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Big Pharma and Health Insurance Companies Go After Michael Moore-Video

crooksandliars.com — And it ’s not limited to Michael Moore either. The 9/11 first responders that Moore took to Cuba in a pivotal scene in the movie are worried that they’ll be persecuted as well.

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  • joshshu, on 10/11/2007, -11/+100i like the movie
    • JonGalt, on 10/11/2007, -38/+3I hope they discredit his fat bloated socialist ass. The mans as useful as sand in a desert.

      Like i want to pay for someone elses healthcare when i dont even want to pay for mine. Grow a brain retards its far from free and not to mention the government can't even run the DMV right, what makes you think they can handle health care efficiently for 200,000,000 "poor" people. Keep it private.
    • jpell05, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Just wait for the day when you lose your job and suffer a stroke. I wonder if your beliefs would change?
  • eclectro, on 10/11/2007, -27/+3Healthy people will buy the arguments. Sick people won't be fooled.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -11/+4...so then, who are the truly 'healthy' people and who are the truly 'sick' people?

      It is an awesome movie. I just wish that somehow Michael Moore would become aware of Aaron Russo, and maybe help out with the grass-roots Ron Paul campaign. Mike will have tons of money after this film hits the theaters...and even more name recognition. ...and the Ron Paul campaign really could use the help. If Mike just would watch AFTF...

      Does someone have to write a blog against Mike Moore to get some direct, anonymous financial support from him? (That's a reference to something mentioned in the film)
    • Kolar, on 10/11/2007, -6/+26Ron Paul is a libertarian. He opposes universal health care. He opposes the HMO system on the fact that it was Government mandated. The problem is this system has no regulation, it is a free market but Ron Paul doesn't think so.

      The fundamental flaw to all of this libertarian crap is that it empathizes business control of every aspect of life. Business is only interested in one thing and that's profit. It's crazy to think that big business will bend over backward to accommodate everyone or act in the best interest of their customers when it directly works against their goal. It needs strong regulation to ensure it does not discriminate or work against the best interest of citizens because this is life or death for millions of people. Put aside the idealogical *****.
      • Fhwqhgads, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3"It needs strong regulation to ensure it does not discriminate or work against the best interest of citizens because this is life or death for millions of people."

        Then they just buy out the regulators.
      • NikoKun, on 10/11/2007, -4/+7I'm libertarian, but I support universal health care... Just like any situation of life, death, and health... That is not a "market" and people should not be making profit off of others in that manner...
        ***** Ron Paul, we need to be supporting Gravel or someone else with libertarian values, that still supports health care.

        People like Ron Paul that think universal health care is wrong for the "free market"... don't know what free market really is... and they don't understand that HEALTH CARE IS NOT A MARKET... -_-
    • johnnybuoy, on 10/11/2007, -3/+10More and more regulations only give more and more loopholes, as the law "gets patched" more and more it also gets bloated, the chance fo bugs happening is simply much bigger. A _real_ reform in the healthcare system is needed, it needs to be redone from the ground up!
      • RpgActioN, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8Kolar: I'm amazed somebody on Digg other than me finally has said something against Ron Paul and not gotten dugg down to ***** for it.

        Also - this comment hierarchy is retarded. This post shouldn't be here.
      • NikoKun, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3lol i agree with you RPG, but you probably just entered your post in the wrong text box... these things are everywhere, confuses the hell out of me too... @_@
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That means direct democracy, starting at the local and state level up to Washington, would be the ideal system to really empower people.
        So Mike Gravel would be the best candidate, because his big solution is to give people the power to write the law.
      • palidine40, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0aye, health care isnt meant for profiteering greed mongers. you praise your wonderful money making machine that wont help you if you cant pay them. but i'm guessing you've always had that wonderful ability to pay for your healthcare or had someone pay it for you your wholel life. what does someone like me do who has to worry every day about making ends meet and having enough cash to keep an old hand me down dinosaur pc running long enough so i can stay in touch with moron rich *****... oops, i meant folks, like yourself
  • redrock34, on 10/11/2007, -9/+136The government wouldn't even accept Cuba's help during hurricane Katrina, which could have saved lives. What makes you think the government gives a crap about these rescue worker's health condition? The rescue workers could die for all the government cares.
    • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -3/+25The insurance industry depends on people dying, as they use the ignorance and fear associated with that as their major selling point. People's grief= a chance to screw people out of their money, for those blood-suckers.
      • phonepimpbill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1So does the news media, in a much cruder and direct fashion, but nobody villifies them for it though they should.
    • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -29/+4Wait a second - Cuba offered to send 83 tons of medical supplies as well. But I thought Cuba did not have any medical supplies because of the embargo?

