Organizing for America | Posts with the tag Sicko

Posts with the tag Sicko

By Clark Newhall MD JD - Dec 9th, 2008 at 3:04 pm EST

Also listed in: National GOTV Call Team

Single Payer health care means that there is one entity that pays for all healthcare. Typically, it also means that the single payer is also the single entity that collects the money to pay for health care. Since the early 20th century, the AMA and (later) the health insurance-hospital industry (collectively, the medical-industrial complex) have labeled this form of payment "socialized medicine." That is an untruth.

Socialism is when the government owns the means of production--as in, for instance, when the government buys stock in a big insurance company (AIG) or a bank (Citibank) or an auto maker (GM??). Therefore, "socialized medicine" means that the government owns the hospitals, the doctor offices, and employs the doctors, etc. As a matter of fact, we have a very large "socialized medicine" entity in theUS now--it is called the Veteran's Administration. We have long had other forms of "socialized medicine" such as county, city and state hospitals. We have clinics run by various governments. All of these are "socialized medicine.'

In contrast, single payer is similar to Medicare in its original form (before the privatization by Bush.) In that form, the government collects the money to finance the system and pays it out to the producers (hospitals, doctors, clinics, etc.) This is the form of health care financing that all of the world's industrialized nations have in one or another flavor. The US is the only exception: we have more than 1200 payers called "health insurance companies."

Typically, competition is thought to reduce costs. The problem with our system is that competition among multiple payers in health care does not reduce costs; it increases costs. The reason is that health care is a very complex product and health insurance to pay for health care adds another layer of complexity. In other words, it is possible to compare houses, cars, laundry soap. bags of carrots--they are all relatively easy to understand and compare. In contrast, it is almost impossible to compare health insurance plans. There is no standardization among plans, each plan has long lists of coverage, each plan has long lists of different doctors, and there is no way to know the underlying prices. Think about the problems with buying health insurance: your employer may pay part of the premium and decides who to buy insurance from. The doctor list from insurer to insurer may vary. You have no way to know what the insurer pays each doctor. You really cannot understand the details of what an insurer does and does not cover. You have no way to find out the hidden restrictions ('pre-authorization") that the insurer places on the doctors and hospitals it contracts with.

It's even worse if you aren't told by your employer who the company buys insurance from. When you are on your own, you may have a choice of two, three, ten or a hundred different insurance companies. Each company will have a list of various plans, each with varying costs and levels of coverage. Try comparing one to the other--it is a daunting task and unless you are prepared to spend hours and hours, it is impossible for most people. Even when you can get the information, the comparison is still not apples to apples. More like apples to moon rocks.

Because 1200-plus health insurers are competing with each other to get the most and healthiest people in their plan, and are competing to pay the least possible amount to doctors and hospitals, the cost of administering these insurers is inflated far beyond the cost of the medical care they pay for.

Add to that the complexity for hospitals and doctors of dealing with multiple different insurance plans, each with different criteria for payment, many administered by poorly-trained clerks.

The result: we spend 25% of our health insurance dollar on administration.

is the government more efficient? Yes. When health insurance is administered by the federal government (Medicare), the administrative cost is 3%.

The potential savings is something like 400-500 billion. Annually. That is several times what is needed to pay for a gold-plated Blue Cross plan for every uninsured person in the US.

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I Don't Want to be Sick....I Can't Afford to Be

By Tameka D. Lewis, J.D. - Oct 4th, 2008 at 12:23 am EDT

Also listed in: 4 groups

There are two pieces of bad news I could receive the first week of November that could bring me to my knees, break my spirit, and force me to succomb to a babbling coma of despair. First: Bar exam results come out that week, so if I failed it, that could be the 2nd worst thing that's ever happened to me. Second: If the news reports on Nov. 5th that John McCain will be our new President, then that would the THE worst thing that's ever happened to me. At least I could retake the Bar exam, but my dear friends, there is no coming back from another four years of this regime's rule.

I don't want to come across as melodramatic or pessimistic. But, sadly and truly, I predicted the dark doldrums that is America's current economic horror and international perception. And I predicted this right around the time Bush, Jr. got re-elected.

What is fun to know is that I felt like I was screaming in a room of crowded strangers, and no one could hear me. I told my sister, whose son is severely autistic, I said, "Sister, (of course I don't call her 'Sister,' but for the purpose of this internet blog, her name is 'Sister') people who have children with disabilities and who may need social programs, such as SSI, are the ones who need to be out there voting right now. Because, I have to tell you, if you don't go out there and assert your right to have a candidate who represents your interests (aka NOT George W. Bush), then you are going to lose your assistance." And you know what...didn't take a year for it to be lost.

