I'm Sicko Of Americans

miamimike says on Jun 15, 2008, 08:50:

While I don't agree with all Moore writes or says, on Healthcare here in the USA and as someone who has has worked in healthcare over 20 years in the US, he is spot on with this Issue!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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CatGirl says on Jun 15, 2008, 11:03:

Careful with forming an opinion, as the information he provides is NOT informed. It is all about Hollywood. Yes, our system has problems, so do other countries too. Just take what this guy says with a grain of salt ;))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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dwmte7 says on Jun 15, 2008, 12:25:

common kitty....call a spade a spade. i don't know if i'm on michael's side or not...haven't seen the movie. HOWEVER, when it comes to public servants ie senators and representatives, on the take, i'm on america's side. i'm personally sick and tired of them selling their souls and our lives to the highest lobbyist bidder. it's not even something secret. they do it openly and even report the take.

dwmte

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miamimike says on Jun 15, 2008, 13:42:

Working in Healthcare for over 20 years "Boots on the ground" I see the problems he describes as pretty much as the truth. And otherwise then Medicare for the 65(years) and over patients, we really do NOT have a system in the USA. We have a mismash of private, public funding with no meshing into a functioning common medical system.Our Insurance giants don't want change as they like these record profits and of course those Multi Million dollar salaries they receive. Our Florida Governor(c. crist), to the consternation of the large insurance companies, just passed a law where the working poor, of which there are 2 million in Florida, will be able to buy a health insurance policy for approx $150 monthly. reason: he was tired of waiting for the Federal overnment to do something meaningful on the issue. Here in Miami Dade alone, we have over 400,000 residents alone with no health insurance. Not that these folks doo not want it, they simply cannot afford private non group rates of minimally $800 monthly rates. The Bush adminsitration has done nothing in the last 7+ years to resolve the problem so another 7 million Americans are now uninsured since Bush took office. When Bush took office, there were around 40,000,000 Million uninsured in the USA.


On medical Education here in the USA, in some Universities they have Legacy Admissions to their Medical Schools so unless you have a Dad or Grandfather as a past graduate, you don't get in. This is how Bush himself got into Yale, legacy admission. Several qualified students from the Minority classcould not gain admission to Med Schools in the USA so they applied to Cuba's Med Schools(U of Havana) and were accepted. They get free tuition, housing meals, books and the only requirement after graduation is when they return to the US, they must practice a few years in underserved areas in the US.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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miamimike says on Jun 15, 2008, 14:02:

Another Issue in Moore's Sicko movie, and you can google this for the truth, is that we spend approx $6000 per capita yearly here in the USA while Cuba expends approx $170 yearly per capita yet Our ranking is almost the same as Cuba's for Life Expectency while infant mortality is actually less in Cuba(WHO-world health org stats and cia stats). We should be seeing much higher and better results for the money spent but that's not the case. Seems the big Insurance Giants make sure sure of that with Million dollar salries and Billions of dollars in stock options. Mr McGuire, CEO of United Heathcare is one such CEO who gets an underseved givaway such as this, like a $4+ million dollar yearly salary with a Golden parachute worth $1.6 Billion in Stock options when he cashes in and leaves the company. Little wonder we have problems in Healthcare here in the USA,,,And in the last 7 years, little has been done to root out and stop Medicare fraud here in the USA. Miami--Medicare Fraud Capital in the US but well connected politically connected so not much is done,,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Medellin Traveler says on Jun 15, 2008, 14:54:

CatGirl says, "Careful with forming an opinion, as the information he provides is NOT informed. It is all about Hollywood. Yes, our system has problems, so do other countries too. Just take what this guy says with a grain of salt."

I suggest you watch the movie and get back to us about how you feel about it afterwards. You won't be too happy. It's a crying shame.

The US ranks in at 37 across the planet when it comes to healthcare, we have a third world healthcare system in a supposably (sp) 1st world country.

Also wanted to mention, if the Hillary Clinton in the documetary showed up in the elections, she would have won by a landslide, but somewhere along the way she sold out like the rest of the other greedy politicians before her.

Sicko focuses on the lack of healthcare in America, but it's also about the greed and misdirection of America.

Again, I highly recommend every 'good American' watch this movie.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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Medellin Traveler says on Jun 15, 2008, 14:58:

Here's an extended interview with Tony Benn, a champion of the working-class, as seen in SICKO. It's worth a listen.