      LOL - they can't even get their line of ***** straight.
      • archiesteel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3There are other countries trading than Cuba, you know.
      • TheLastFreeMan, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1yeah gojeda get your facts straight before trying to formulate a flawed argument.
    • NikoKun, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7If the government doesn't want to deal with Cuba... fine, it's just one of their many mistakes, to shun out people that they call enemy, it always comes back to screw them... We should probably be trying to work with Cuba, but maybe I'm just not following with the situation enough...

      BUT, when the government starts ***** with the Citizen's rights to go where we want, and buy what we want.... thats when they become wrong in this situation... I've always thought it was against american values to impose trade embargoes on citizens... -_-
      Let the citizens do what they want, travel where they want, and buy what they want... ***** off government... If Cuba didn't want to trade with citizens, fine, but they're not the one's with the ***** embargo, thats the US government...
    • HappyScrappy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2There's no evidence accepting Cuba's aid would have saved any lives.

      The problem wasn't lack of materials and such, it was that we didn't even wisely deploy what we did have.
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3I remember the Alex Jones show at the time: he was on the phone with mayors and other people around New Orleans who organized help, and went there by boat or with trucks: the department of Homeland Security forbid them to enter the city. This fascist government is against democracy, against people being independent from the government, they want people to be afraid, and to believe only the government can save them. If you want you can watch Greg Palast's latest documentary about all the truth about New Orleans: New Orleans Big Easy to Big Empty . You propably watched several about 9/11, time to be up-to-date with the NO truth. This documentary is a major tool to wake people up. Just like Sicko: absolutely extraordinary and essential!
        • TheCash, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Uh... dude? Ray Nagin let a bunch of people die because the school buses that were available to evacuate them out weren't up to his standards, and the governor turned down federal assistance and requests to deploy the national guard three times before finally accepting after being pressured to by her advisors.

          In the days after the intial flood, rescue helicopter flights had to suspended completely in some areas because people on the ground were shooting at them. In the weeks and months following the flood, emergency debit cards that were intended to be used for food, supplies, etc were instead used to purchase plasma screen tv's, stereos, etc. Talk to some of the first response and red cross workers who went down there, and they will tell you it was one big cluster f*ck, and only half of it could be blamed on the government.

          And regarding Sicko: I'm guessing you watched Fahrenheit 9/11 right? Remember all that time he spent on trashing the VA, their hospitals, and the level of care people received there? You know what kind of institution the VA is? Yeah... a Government run medical institution! So how can he trash something in one film, only to spent most of another film preaching about how wonderful it is? Oh.. because it's in a DIFFERENT country! Mike, if you hate America then fine, stop making movies here and go back to Canada already. Better still, how about you take the millions you make off your documenting human suffering, and your visits to American colleges, and donate it to non-profit groups that actually help these people instead of exploiting their situations to further your political agenda and make a buck? You can go around unshaven, dressed like a slob in that stupid ballcap all you want, but you stopped being one of us the moment your paychecks became three times higher then the poverty line.
    • TheLastFreeMan, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1according to south park, those were locked up along with raiders of the lost ark
  • JimmyTheClam, on 10/11/2007, -24/+13http://www.therealcuba.com/kubac298.jpg

    http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm
    • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -14/+13Now now Jimmy, you do know posting any material approximating the truth on digg is tantamount to killing puppies.
    • JimmyTheClam, on 10/11/2007, -10/+8You are right.
      I apologize and will report for re-education!
    • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -1/+15There can be some controversy around Cuba, for sure. The travel restrictions have made it so that most of us in the US have to rely on hearsay.

