Reviews Written by Legislators
If you are a legislator and you've got a movie review, email it to sicko@haveyouseensicko.org
Rep. Steve Fontana
"Sicko" is a forceful, sobering indictment of our health care system. In straightforward terms, it lays out some of the problems that our society experiences by relying on for-profit entities and stakeholders to provide what is or should be essentially a public good -- quality health care for every American. The film also identifies possible approaches that other, similar countries have used to make their health care system operate more efficiently and in the public interest, approaches which we may be able to learn from and adapt to meet our particular needs. Anyone interested in helping to fix our health care system should see it and bring their family and friends as well.
Rep. Demetrios Giannaros
It is an eye opener and good for those that criticize outrightly the canadian and other Universal health care systems. It was very humorous while making some very good points. We are the most expensive health care system in the world but still in 37th place (I believe) and with 45-50 million without insurance -- disgusting. However, the film lacks information though as to how these other models are financed so that the viewer will put things in perspective
Rep. John Geragosian
Michael Moore has done a wonderful job laying out the problems in our health care system and showing us what the rest of the world knows- there’s a better way. “Sicko” should serve as a call to action on the health care issue and the people of this country should get what citizens in every other industrialized nation receive: free universal health care that can never be taken away.
The movie focuses on real people who are being beaten down by our current health care system (or lack thereof). Most of them have health insurance, but the insurance industry doesn’t keep its end of the bargain when it comes to coverage. The film also accurately portrays the health care systems in other parts of the world that focus on health care rather than profits and the denial of care.
How do we create a universal health care system? I certainly wouldn’t trust the same people that benefit from the current system to fight for any real change. The insurance industry in Connecticut reaps profits of approximately $5 billion -- which is the real reason we haven’t been able to pass a single-payer bill. The business lobby, CBIA, also profits from of selling health insurance to its members and has a bald-faced conflict of interest when it comes to this issue. Ironically, a universal healthcare system would be good for business.
What value do the insurance companies add to our current health care system? Doctors are paid well, because they treat people when they’re sick. The companies that make medical equipment profit, because they create innovative machinery to save lives. Even the pharmaceutical companies develop drugs that make people better. What exactly do the insurance companies do to make one single person healthier? They skim approximately 30% of our health care dollars off the top, money that could go to the entities that actually make people better. Instead, the insurance companies set the rules in this country, driving up unnecessary costs by piling on non-health care related items, like tickets to skyboxes or excessive CEO compensation.
In “Sicko,” Moore once again tells the truth and the powerful interests wince. They attack the messenger, because it’s hard to attack the message. It is truly time for a change and for the United States to join the remainder of the industrialized world. See “Sicko,” get energized, and then do something.
Senator Edith Prague
Everyone who cares about what is going on in this country should see SICKO and then make that crucial decision to do something about it. Michael Moore said it all when he said "we have become a country of Me's instead of a country of We's". We seem to have lost our way. Thank you George W. Bush and company!
Rep. Tim O'Brien
Sicko truly is Michael Moore's best film yet. It is bold, powerful and to the point. I highly recommend it to everyone.
In particular, it thoroughly debunks the myth that our current health insurance system works well. It is, instead, a system designed to direct profits to Wall Street rather than quality health care to the people.
While the film starts out showing dire effects for the millions of people who lack health insurance, it focuses its attention on the people who are considered, in our country, as insured. If we are to believe what we are told, people with health insurance must be set. And yet, as Sicko shows, even many people with insurance are left without the health care that they need.
The truth is that we have a system in which doctors and other health care providers have to fight for payments from insurance companies for health care services that are supposed to be covered under their patients' health insurance policies. And, this system denies health care coverage to insured people because of pre-existing condition exclusions and other reasons - and Sicko shows how the industry finds excuses to deny coverage, and shows real people who suffered the effects of these denials.
And, this suffering is meted out for the purpose of sending more profits down to Wall Street.
Of course, these denials of health care and inefficiencies are not, as the insurance industry would have us believe, to keep insurance jobs in our state. Despite the reputable and thorough economic analysis showing that reforming our health care coverage system would save the people and businesses of our state hundreds of millions of dollars, increase the number of jobs in Connecticut and free up a billion dollars for Connecticut families, insurance companies had the audacity this past year to make their employees feel like their jobs would be at risk if state legislators did the right thing for the people of the state on health care. This audacity was despite the fact that these companies have never hesitated to layoff Connecticut workers in order to increase their own profits.
That is why more state legislators need to see this film. In fact, I would like it to be shown at the State Capitol when the legislature is in session. Doing the right thing is not hard, but it is often hard work. We know that ensuring good quality and truly affordable health care for everyone is the right thing to do. But, overcoming vested interests making billions of dollars in profits off the Connecticut economy, alone, will take tireless work.
Let's get it done!
Rep. David McCluskey
I saw SICKO on Friday night with my friends in the Machinists Union. The movie was very powerful and energizing.
One of the Universal Health Care Foundation volunteers, IBEW activist Fletcher Fischer, who was manning an information booth outside said to me after the picture that people who saw SICKO came up to him with little prompting wanting to volunteer to do SOMETHING to address the Health Care crisis. They signed up and did video comments.
The focus of the film was on real people and their health care problems - most if not all of them - HAD health insurance, but had to run a gauntlet of denials, delay and run around by the HMOs. Sometimes, I think Moore just can't help himself, he goes over the top in being clever or provocative - like interviewing Tony Benn, a union/socialist leader of the "Old" Labor party in Britain or when he interviews a relative of Che Guevara. But for the most part, he sticks with real people, their health care problems and the complete inadequacy of the current system.
Finally, and hopefully not revealing too much, I think his interviews with Americans in other countries that have univeral health care were very effective. The question, which actually was mentioned by Tony Benn and others, is whether Americans are MAD enough, whether they think the current system is simply too costly and harmful, to DO something about it and reject the daily, powerful media messaging by the vested interests that all Government programs are corrupt, wasteful and expensive and that the go it alone, status quo system of health care which preserves CHOICE (which is apparently the highest social goal - not economic or social justice) and the private, for-profit system. Let's hope now, Americans will insist that we all deserve health care as a right - like social security and medicare.
Rep. Melissa Olson
I can sum up my reaction to the movie and the state of our health care system in one word: depressing.
This movie only strengthens my support for universal, continuous, sustainable, and high quality health care for the State of Connecticut. I hope it will debunk many of the myths associated with universal health care and convince others that our system needs major reform.