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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Medellin Traveler says on Jun 15, 2008, 15:08:

"Huevos Rancheros en Medellin, No Quiero Taco Bell." - www.medellintraveler.com

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miamimike says on Jun 15, 2008, 19:28:

MT-I see the results daily in my work of our Dysfunctional healthcare system. Some people on PBH have criticized Canada's system but ask them if they ever actually used the system and the answer is no. They simply repeat what others say or something they read in a Blog. I had, on occassion, opportunities to use the Canadian system when I worked for the Fed Government on a reciprical basis. I can report from actual experience, that what many are saying about the long waits, poor service simply isn't true. At least not with the times I used the Canadian system! Ask how many Canucks would trade their Medical care for ours and you won't find many when push comes to shove. As Far as cost, one of my Miami condo neighbors from Ottawa Canada informed me his Total yearly costs as a Single in Canada was around $1900 and he payed this cost in his yearly federal taxes, so thats around $160 monthly for all inclusive health insurance. Here in the US, for a single non-group policy, that would come to around $900 monthly(blue cross/shield), so for what it cost him for a year in Canada would only buy him around 2 months health insurance here in Miami(blue cross/shield).And in Canada, you cannot be refused for Pre-existing conditions whereas here in the US, say if someone was over 45 years of age and had a pre-existing condition, say Diabetes or high blood pressure, Cancer, forget it! You won't get insurance NO matter how much you are able to pay! The Big Insurance companies want to Cherry-Pick and only select the youngest healthiest patients to insure! They know these insurees in this Age Bracket are very healthy and won't be coming to the Doctor/hospital so they can makes Tons of $$$$$ off of them. An ill middle age worker who may need medical care(and there are many in this age bracket who have lost their jobs recently due to china outsourcing) is simply out of luck in the US when it comes to securing decent health Insurance,,,Terribibly unfair set-up we have in the USA,,,Healthcare in the USA isn't about the Health of the Patient, its all about the Almighty Dollar and how many of them you have,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 16, 2008, 05:38:

it's all math, actuary tables, dollars and cents. i cannot believe this evidence suprises anybody. i am a fan of mr. moore and do not care how he twists the info as the point is to illuminate the greedy problem.

* they need to release ted from prison and re-direct some of his efforts aimed at the precise culprits. you know, like colombian style political strategy......

* the problem in america is everybody wants a 3500 square foot house or bigger, a cadillac escalade, a lexus convertible, a rolex watch, designer clothes, country club membership, to eat at the finest restaurants, to pay with platinum cards and to marry "up". the motivation to screw your fellow american has a direct correlation with the need to have all the finer (excessive) things in life - it is the american way. it's no less corrupt than the black market and the US mafia......

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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dwmte7 says on Jun 16, 2008, 06:38:

you might have a point there, marcos...i think i'll turn back the clock and marry, "up" it's about time for a free (corrupt ) ride...jeje

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Jun 16, 2008, 06:44:

not in america, but in colombia, close to llano grande...back in about '99'ish, they arrested fabio ochoa (jr) and when they searched--looted--his house, they found--amongst tons of
other plunder--a bag with about 100 rolex watches....this gives new meaning to conspicuous consumption. his wife asked the searchers/investigators to please be careful as she didn't want them to damage her shoes. (just kidding, my apologies mrs ochoa

then, after his arrest, they have him on tv with the head of the national police, who fabio asks, how can you arrest me, you're always at our home. like a member of the family.

does this constitute 'birds of a feather?"

dwmte

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 16, 2008, 08:47:

gotta have scapegoats....

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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CatGirl says on Jun 16, 2008, 10:50:

Tejas: * the problem in america is everybody wants a 3500 square foot house or bigger, a cadillac escalade, a lexus convertible, a rolex watch, designer clothes, country club membership, to eat at the finest restaurants, to pay with platinum cards and to marry "up". the motivation to screw your fellow american has a direct correlation with the need to have all the finer (excessive) things in life - it is the american way.

What's up with that anyways? Maybe we all want what we havent got. When we get it, we realize - "wow! I am still the same miserable person."

Tejas - this type of mind set is a complete turn off for me by the way. Some are brain washed and dont know any better and some are just materialistic and shallow (booooring). I lived in Silicon Valley before the crash and most people there were like that, could not stand the people, they were so false and married to their bills and toys.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 16, 2008, 10:51:

Only thing I do know....you can't take those toys with you when you check out ;))

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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dwmte7 says on Jun 16, 2008, 11:19:

damn, kitty.;...i thought the one with the most toys, wins.

one of my sons, immanuel, lives/works in silicone valley. he does breast implants.

dwmte

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CatGirl says on Jun 16, 2008, 11:24:

Douglas - In truth, the one with the most toys...usually has the most debt, jejeje. If they sell it all - you will see a negative balance ;))).