And I told my friend, I said, "Friend, people like us [minorities] need to get out there and vote. We have to assert our rights and use our voices. And yes, I understand that we live in Texas and Texas is a Red State. But that can't change unless we get out there. And even if we don't win this time, at least the majority will have to address our issues, because they'll know that we are voting too." Friend, and many like her...like me, didn't vote. Ang guess what? I cannot think of a time where minorities' issues and needs have been as blatantly ignored since the pre-Civil Right era.

We have a President now, who proudly refused to attend a NAACP convention. Why? Oh...well, because he can. Because he doesn't think that we vote. He probably thinks we're too lazy to vote. So, why should he even bother? We didn't.

I told yet another friend about 4 years ago. I said, "Friend, middle class people have NO business voting for Republican candidates right now. They are not for us. They do not care about our needs. They are for the top 1%, so unless you're in that upper eschelon. You cannot vote for them. Not right now - not under George W." I'm not sure if Friend listened, but I do know that under George W. Bush, property taxes for the middle-class skyrocketed. And that combined with the current mortgage crisis (another Republican debacle) caused middle-class people to lose their homes.

How giving tax breaks to the very wealthy and the corporate giants makes sense to Repubicans and to people who vote for them, I'll never know. But, after a recent conversation with a school buddy of mine, I think I may understand.

To be brief, the conversation went a bit like this, "The trickle-down economic policy has NEVER worked. In fact, to get us out of the Depression created by trickle-down economics, Roosevelt created the New Deal, which put tax dollars into social programs that created jobs, and rebuilt the economy. The economy thrives on a cycle of money flowing in from the bottom to the top. The economy can never be anything other than unstable if it's not built on the backs of the middle class. This is Economics 101! Why doesn't everyone know this?!?"

To that my friend calmly replied, "Maybe it's because everyone didn't take Economics 101 in college." And I said, "Ohhhh." I suppose that is a possibility. My fault.

So, I will solve the world's problems right now. Today. Listen up. For the skeptics who haven't taken Economics 101 and preferably 102, please do some research. Research Black Monday and the Great Depression. Research how the economy was booming for the very rich just before that dark Monday (sort of like it is now). And research what Roosevelt enacted to dissipate the economic dustcloud that selfishness, greed, and deregulation brought about (the New Deal).

However, these are busy times. And I fully understand that not everyone has the time to do this research. So, please use this blog as your guide. The predictions I made under the current regime were frighteningly accurate. And I predict that the next four years under McCain would be even worse. Not necessarily because McCain would be a worse president than George W., I'm not even sure if that's possible. But because McCain's administration has expressed a desire to continue the policies that the nightmare that is George W. Bush concocted up.

McCain believes that the economy can work itself out. He states matter-of-factly that we will be in Iraq for another 100 years if he deems it necessary. But, my fellow Americans, we cannot afford to sit back and watch the economy unravel the mess that G.W. Bush has made. And we can't afford to sit back and sustain a war in which we cannot afford, and in which we have no real allies to back us.

My fellow Democrats, Liberals, Moderates, and Open-minded voters, we cannot be asleep at the wheel while our country is crumbling around us. And we certainly cannot allow a person to be elected President who is adamant that we do so.

Vote. Get involved. Make our Change Happen.

Best regards,

T.D. Lewis

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Michael Moore's How The Democrats Can Blow It ...In Six Easy Steps: A blueprint for losing the most winnable presidential election in American history

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Aug 15th, 2008 at 11:53 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

For years now, nearly every poll has shown that the American people are right in sync with the platform of the Democratic Party. They are pro-environment, pro-women's rights and pro-choice. They don't like war. They want the minimum wage raised, and they want a single-payer universal health-care system. The American public agrees with the Republican Party on only one major issue: They support the death penalty. So you would think the Democrats would be cleaning up, election after election. Obviously not. The Democrats appear to be professional losers. They are so pathetic in their ability to win elections, they even lose when they win! So when you hear Democrats and liberals and supporters of Barack Obama say they are worried that John McCain has a good chance of winning, they ain't a-kidding.

Who would know better than the very people who have handed the Republicans one election after another on a silver platter? Yes, be afraid, be very afraid. In an effort to help the party doofuses and pundits — and the candidate himself — spare all of us another suicide-inducing election night, as the results giving the election to the Republican pour in, here is the blueprint from the Democrats' past losing campaigns.

