that made me want to get up and DO something...but government isn't what it's supposed to be. It's not a democracy where we, the people, have a voice. The lobbyists have the voice because they have the money. So, I sit here and type, sad for those families that suffer, praying that one day we will remember to unite and care for each other again.