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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dwmte7 says on Jun 16, 2008, 11:33:

i've got an excuse for hangin out here, kitty...i got nothin better to do. what's your excuse?

dwmte

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CatGirl says on Jun 16, 2008, 15:04:

I had no idea I had to have an excuse. I only have one handle UNO, unlike some others ;)). Do I need an excuse? I can go away, no prbblem.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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dwmte7 says on Jun 16, 2008, 15:18:

now why did you have to take that in a way it wasn't intended. i'm retired and have way too much time on my hands. you're young, active and have--i assume--a full life. my question was how do you have so much time to be here. no offence..

dwmte

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miamimike says on Jun 16, 2008, 15:29:

Another Myth perpetuated about Cuba is that they "Don't have any medicine" on the shelves! BS! My Condo neighbor Maria went back to Cuba to visit her family last year and upon returning, she gave me 40 Amoxicillin tablets she purchased for .02 per tablet. She said she could have bought 500 pills if she wanted to, she bought 100 Tablets. If you listen to the Right wing Cuban Looney Tooners here in Miami you would think there is absolutely no medicine in Cuba. Cuba has quite a sizeable Bio-Pharmaceutical industry by the way and have developed some pretty advanced Medicines. We can't get them here because Bush says thats dealing with the Enemy(but Bush okays medicine from communist china, some of which is pretty questionable as we have seen in the news lately). So there is another Myth Moore dispels of which he is correct on,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 16, 2008, 15:31:

i hear ya, CG. been there, done that......

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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CatGirl says on Jun 16, 2008, 19:12:

Does he light some candles too and dim the lights too? jjeje (joke)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 17, 2008, 13:15:

True....nowadays they are using more plastic.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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miamimike says on Jun 17, 2008, 18:55:

Here's our "BOY" George commenting on Ob/Gyn Docs:

"We've got an issue in America. Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

Gw Bush Sept 2004

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 18, 2008, 06:02:

and all those supporters that put him in office - what were they thinking with their SUV's and George W. Bush bumper stickers? If I have a great con, I go to the USA...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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CatGirl says on Jun 18, 2008, 08:47:

Tejas/Doc/MM: "We've got an issue in America. Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

Of course, what do you expect...Georgie Porgie is not all that great with his words..either way, there is "some truth" to it
It's all the law suits and Malpractice Insurance is not very affordable for these guys. I wonder how Midwives get by with this? hmmm?


We have a joke in the medical field "Never Marry an OB/GYN" imagine when he comes home after a long day and says "Honey, I'm not in the mood tonight, had a hard day, if I see one more ****** I'll just scream!"

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Jun 18, 2008, 17:16:

CG! ha ha ha !! That's very funny!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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MaFe says on Jun 18, 2008, 17:55:

docwilliam...you are 100& right!!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 18, 2008, 19:12:

if the glove does not fit,

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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miamimike says on Jun 20, 2008, 04:41:

The Truth of the matter is that Medical Malpractice Lawsuits affect the overall costs of our Health Insurance by less the a fraction of 1%. Like 1/2 of 1% more or less so its BS when the Large Health Insurance companies cry about the "Attornies" breaking our system. This is what they would like you to believe but factually it doesn't hold water. The Big insurance companies hate to pay the physically agrieved what is fair as it means maybe the Multi Million Dollar salaries of our large Health Insurance company's CEOs will take a pay cut of say from $4 Million to $3 million. When Ex Florida Governor Jeb Bush passed medical Malpractice Attorny's Caps on jury awards here a few years back, it didn't even accomplish its desired objective, to lower Malpractice insurance for Doctors. Who Benefitted?? The Large Insurance companies bottom profit lines and the Lobbyists who helped put Jeb into Office!

Doc, I don't know of any local, state or National Laws forcing us to have health insurance, unlike mandatory car insurance laws in almost every state.When I worked for the Federal Government for over 22 years(and they are the most inclusive employer as far as healthcare, offering over 200 different healthcare options) You did NOT have to take out health insurance as a Fed employee. You could opt out if that was your choice, most Employees don't because of the Price which was very reasonable due to the Group Discounts, which were very substantial.

