What kind of real impact will "Sicko" have on our society and healthcare industry...?

[dysfunctional press]

i predict almost, if not less than, NONE.

there will be discussion and outrage in the media, lots of yadda-yadda-yaddaing from the pundits, "in-depth" coverage and specials from the networks and even hbo...calls for change...maybe even a march or a concert...and then- nothing. the issue will slip away or eventually be replaced by a new flavour of the month.

america is sooooo predictable.

[JDPriestly]

1. It depends on whether Moore debunked the myth that

single payer health care costs more -- is too expensive -- effectively enough to persuade voters.

[Joe Bacon]

2. Sadly, I agree with you

Nothing will change.

Right now Billy Tauzin and his fellow pimps in the insurance racket are waiting for the proper moment to unleash the next generation of Harry and Louise to torpedo single payer.

[silverweb]

3. I hope you're wrong.

But I fear you're right.

:(

[Mojambo]

4. Unless we get real campaign finance reform with full public funding of elections

The effect should be pretty marginal.

We'll all be better educated about why we need it, but still entirely without any power to make the change.

[luckyleftyme2]

5. 37 countries have better health care

their are 37 countries who have either socialized medicine or single payer ins.
all of their health statistics are better than ours.
the time has come to stand up to the corrupt health industry we have. the bottom line is longevity not dollars.

[flvegan]

6. Enlightenment takes time.

Immediately? None. In time...let's hope.

If nothing else, "Sicko" is another big damn brick in the wall.

[Glorfindel]

7. Very little, sadly

Most of the people who will see it and agree with it tend to be well-off and comfortably insured. "Tut-tut, how sad for the poor people," is about the strongest reaction one can expect from them, as THEIR insurance pays for every little whim or self-induced bodily damage, including orthodontia, cosmetic surgery, sports medicine (tennis elbow and runner's knee are not generally injuries to which the impoverished are prone). The insurance industry and the medical industry are too wealthy and too powerful to be challenged by one movie, however well-intentioned. Nothing will change until people who are rich and powerful enough to make a difference are actually inconvenienced by our collapsing health-care system. *As for the poor, maybe they should die and "decrease the surplus population," to quote the eloquent and prescient Charles Dickens. :cry:

*Edited to add sarcasm, just in case my intentions could be misconstrued.

:sarcasm:

[Lint Head]

8. Socialized medicine is what is needed. There I said it.

It's true. The only way to make sure no one is left behind, that no one dies because they could not afford a prescription or surgery is socialized medicine.:dem:

[Glorfindel]

9. You're exactly right, and thanks for saying it!

n/t

[Doremus]

12. Not socialized medicine!

Are you advocating that the government OWN the medical facilities and EMPLOY the doctors, nurses, etc? That is what socialized medicine is.

If you're in favor of a single-payer system like Medicare, then you're advocating national health care, not socialized medicine.

Sorry, but that's a pet peeve of mine. The RW loves to hammer on that term in their propaganda because it's an automatic turnoff to the ignorant members of their base who think anything remotely related to socialism is the epitome of evil. :eyes:

[Mind_your_head]

15. Socialism is a dirty word!

We Americans have been taught that in school!!! It's a step away from COMMUNISM, which is the penultimate 'dirty word/thing'.

So stop suggesting 'socialized medicine' - Americans won't go for it, it's "un-american".

:sarcasm: tinged with some (a lot?) of truth.....

NOW, if one could only frame it differently than 'socialized medicine' (get that dirty word ~ socialism ~ outta the picture, we might actually "get somewhere" decent with regard to our healthcare and a whole lot of other things).

[Lint Head]

10. 18,000 people died last year because they could not afford medical care.

The is 6 times the number of people that died in the WTC at 9/11. The Pharmaceutical, Insurance and Medical industry are nothing more that terrorists. :dem:

[BattyDem]

11. "18,000 people died last year ... 6 times the number of people that died in the WTC at 9/11"

THAT fact needs to be repeated over and over by everyone who supports universal care! It needs to be thrown in the faces of the GOP hacks at every opportunity. They LOVE to bring up 9/11 when talking about ... well, everything - so let them try to ignore the comparison and dismiss the number of deaths as insignificant.

edited: typo :blush:

[EVDebs]

13. If Arnold wasn't Gov, CA would have had SB840 signed and in effect right now ! nt

[Joe Bacon]

14. But Angilides and Westly both opposed Single Payer too!

Which is why I didn't vote for either of them in the Democratic primary!

[EVDebs]

16. We KNOW what Arnold did, we can't be sure what the Dems would have done

but a savings to the state of around $6-8 billion, I'd have to believe they'd have not vetoed SB840 if it came to their desk as Gov.