Just follow each of these steps and you, the Democratic Party establishment, can help elect John Sidney McCain III to a four-year extension of the Bush Era.

1. Keep saying nice things about McCain. If you want to help elect McCain, keep blessing him as if he were the white knight who accidentally hopped on the wrong horse. Keep reminding a country at war that he, and he alone, is a war hero. That he's been "good on global warming" and campaign finance. Say that enough, and you know what happens? People start to believe it! You've sold them on the idea that McCain isn't a bad egg, and they do not hear the rest of what you have to say: "But John McCain is four more years of George W. Bush." Don't remind people that McCain wants to help the oil companies even more than Bush did. Don't bring up that he wants to outlaw abortion. Back away from painting him as the guy who thinks it's a good idea to stay in Iraq until pigs fly. That way, if you keep praising him, you can send a mixed message to the less informed, who are simply not going to figure it out. When they walk into a voting booth, they will see two names on the ballot: ☐ BARACK OBAMA ☐ WAR HERO Trust me, this ain't Sweden you're living in. War Hero wins every time.

2. Pick a running mate who is a conservative white guy or a general or a Republican. Yes, it will seem like smart politics at first. Shore up Obama's lack of military experience with a hawk. Be true to Obama's message that he'll be a president for everybody by having him run with a Republican. Make a pitch to the purple states of Virginia and Indiana by putting one of their own on the ticket. Or make the red state of Ohio happy by handing the vice presidential slot to its governor. Just so long as Obama's running mate screams "same old, same old," making it harder for him to attract the new voters he needs to win. There is nothing wrong with picking someone who can help him win a swing state or someone who has more experience than he does in certain areas. But when I hear pundits say things like, "He has to pick a Catholic," well, John Kerry was a total Catholic, and the Catholic vote went to Mr. W. I mean, here's one of the largest groups in the country — 66 million Catholics — and they/we have only allowed one Catholic to be president in 219 years. You would think they would have been flocking to Kerry in 2004. THAT IS NOT THE WAY PEOPLE THINK. IT IS THE WAY PUNDITS THINK. Keep listening to them and you can help elect John McCain the next President of the United States.

3. Keep writing speeches for Obama that make him sound like a hawk. Here's what Obama said in front of the American-Israeli lobbying group the day after the final primaries: "The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat." And: "Let there be no doubt — I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally Israel. Sometimes there are no alternatives to confrontation." Sounds like a speech McCain would give. Sounds like he's ready to invade Iran. Obama staked out an even worse position for the Palestinians vis-à-vis Jerusalem than the one held by George W. Bush. Keep that up, and more and more supporters will be less and less enthused. He also says he wants to send more troops to Afghanistan. The implied message of all of this is that the Republican plan is a good plan. So why would voters want to elect the candidate imitating the Republican when they can get the real thing?

4. Forget that this was a historic year for women. Obama should be making a speech about gender like the brilliant one he gave on race back in March. Millions of people, especially women, had high hopes for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Attention must be paid. And you don't pay attention to it by having your advisers run your wife through the makeover machine, trying to soften her up and pipe her down. Michelle Obama has been one of the most refreshing things about this election year. But within weeks of the end of the primary season, the handlers stepped in to deal with the "Michelle problem." What problem? She speaks her mind? She wears what she wants? Her biggest sin, according to the punditocracy, was to say that, as a black woman, this may be the first time in her adult life she's been really proud of her country. Shock! Surprise! Outrage! But not from any of the black women I know. You have to be white and stupid to not know what she was really saying. If you don't understand, let me ask you this: Have you been proud of what this country has been doing in the past few years? Are you proud your neighbors had their house taken from them? Are you proud to be sending a good chunk of your paycheck to the oil companies so they can post record profits? Are you proud to know your vice president outed one of our spies and put her life and the lives of others at risk? That's all she was saying — what we are all feeling. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both lost the white-male vote but won the White House. They did so by winning the black, Hispanic and female vote. That HAS to be Obama's strategy to win. Otherwise, Cindy McCain will be our new First Lady.

