'SiCKO' Builds A Movement

[babylonsister]

http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/sicko_builds_movement?tx=3

'SiCKO' Builds A Movement

Submitted by Roger Hickey on July 9, 2007 - 11:58am.

Americans want big changes in our heath care system. And now Michael Moore's great new film, "SiCKO," is helping to turn a desire for change into a crusade for change.

Now breaking box office records in its second week in theaters, "SiCKO" conveys powerfully emotional stories of Americans trapped in a system controlled by insurance and drug companies that deny care and destroy lives in order to maintain their profits. We walk into the movie house as individuals with our particular gripes about the health care system. And we walk out wanting to be part of a national movement for health care for all. For example, read this great account of how spontaneous organizing literally occurred in the theater lobby—at a Dallas, Texas suburban cineplex.

So, what kind of movement should we be building?

Unlike this weekend's very expensive Live Earth rock-and-roll extravaganza, whose major message (in the face of looming global environmental catastrophe) seemed to be to make personal life changes—"Buy better lightbulbs, unplug your cellphone chargers, and run your tour bus on bio-diesel"—the thoughts of people who see Moore's movie turn immediately to institutional and political change.

After seeing Moore's film, most people want to pose a big question to all politicians: Will you work to guarantee health care for all, not incrementally—one disease at a time, or one group (like kids) and then another group (like their parents) in another program—but through a universal system of health care for everyone?

Here's a second crucial question we should ask politicians: Will you pledge to cut the big insurance and drug companies out of a central role in the design of your universal health care plan?

more...

[marmar]

1. I believe it....

My cousin was not a supporter of universal single-payer before the movie, but she saw it over the weekend, and is now a screaming, shouting advocate.

[katty]

2. saw Sicko on Sat-packed house, standing ovation

it will be the battle from hell to dismantle the AMA, big Pharma and uber greedy GOPers on for profit medical behemoths.

[supernova]

4. That's gonna get ugly

And you know, because the pro-life folks have been water-carriers for the GOP all this time, they will support these big for profit HMOS and insurance orgs.

The fight for national healthcare will be the end of the pro-life movement. They won't survive it because they'll be aligned with Big Ins and Big Pharma.

edit: They won't survive because they will be on the wrong side of history. As usual we progressives have to bring the cave people into the future kicking and screaming.

[katty]

12. yup, they will and

generally, many of the pro-life 'regular' folk have very little if no healthcare-I'm not talking about the mega-rich preachers and the 'for profit churchianity' crowd.
-they are constantly supporting rich, warmongers and seem to enjoy being lied to every step of the way, it's OK if our 'authority figures' lie to us, we 'forgive' them??!!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. the members of AMA are more willing to work with us now

because they are getting screwed by the insurers left and right. And they spend more time and effort chasing $$ than they do practicing medicine. A good friend is an OB-Gyn who spreads her love among her patients. She saw Sicko the day before I did, and when I talked to her about it, she said, DAMN, he is right. We need a national plan for everyone.

40% of every medical dollar goes into the pockets of insurers. That is a huge cut right across the top of each and every dollar. And for what? 1.2 Billion in income and stock options for the president and CEO of Kaiser?


No, I think we can count on some surprising support from the docs.

[supernova]

20. The smarter ones are

the ones who care about the individual patients in their care.

The ones who got into medicine to just to make $$$ and for whom seeing patients is a great big pain in the ass, well yeah, they will fight it tooth and nail.

[Arugula Latte]

21. I think our only hope is to keep the Net neutrality -- the Internet is our tool for change.

It has been the only thing allowing us to get around the corporate stranglehold on our nation's political systems in the past several years. We can communicate directly with other citizens -- get them to back true progressives in primaries, etc. It will be a long, hard battle, though.

[supernova]

3. Hell yeah!

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Swamp Rat]

5. Hey babylonsister,

Do you know where I might find a statement by Moore about showing pirated versions of "sicko?" I don't know where to look on his web site, but I read somewhere he said it is OK. I want to download it and show it to the homeless and destitute in New Orleans (9th Ward) on the wall of a building using a projector.

:kick:

[supernova]

7. I think MM said it was ok

as long as you weren't trying to show it for profit.

I'll see what I can find when I get back. Gotta go to the recycling station b4 it closes. :hi:

[Swamp Rat]

11. Thanks. n/t

[supernova]

15. Here's a tidbit from

ugh the Fox Noise article about it:

Moore, 53, has been vocal in his support of downloading pirated movies as long as movie pirates don't profit.

"Sicko" opens nationwide June 29.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jun18/0,4670,FilmSickoWebRelease,00.html

[Swamp Rat]

16. Ugh is right!

:D

Thanks for the info. I am still searching. I really want to play it for a group of people who will never have to opportunity to see it in the theaters or any time soon.

[supernova]

17. Better: MTV interview

in two parts starting here:

http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1562871&vid=157736

[Swamp Rat]

19. Thanks a lot!!!

This is what I was looking for. ;)

[babylonsister]

8. I've read that it's cool with MM but will try to find some proof for you. nt

[Swamp Rat]

10. Thanks. n/t

[babylonsister]

13. Here's a thread about MM's personal opinion that he has no

problem with people viewing Sicko online, but you have to weed through it yourself!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1186337#1186386

:hi:

[Missy Vixen]

22. SwampRat, please contact Michael Moore's office

It's hard for me to believe that he would not want to either grant permission for you to show the movie, or come down there and show it himself.

Julie

[Swamp Rat]

24. Great idea!!!

I will do that! maybe they will send us a DVD? :)

[Lisa]

28. Seconding what Julie said ... if Michael went to LA's Skid Row to show the film

.... it's certainly worth approaching him about a New Orleans event. He might even be able to attend himself!

http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/2007/06/sicko-premiers-on-streets-of-skid-row.html

[marions ghost]

6. the system is a nightmare

and I'm glad 'Sicko' is getting that message out loud and clear.

[texanwitch]

9. I just watched Sicko on Google.

The very end of the movie made me very sad for our country.

I won't give away the movie but for those who haven't seen it check it out on Google.

[Lifelong Protester]

25. By the time they got to that part,

I was bawling. I was glad I was there with my husband as he was in tears too. It was so powerful, and at the same time so shame inducing for our government to be so uncaring in its unfailing allegiance to big Pharma and Big Insurance and capitalism over care. I have not and will not be able to stop thinking about the end scenes (in Cuba) also.
Folks, WE HAVE TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS MOMENT!! (sorry for the shout, but I think my emotions are a bit raw from all the sadness I saw in this film, and knowing, just knowing, we should have done better a LONG TIME AGO).

[KoKo]

18. Hope it does....maybe those seeing it are less sophisticated than those of us

who've been involved in stuff for years, though.

[nam78_two]

23. You mean other than the one to flee to Canada/France ;)?

Kidding apart, K&R.

[Lifelong Protester]

26. Thanks for the post, and I have been writing tonight

I have contacted my Congressman and my two Senators. We havt to capitalize on this moment, people.
We need to be like the French and make the government AFRAID OF US!!

[BornagainDUer]

27. Sicko was a hammerblow to these corporate sleaze. It was really

about the insured who are denied treatment and/or attacked by the "insurance hitman".Point: even if yer insured that is no guarantee you will get the benefits....BOOOOM! Moore made a masterpiece of "cinamuckraking" that will go down in history as a catalyzing event for change.