I spent this past week watching "Sicko" in bits and pieces (only because my kids kept interrupting me). I know I'm a little late to the game here, but I thought I'd better watch it, since healthcare is all we hear about it in the news. I have long thought that we needed some kind of overhaul to our present system. After watching Michael Moore's documentary, I'm ready to do something about it! But what? What do I do? I'm one little house mama with so much going on that it's hard to keep my head on straight.
We are the only industrialized nation in Western civilization without universal healthcare! Cuba has a better treatment rate than we do, and they don't turn anyone away, nor do the patients have to pay. Cuban hospitals treated a group of our American 9/11 workers because our systems wouldn't help them. I'll say it again: Our heroes had to go to Cuba to get treatment and healthcare that was being denied to them here in the US.
I won't talk about how beautifully universal healthcare works in Canada, England, and France, as well as other European nations. Watch the movie and find out for yourself. Do some research and look at the statistics. Citizens in other parts of the Western world live longer, feel better, are healthier and happier. They aren't starving because of higher taxes; they don't worry that their cancer treatment is considered experimental so they'll die before they get help. They aren't overworked, working more than 40 hours, not taking sick or vacation days, etc.
We have gone horribly wrong somewhere, and it started with healthcare for profit. If you know how I can make a difference (without money, cuz like you - I don't have any), where I can go to start a revolution or become part of one, please leave a comment with info. Heck, leave a comment about how you feel about this!
2 comments:
Please, please, please be picky with Michael Moore documentaries. He omits important facts and information. Cubans may have great healthcare, but they pay with their freedom and live in extreme poverty. I'm a proponent of universal healthcare but the healthcare system in Ontario is bankrupt and a complete mess. It won't be around for long. Remember, universal healthcare is NOT free. Someone has to pay for it.
Thanks for the comment, Kristen :) I think I would rather have higher income taxes if it meant everyone could get the help they needed when they needed without having to worry about losing their homes. I saw this article, http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/february/10_myths_about_canad.php, and I'm pretty sure I would be happy with that scenario.
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