Posted by Aaron A. on Jul 15 2007 1:46PM - Cutting Edge NEWS!!! Bravo!

First off, I admire your keen observance that I haven't seen the movie, as I'm waiting for it to come to the theatre, your assumption was correct.

Secondly however, in your accusation that the “educated” people are those "who agree with Aaron [me]", you are mistaken. What I was referring to is the health care debate and crisis in America, in which the pros and cons of our system are apparent to anybody who really cares or votes (Just listen to the rhetoric of the Presidential candidates).

As far as my motive for wanting to see the movie, I, like many people, enjoy movies. And one that is (but rather shouldn't be) "controversial" should be shown. I also don't think Transformers would be very exciting, but who knows, I might see it some day. I also like long walks on beaches, and bubble baths....anything else you'd like to know?

I find it funny that you would take the time to write about Breathe, which has a wide readership of like 4 people...the rest stumble in from keyword variations of previous sarcastic posts based around Christian Domestic Discipline or the usual subjugation of women.

I also think it is very "small minded" to bring this discussion outside of Breathe without even leaving a comment and giving me a chance to clarify myself....as you seem to have been lost between the lines.

---

Posted by Aaron A. on Jul 15 2007 1:50PM - Cutting Edge NEWS!!! Bravo!

First off, I admire your keen observance that I haven't seen the movie, as I'm waiting for it to come to the theatre, your assumption was correct.

Secondly however, in your accusation that the “educated” people are those "who agree with Aaron [me]", you are mistaken. What I was referring to is the health care debate and crisis in America, in which the pros and cons of our system are apparent to anybody who really cares or votes (Just listen to the rhetoric of the Presidential candidates).

As far as my motive for wanting to see the movie, I, like many people, enjoy movies. And one that is (but rather shouldn't be) "controversial" should be shown. I also don't think Transformers would be very exciting, but who knows, I might see it some day. I also like long walks on beaches, and bubble baths....anything else you'd like to know?

I find it funny that you would take the time to write about Breathe, which has a wide readership of like 4 people...the rest stumble in from keyword variations of previous sarcastic posts based around Christian Domestic Discipline or the usual subjugation of women.

I also think it is very "small minded" to bring this discussion outside of Breathe without even leaving a comment and giving me a chance to clarify myself....as you seem to have been lost between the lines.

---

Posted by Exiled in Fargo on Jul 15 2007 11:00PM - So the dismal state of our supposedly "great" healthcare system is "liberal dogma"?? Why doesn't this surprise me coming from someone in North Dakota (the most rabidly conservative state in the US)?? No wonder your state is hemorrhaging young people. You don't WANT youthful, vibrant, alternative-thinkers. You just want more beet farmers. Your state is sliding into irrelevance. Enjoy becoming a buffalo commons.

---

Posted by JonB on Jul 16 2007 11:30AM - What a poorly written article.

Why is our News station supporting this crap?

---

Posted by John W on Jul 16 2007 9:20PM - Tony Benn: If we can find money to kill people, you can find money to help people.

Tony Benn: Keeping people hopeless and pessimistic - see I think there are two ways in which people are controlled - first of all frighten people and secondly demoralize them.
Tony Benn: An educated, healthy and confident nation is harder to govern.

Michael Moore is the best at taking a nationally crucial issue(child violence, terrorism, health care) and shaking it for all the entertainment value it is worth, and whether he states a fair argument or not, it doesn't seem to matter much to him in the end as long as he makes his biased point. And, he makes big money either way, and it makes me really wonder if he cares as much about the issue he is promoting than the money he is making, as everyone is corruptible if the price is right, and I mean all of us. I can see Moore now after the success of his previous films......"what other crucial issue in America is obviously unethical and ridiculous, so I can make a one-sided movie about it that is a big crowd pleaser and makes me lots of money too".

Moore did a lot of things right in Sicko, and made an impressive argument for national health care here as he compared our profit-based system unfavorably with the National Health Service in Canada, France and the UK. But, he left out the one crucial point that would have helped convince me and most discerning others that it would be the best way to go in America. America really hates high taxes, so he steered clear of what it costs in those other countries to pay for their national health care programs in individual taxes. Not one word about actual taxpayer costs was said, and many thousands of words about how much the citizens love their NHS. That was a big mistake for viewers like me who need to see a fair argument from both sides before judging. I truly loved the reality of medical pros in those other countries doing their work due to actual medical need and standards and not mainly for the big money it makes for the medical/insurance community here, as I do think we are approaching critical mass in America in our selfish and greedy pursuit of the capitalistic buck over everything else, and think our money-driven system is as well on its way to collapse as the earth is due to global warming. Neither cannot go on much longer as is.

During a vacation in New Zealand, which has the same NHS that Canada and the UK has, I needed a crown fixed. It cost me all of $20, and I was not even a citizen! It would have cost NZ citizens $0, and would have cost me at least $750 here. Aother American I met there broke his arm skiing, and it also cost him $20 to get it taken care of. And, there were great nationalistic attitudes in everyone we met too, even with their high but proportionate taxes, as those high taxes make for a more egalitarian society that cares to take good care of everyone. Kiwi's actually like their gov't and how it serves them! What? How's that for an eye-opener compared to here? That makes a strong argument for NHS there. But, NZ has a manageable 4 million people...would it work in our 300 million person USA? Not a clearcut issue at all, at least not yet. We are nearly out of control in everything social, so I am doubtful.

However, regarding Sicko, anything and any way that makes Americans more aware that we must first control and then stop our throw-away and senselessly selfish way of living is crucial to display worldwide for all to see, and Moore is doing his part there and I applaud him for it even if I disagree somewhat on the details in how he does it.

---

Posted by AaronA on Jul 17 2007 12:13PM - I would completely agree with you John W.

I think taxes are an issue, and I think it's interesting that, through all the campaigns of politicians, the word "tax" has taken on a very negative connotation.

Also, Yes it's true that 300million might be hard to manage, but I think we can divide that up. The state of Minnesota, for instance, is developing and has developed some great healthcare programs, and as a result they are one of only four states (MN, MD, NJ, NH) that have a child poverty rate of under 10%.(From US state Poverty Rates 2004).

---