5. Show up to a gunfight with a peashooter. Convince yourself that the Republicans are just going to roll over and play dead because there is simply no life left in their party. Convince yourself this one is in the bag! Convince yourself that if you play by the rules, the Republicans will too. And when McCain and his people roll out their nuclear arsenal on you, just go all sweet and sensitive and logical. Believe that the truth shall prevail, that good people will see what the Republicans are up to. As they smear you, your family, your religious beliefs — cower, back down, go on the defensive. If they say you should quit your church, quit your church! If they explode over your speaking the truth about the anger and despair of the white working class, take it all back! If they ask you to stand on your head and do the hokeypokey, snap to it and do it with a smile on your face — and don't forget to apologize for not doing the hokeypokey earlier; you meant no disrespect, and please don't take it as any indication that you do not love your country, your flag and your Christian God. Do all of that and then listen for that sound — the sound of your supporters shuffling away in silence. They'll stop showing up at campaign headquarters. They'll say they're too busy to go on another door-to-door literature drop. On Election Day, they'll do their duty and vote, but they will not be up at 6 a.m. driving around the city's neighborhoods, picking up strangers who need a ride to the polls. And on the way to the polls, some of them might just come to a stoplight, turn around and go home. Maybe they'll pick up a six-pack on the way. Maybe there's a new episode of Deal or No Deal on tonight. That would be nice. The girls are pretty, especially the blonde in the third row. Wait, they're all blond. No, not that one — THAT one! Oh yes, I see her. She is pretty. But the Man in the Booth has picked up the phone! He's calling down to you. Deal? Or no deal? No deal! No deal! Don't do it! Hey, I'm outta beer! Why didn't I pick up a case? Now I gotta spend eight bucks on gas to go buy more beer! Aaaaarrrggggghhhhhh!!!! HOWIE MANDEL ISN'T WEARING A FLAG PIN!! U-S-A! U-S-A!

6. Denounce me! Obama, at some point, might be asked this question: "Michael Moore has endorsed you. But he recently said (fill in the blank with some outrageously offensive line taken out of context). Will you still accept his endorsement, or do you denounce him?" And he better denounce me, or they will tear him to shreds. He had better back away not only from me but from anyone and everyone who veers a bit too far to the left of where his advisers have told him is the sweet spot for all those red-state voters. I won't take it personally. After all, I'm not the guy who married him or baptized his kids. I'm just the idiot who went to the same terrorist, Muslim school of flag-pin desecrators he went to. I remember poor John Kerry not even being able to admit, when asked by Larry King, if he had seen Fahrenheit 9/11. "No," he said, "I haven't. . . . I don't plan to, right now." But he had indeed seen it. I sat there watching him say this, and I just felt sorry for him and for the election he was about to lose. We can't take four more years of this madness, Barack. We need you to be a candidate who will fight back every time they attack you. Actually, don't even wait till you have to fight back. Fight first!

Show some vision and courage and smoke them out. Keep asking why these lobbyists are McCain's best friends. Let's finally have a Democrat who's got the balls to fire first. So Barack, by denouncing me, you can help McCain get elected. Because when you denounce me, it's not really me you're distancing yourself from — it's the millions upon millions of people who feel the same way about things as I do. And many of them are the kind of crazy voters who have no problem voting for a Nader just to prove a point.

Elections have been lost by just 537 votes. I don't want that to happen to you.

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=56581&ret=AccountDtl.aspx

Santa Fe, NM 8/15/2008 03:47 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

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Guess who started the HMO? ...by their own words...

By EMK - Apr 1st, 2008 at 4:30 am EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

Nixon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QkgUkM0o6Q & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYoFBn5I5g4. Though medical benefits did exist as a result of WWII wage freezes. (I know that the wage freeze fact was mentioned in one of the earlier debates, either in IA, NH, NV, SC, or even before the primaries, if someone can link it for me.) The clips are from the film Sicko, which I do recommend watching.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

EMK

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Negativo.

By T - Jan 31st, 2008 at 10:49 pm EST

Also listed in: Marin County for Obama | Professional Videographers/Photographers for Obama | Videographers for Obama

I'm not for negative campaigning in any light, but there are things that should be pointed out about Hillary. I like her, she is a good candidate and it would be truly amazing to have a female president. However, recently I watched Sicko and learned that Hillary Clinton received hundreds of thousands of dollars to stop pushing her health plan campaign. She wasn't alone in these lobbies, but compared to what she's running for and against I think it should be said.