      And I suppose the people in charge of those hospitals in Cuba may have heard, long before, about Michael Moore's plan to go there, or at least to Guantanamo, with those people. So maybe they were prepared to put on an awesome show for the Americanos....but still, they DID give people much needed medical care. From the viewpoint of a sick person in need, it matters not who helps them, all politics aside.

      i sort of wished he had just stuck to the references to the health care systems of Canada , UK, and France, in the film.
      But some conniving idiots might just try to discredit that too. What can you do with idiots, other than offer to help them learn something?

      Still, most people who see the film will recognize the familiar truth, despite the efforts of anyone to persecute and destroy. the entire concept of freedom as reflected in this film.

      But you know Mike...he always has to go a little overboard...in a sort of macho, Michigan-patriotic display.
      • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2How is the concept of freedom reflected in this film when the average Cuban will never see the level of healthcare given to these particular Americans or foreign tourists?

        Incongruous at best.
    • SuperMoses, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10Look, the real Cuba isn't as pretty as Michael Moore tries to paint it (or at least it's health care). However, you have to put it into context. The reason why Cuba is struggling is because of the trade embargo imposed on it by the United States. The reason why there are political prisoners is because of the US' habit of overthrowing socialist governments in Latin America (Fidel was a socialist). The CIA this week will be releasing 700 pages of things they had done in the 60s and 70s and some of those things include the attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro. So, of course Fidel is going to have political prisoners... the US were on his ass and wanted him dead (even though he did NOTHING to the states). Keep in mind the Cuban missile crisis came AFTER the Bay of Pigs. So Castro has political prisoners out of a reasonable fear the US would use them against his government and the US maintains their trade embargo because he has political prisoners. It's a lose lose situation for him. The Cubans are free from imperialism, but they are going through what they call "the struggle".
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Castro tortured and jailed artists, poets,...
        What is true is that the CIA has tried to kill Castro, and sent many spies to Cuba to sabotage the country. One of them said that he put diarrhea inducing chemicals in milk trucks that distributed milk to schools; that is how low they went.
        • SuperMoses, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1They also supported mobsters to take him out. This is included in the "Family Jewels". Mobsters use to run Cuba when Batista was in charge, this is what the whole Cuban Revolution under Castro was about. To remove the mobsters and the corrupt leadership of Batista and establish a socialist system. The problem is the CIA's constant threat to overthrow Castro (Castro also just witnessed what happened in Guatemala only a few years before his revolution where the CIA overthrew an elected government) he became paranoid and justifiably so.
      • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1"The reason why Cuba is struggling is because of the trade embargo imposed on it by the United States."

        This is, precisely, *****. Cuba is free to trade with many countries, such as the EU, and does so. The embargo, by the way, has not precluded Eureopeans from building 4 and 5 star beach resorts on Varadero either.

        Then there was this little gem: "So, of course Fidel is going to have political prisoners." "The Cubans are free from imperialism..."

        Talk about contradicting oneself. How can you have political prisoners, yet claim that Cubans are free from imperialism (or anything else for that matter)? Your comments are self-defeating "de facto".
        • SuperMoses, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The comments don't contradict themselves in anyway. Do you know what imperialism is? You also don't address the injustice the US has done to Cuba. They continue the trade embargo with no valid reason. They can't say it's because of political prisoners because they supported and still support regimes who are much worse (Pinochet, The Apartheid, Musharraf, Abdul Aziz Al Saud, etc). Their trade embargo is simply because Fidel wanted to turn Cuba into a socialist country and that doesn't suit the interests of US business.