The biggest influence, IMO, on US health care costs are the Insurance Giants, Pharmeceutical companie's Lobbyists. Tremendous Influence on our system and Tremendous salaries! They do NOTHING for the patient, they don't diagnose, prescribe or provide care for the patient. They simply add a Super Expensive Middle layer costwise while providing nothing of value. Medicare for are over 65 yr olds, administers Fedearl healthcare at a reasonable cost for value received. The Top Administer in Medicare probably Tops out salary wise as a GS 15, step 10(top federal pay grade) and earns well under $300,000 yearly. And while Medicare isn't perfect, show me ONE RETIREE who wants to give up his Medicare Health Coverage. Even the most Vocal critic of Medicare would squeel like a stuffed pig if he had his Medicare coverage removed.! His CEO counterpart in the Private Insurance arena earns easily 2 Million yearly plus stock options adding millions of Dollars to his salary. His bonuses(yearly) are judged on how many Insuree's claims are denied for payment and what he does for shareholder value. Nothing for the Insurees, his last and smallest consideration. Thats why these Large Health Insurance Companies shudder with fear every time someone speaks of a single payer system here in the USA, not because, by a preponderance of actual fact, they are bad or inefficient but because the Insurance companies know they would be out on the street without those sky high profits and Salaries! The American Health Insurer Consumer/Voter is terribly naive and most of the time fails to do his due diligence on an Issue so they beleive any Snake Oil BS these Lobbyists and Image Makers(spin doctors)peddle the Public.Look at the Consumer Advertising BS the American Public falls for on TV as one example,,, This Ignorance is Simply incredible in this day of search engines such as Señor Google,,,Voters should dig into the facts about who is donating to the Candidate they plan on voting for but that requires a little research so the Average American Voter relies on sound bites and attack ads as their gospel source of info.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Jun 20, 2008, 10:10:

Sure the system is too expensive on a national level and for some it's just plain broken/unavailable, but for others, namely anyone who works in the public sector or for a medium or large corporation, the costs aren't that bad.

Here are the rates for US-based employees in my company. Option A is the premium plan with low office co-pays, 90/10 coverage on most services, 100% coverage on preventive care, $7 or $12 max for drugs, etc. Option B is the same but with 80/20 on most services and a slightly higher office co-pay. It's a good deal in the current environment -- a single employee can be covered for about $21 out-of-pocket per month and if you're married with 27 kids it only costs about $125/mo. Of course, I'd prefer to have the $4000 to $6000 annual benefit in my paycheck and buy the insurance on my own, but that's not the system we have today.

My pet peeve with health insurance as with most government intrusion, is the unfunded mandates. Many states now require that health care coverage include substance abuse treatment, contraception, adoption costs and mental health treatment. These are relatively new mandates. Think about the vast majority of women of child-bearing age that use birth control pills at $80 a month or the number of anti-depressants prescribed/over-prescribed in the US, also at $80 or $120 a month. These young and physically healthy people that used to be quite profitable for insurance companies/inexpensive for large organizations that self-insure, may now be close to a break-even or money-losing customer from day one. They used to be money makers for a couple of decades and that allowed the insurance companies to cover their old age maladies and not lose a fortune doing it. I don't think the economics are what they used to be, thus we have steeply higher insurance costs every year. Collectively, we keep demanding more coverage and then act surprised when we have to pay more for it.

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miamimike says on Jun 20, 2008, 19:13:

Tinto, employer based Health Insurance is going out the Door, more so every day. Many US Workers then are left to fend for themselves and have to buy private non group health insurance and the rates are pretty pricey. Out of range for most workers who lose their jobs. Its NOT that these workers don't want to buy Insurance, they are simply unable to at the new minimum wage jobs they have to take. Working in the Healthcare Industry, I have a unique perch from where I watch this daily tradegdy. Here in Miami, I checked a Blue Cross/shield, for a person in my age group it was $900 monthly and that is without pre-existing conditions. They wouldn't even insure you with these conditions. Today, 7 years after GW Bush was elected, we now have approx 47, 000,000 Americans uninsured compared to 40,000,000 when he took office. Empoyer based healthcare will be past tense someday in the not so distant future so we need a Prez with a Plan to help these 47 Million Uninsured Americans who cannot, thru no fault of their own, are unable to procure affordable health insurance. Republican Charlie Crist, our current Florida Governor, just signed intro law a Healthcare plan(cost $150 monthly) modeled after a plan pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell started in Pennsylvania for Uninsured Residents. But we need a National plan that is standard amongst all states. Its a problem we need to rectify soon,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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