Thank you all,

Tylor Read More »

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Health Care & H.R. 676

By Nabeel - Jan 19th, 2008 at 4:30 pm EST

Also listed in: 5 groups

I must admit, I am a fan of Michael Moore's movies, but like any piece of film that has editing (which is almost all films) you have to take what you see with a grain of salt. Michael made the Universal Health Care systems look absolutely amazing and edited his movie Sicko in a way that would make most Americans say, "Of course we should do that! It's perfect!" However, living close to the Canadian border, I've spoken to several Canadians about their healthcare system and every single one of them is absolutely fed up with it. In fact, they all said that it's a known fact that if you have a serious medical issue then, if possible, you should go down to the states to deal with it. This made me question Michael even more. I looked into H.R. 676, the front runner for Universal Health Care systems.

A good number of questions I had were answered with just a little bit of online research. I found the "official" site for H.R. 676 on Congressman John Conyers, Jr. Federal Information Page. One statement I've heard again and again from my Canadian friends is that it takes forever just to get something like an MRI. Sure you can get them once a year, no problem, but if something happens and you feel like you REALLY need it now; that's when you have to take a drive to the USA because otherwise you'll be hurting while you sit and wait for a slot to open up on the machine. This H.R. 676 site said something about that which makes plenty of sence. Their government, and therefore the people, don't put enough money into the plan to make it work properly; whereas, our government and our people would be putting much more into it. We'd have the same amount of money going into this universal healthcare plan as we have into healthcare right now. The only difference is that it would cut out a mess of bureaucratic red tape...in my opinion, a big difference.

I realize this blog doesn't say much, it's just me ranting on a bit about my thoughts, but I thought I'd at least post that link to the official site for those of you that have some extra questions about it like I did. I don't even know 100% that H.R. 676 is the answer that we've all been looking for. All I do know is I'm sick to death of asking the same question, "When will the Health Care Insurance companies actually start CARING about our health?" Because right now, they don't care about anything except the almighty dollar. So even though I'm not 100% sure that H.R. 676 will work, I'm definitely 100% behind giving it a try because health care in this country can't get much worse.

Thanks for reading.

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A simple step to address pharmaceutical costs

By Lisa Beyer - Sep 15th, 2007 at 4:25 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

What are your thoughts on this opinion?

The Hill: A Simple Step To Address Pharmaceutical Costs, By Ted Slafsky, September 11, 2007

_________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you,

Lisa Beyer

Precinct Deputy Captain in Las Vegas Precinct 6475

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Single Payor Health Care

By Mark - Sep 8th, 2007 at 3:01 am EDT

Also listed in: Citizen Strategy Think Tank | Health Care for All - with Single-Payer - Discussion

I am a physician in solo private practice for fifteen. I have no employees. If my patients call my office they get me. I reschedule appointments, answer phone calls, cover my pager 24/7, handle emergencies. I choose some patients for reduced fee visits because I have a moral obligation that goes beyond the business side of medicine. I give patients free samples to help them out. My family complains that I work too much but I love my job.

In 1991, Hillary Clinton sought to reform health care and did not include any doctors in the discussion. Language in the reform bill was included to make it illegal for a patient to privately be paid a fee to get treatment outside the government mandated single payer system. I feel as a physician that I already place ethics and morals in front of pure business considerations (which is to my detriment). We live in a society where real estate agents, loan brokers, banks, Wall Street traders, general contractors and car dealers (amongst others) routinely lie, mislead and bend ethics in the context of their business solely for their financial advantage. I find it offensive to be further burdened by politicians when these other groups in society continue their immoral behavior without penalty.

We have examples of what a single payer system will look like already. The Veteran Administration and Kaiser Permanente are essentially the models of a single payer plan. Frankly, they are not terrible but they are not that great either. The problem with medical care is that the quality of care received at each location is not easily measured as in restaurants. If you walk into McDonald's, you don't expect to pay high prices or eat fine Noveau American cuisine. Food quality is easily determined. I feel that the VA and Kaiser are McMedicine, it will do okay but it isn't stellar.

I am for government attempting to level the playing field to broaden the inclusion of the uninsured into needed medical care. The easiest and cheapest way to do this has never been proposed (except by me once to a group of MD's at a meeting) I would propose mandating that each hospital, clinic and physician licensed in a state provide free or low cost care per year as a condition of licensure, much like the continuing education requirements. If I know that all the docs down the road from me are seeing the same number of patients that were previously uninsured as I am, that seems fair to me. And I would like to treat them in a manner which seems appropriate to my standards of care and not dictated by a care system.

Your comments are welcome.