          In regards to EU, yes they are able to trade with Cuba but they have also imposed sanctions. This is hypocrisy by the EU as well since they fully support regimes with brutal human rights violations. I also suggest you look at the geography. No trade with the US is a big blow to Cuba's economy because of it's location.
    • JimmyTheClam, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4@WaterDragon Have you ever heard of the term "Potemkin village"? From WP: "Potemkin village" has also frequently been used to describe the attempts of the Soviet government to fool foreign visitors. The government would take such visitors, who were often already sympathetic to socialism or communism, to select villages, factories, schools, stores, or neighborhoods and present them as if they were typical, rather than exceptional. Given the strict limitations on the movement of foreigners in the USSR, it was often impossible for these visitors to see any other examples. This practice was certainly not confined to the Soviet Union, but rather has been common in "currently socialist countries."
    • CaptainRotundo, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5While I am not delusional and thought that part of the film clearly COULD have presented a view of Cuban health care that wasn't realistic, I also have NO reason to trust the site you link to, I suspect the truth MAY be somewhere in the middle.
  • AndrewDB, on 01/10/2008, -38/+7I must be the only person on Digg who hasn't seen this movie and has little to no interest to actually see it.
    • Urusai, on 10/11/2007, -3/+22We have little to no interest in your lack of interest.
    • orlyfactor, on 10/11/2007, -5/+15Andrew - no one really gives a ***** about your non-opinion, why even bother posting, is your life that lackluster? I actually have little to no interest in the answer to that question, so please don't answer.
    • chris9902, on 10/11/2007, -1/+12http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3711348/Sicko.2007.DVDrip

      There you go. Try to drop you preconceptions about this movie and just watch it for what it is.
    • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -15/+3If you want propaganda, then you'll like it. If you don't buy into the FUD, then you'll hate it.

      Seems to be the common theme in Moore's "movies".
    • Fordi, on 10/11/2007, -16/+2Personally not interested. Not only am I already aware of the US pharma industry's problems, Michael Moore just pisses me off.

      Nothing he says, mind you. He's just gives the impression of a useless but arrogant *****.
    • NeilAdmirari, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5What's the difference between ignorance and apathy?
      Let me guess: you don't know and don't care.
    • buddyw, on 10/11/2007, -1/+1it's bad to not care about the rotten state of our healthcare, but this is a giant propaganda film that sends the wrong message to young naive socialists that want the government to make their problems go away.

      I mean, look at the great job the government is doing now. Everyone loves bush...no money is wasted...

      Vote Ron Paul.
  • SgtBlue, on 10/11/2007, -9/+41What the hell are they gonna do? Flood him with angry letters saying "WE DISAPPROVE OF YOUR MOVIE!!!" Gimme a break.
    • johnhummel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15Depends. In the case of the US government, they could try to put him in jail for having "dealings with Cuba" - as well as the others that were with him.

      In the case of the big pharmaceuticals and HMO's, they could file civil lawsuits for libel - even if they lose, they can force him to spend money defending himself.

      So there's lots they could do - the question is, do they think it will actually make his film *more* believable/encourage viewership if they do so, and by doing so raise awareness against them.
  • Erfman, on 10/11/2007, -3/+59The small "i" in "SiCKO" stands for the individual and how the health care system feels about him and his tiny wallet.
  • musntSurfatWork, on 10/11/2007, -4/+40Good movie, presented in a way that sets the way for the truth to speak for itself, Michael Moore didn't even *have to be in it*,
    Nothing new however, to those who live and think outside the box. Although a major wakeup call to all Americans to GTFO and not have to sell their souls to get medical attention. Mass excodus anyone? Captialists pwn you.

    America is the way it is today, because they did not have to suffer much through any humanitarian attacks in recent wars, such as the Brits did. Europe and the rest of the world, have leaders for the people. Sadly, this is not the case in America. Just my opinion, I am as insignificant of a human being as the rest of the world.
    • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -19/+1Bra------vo on that torrent of verbal drivel. It was almost believeable, and would be believeable......to someone who doesn't open up a book.
    • etnu, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0Where, exactly, would you have Americans go? Canada?

      It's not that easy to simply pack up and move.

      America's health care system is pretty broken, but for those of us who actually do have good insurance, it's a hell of a lot better than most anywhere else. As usual, the poor get screwed.
    • phonepimpbill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Our healthcare system is just like everything else: we DO have the best of everything there is in the world, you just gotta pay for it. You can have anything you want in this country if you can pay for it. Nothing unfair about that.
  • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -34/+4"Persecuted"? LMFAO!!!

    BURIED as SPAM
    • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10You might disagree with something about this story, but it is NOT spam. Don't know what SPAM is?

      It is not like this article is trying to sell you a product, but rather, it is discussing a relevant, newsworthy issue (...that has even been mentioned in your precious corporate-owned news media) You are abusing the digg system, by falsely reporting something you merely disagree with, as spam.

