off to france

Every time I have viewed Sicko, I always am galvanized to move to France or at least retire there. Moore has valid points: 1.) Our healthcare system lobbies congress to maintain healthcare as a free market enterpise 2.) We, the U.S. as a western super power, should have the resources to provide universal healthcare as does Cuba who is poorer than us 3.) We purposefully create cracks for people to fall through so that they are disqualified for healthcare. Insurance companies pay off politicians to secure their role in weeding out the sickest people from their pool of insured thus reducing theie company's cost. Moore is clear in showing that even people who possess insurance are unable to receive care. For instance the couple in the beginning who had to forfeit their home due to their obscene co-pays proves that even though people can pay premiums throughout their working years, the healthcare system can drop them anytime- in their case, after the husband's multiple heart attacks. Indeed, Moore's film has exaggerated and biased depictions of our healthcare system and he can be politically obnoxious, but I still think his grounds are fair to say that the U.S. is flawed in ot being able to care for the well-being of its citizens.

Whenever I watch the film, I do feel angry, frustrated, and sympathetic...I have found myself in similar situations with the characters in the film. Healthcare in the U.S. is as important as finding a good job, getting in to a good college etc. It's a luxury here, whereas it is a necessary given in other countries. When I had to look for my first full-time job after undergrad, the first thing my parents advised me was to get a job that provided health insurance, of course secondary to me getting a job that made me happy and fulfilling and alligned to what I had studied in under grad...it just made me think how difficult it is to be insured.