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Big Ideas That Changed The World: Democracy

By Lisa Beyer - Aug 31st, 2007 at 9:00 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

On June 21, 2005, Tony Benn (interviewed about Britain's NHS in the movie SiCKO and former Labour MP and cabinet minister in Britain) presented a show on democracy as part of the Channel 5 series Big Ideas That Changed The World. In this BBC documentary, Tony Benn looks at how the concept of democracy developed and spread across the world over the centuries from its beginnings in Ancient Greece. Particularly considers the impact of extending the vote to more people in 19th century Britain and the state of democracy in 20th century Britain.

Tony Benn is known for saying:

"All war represents a failure of diplomacy."

"There is no moral difference between a Stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. They both kill innocent people for political reasons."

"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people."

Click here for more on Tony Benn.

Click here to see all 5 parts of this documentary, ranging from 5 mins. 45 secs. to 9 mins. 47 secs. each.

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Moving to Cuba Soon

By Segaro - Jul 3rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm EDT

Also listed in: Santa Clarita Valley for Obama

Reba and I saw Sicko last night. I had seen some clips and thought it might be a rental at some point in time. I was deeply affected by what i saw last night. This movie is a documentary, intended to be non-partisan and unbiased...but I'm sure there are some slants, twists, and other misrepresentations of the whole story...after all it is a movie and some stuff had to be edited by people with biases trying to make a point. Understanding all of that....it still provoked my thought process.

I am ready (finally) to take a real look at some form of universal healthcare that puts people ahead of profits. I know, I'm sort of socialist moron for even thinking that. But other countries, including some very poor countries, have much better healthcare systems than the richest country on the planet! Democratic countires have universal healthcare!!!!! You have to see it to believe it. Here a few sticking points that Sicko impressed upon me.

1. We already have universal/government sponsored things that are a part of the fabric of our country. Our postal service, compulsory education laws, and social security are just a few examples (maybe not the best examples, but it doesn't ruin our capitalistic foundation). I don't think we should be afraid to investigate universal health care.

2. The attitude that "I got mine because I'm a responsible working adult" is very dangerous. Medical insurers view paying out a claim as a financial loss. This movie is actually about you/us. It's not about the 50 million Americans that don't have medical. It's about the 250 million who do. It will make you want to call your insurer or at least read all the fine print. I'm touched here, because I just switched jobs and even though I'm with the same insurer, my benefits are sucky compared to what I had, even though I'm paying more. And, with Reba's history of cardiomyopathy, we can be rejected or denied benefits. Ouch!!

3. Senator Clinton, who championed universal health care during Bill's presidency, who was the insurance companies biggest and fiercest enemy, is now the 2nd highest paid recipient of "donations" from the insurers...it's a little political....but mostly, it just broke my heart!

4. Kaiser started this HMO mess in the early seventies to give the perception of affordable care, but clearly stated he was out to make a profit by providing less care. Of course some politiician helped promote this idea, while knowing it was a farce ("I am not a criminal!")

5. Politicians benefit, by far, more than any of us when it comes to health care for profit. The only way they will look after the people is if we the people, raise our collective voice.

Okay...no more soapbox for me right now.

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Movie SICKO: Hillary politically "dated" with Healthcare lobbyists

By Franklin Katunda - Jun 23rd, 2007 at 4:06 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Guys I just got this recent news on the Michael Moore's movie that came out recently in cinema: Let's spot and get a "uTUBE" sequence that will feature a part of Moore's movie SICKO on healthcare...It shows Hillary's entourage past dealings with healthcare lobbyists.

Sen. Obama deserves the nomination. PERIOD! ( Please Read this article )

Moore Says Weinstein Wanted Clinton Scene Cut

By Politics
Friday, June 22, 2007; A05

Michael Moore is getting a lot of mileage out of the hit he takes on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in his provocative new movie "Sicko," which made its Washington premiere Wednesday night at the Uptown theater.

Moore said after the premiere that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, a personal friend and supporter of the Clintons whose company financed the film, "begged" him to remove a scene exposing Hillary Clinton as the second-highest recipient of campaign donations from the health-care industry.

"I said, 'No, Harvey. I gotta do the right thing.' He understood."

Moore said he didn't know whether the Clintons asked Weinstein to make the call.

The film describes her as "sexy" and "sassy" as photos of Clinton over the years are splashed on the screen.

After her health-care overhaul plan failed, Clinton went "silent" -- as Moore put it -- on the need for health-care changes. And then she began raking in the dough -- big time -- from the industry when she started running for office.

Clinton's campaign had no comment on Weinstein's attempt to have the scene removed.

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