      The article is not even trying to sell you the movie, as you can easily download it for free! And Michael Moore has publicly stated that he is OK with people downloading and sharing his movies.

      So where's the SPAM in that?
      I think YOU are the spam! So you need to be banned, for abusing the digg system.
      • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -9/+2Using words not because they accurately describe a situation, but to heighten the effect of a specious claim IS spam. It is a huge problem on digg, and it happens on digg every single day, so much so that digg has suffered tremendously because of it.

        The use of the word "persecuted" tells me a few things about the poster of this story, and of the people in the "movie", beginning with the fact that they have no idea what the word "persecuted" or "persecution" means. It also tells me that they are using dramatic wording to heighten the effect, disregarding whether or not it is truthful.

        This is akin to calling a episode of hooliganism at a football (soccer match) a "holocaust". It is ridiculous wording, just as the use of the word "persecuted" is in this context within the film.

        Just because you are easily led by the Moore sensationalism machine does not mean it is remotely factual.. The posting of this article does not inform, it tittilates the tin-foil hat brigade. That is NOT what digg is about.

        So I reiterate.......BURIED as SPAM, and a big fat digg DOWN for your insolent ignorance. And you are being reported as well.
    • archiesteel, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3*You* are being buried as SPAM. Sorry, did I say SPAM? I meant SCUM.
  • orlyfactor, on 10/11/2007, -16/+17The movie was flawed in some respects (the whole pro-Hilary/anti-***** (I mean Republican) was a bit gratuitous but overall was a good flick. The leaked copy was perfect quality, too. Or...so I hear...
    • Parthymon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+24The reason the segment with Hillary was so dramatic, with the music, etc. was because she was actually trying to get universal healthcare going, but also to contrast with later, when he talks about the big pharma buying her out.

      I've already made up my mind to save up cash for moving to canada.
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1You can move to Canada...or you can fight for quality universal in the US.
        Before moving to Canada, you may try to show Sicko to your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, random people, and see if you can organize and be part of a national grass-root movement to change healthcare in the US.
        About Hillary, some say that her big campaign for universal health care was pure self-promotion, that she never cared, even that she wanted it to fail and to appear as a victim...maybe to motivate women to elect her years later?
    • nycmac247, on 10/11/2007, -0/+12did you not see the part later on when he trounces her? The comparison is to illustrate the point of the healthcare industry buying _literally_ everyone
      • gronne, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9That's what I was going to say. I don't know how someone would think that was a pro-Hillary moment in the movie.
    • Mullinsmcd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4It was very clear that he was only making a point that the most 'clever and sexy' (uggh..hurts to type that) woman in politics was still unsuccessful in her attempts to create a single payer system, then after the smoke cleared the Insurance agencies proceeded to buy her out showing that they will make sure that there is no viable thread to their evil business model.
  • tinker123, on 10/11/2007, -9/+18This is fairly stupid on the PharmaCos part.

    This is what Moore wants them to do as it helps promote him and his film.

    Ever notice that every time he puts a new film out some sort of "they are trying to stamp me out" type of incident happens.

    Dumb. Very dumb.

    • musntSurfatWork, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1some sort of "they are trying to stamp me out" type of incident

      you just quoted the punchline to the movie. (Insurance benefits DENIED)
    • WaterDragon, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2So, are you saying that life imitates art, or that art imitates life? Please tell me, if you know. :-)
    • phonepimpbill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Well, if someone comes into your store and tries to tell people your business sucks, are you going to be nice to them?
  • aratika, on 10/11/2007, -28/+4One of the people went to Cuba for treatment for "stress related teeth grinding"? BFD. Moore is just another Rove puppet...
    • hotsake, on 10/11/2007, -0/+18To correct you: PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is in no way similar to the "stress" some people feel after a long day at work. PTSD can debilitate a person, especially when exposed to a terrifying situation. You cannot simply get rid of it like you can with normal stress. Perhaps you ought to educate yourself before discrediting the work Moore has done with this film.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder
      http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/article.htm
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Common daily stress is also very bad for health: it is now the first cause of death in the World, or so I heard. Stress weakens the immune system, makes tumors grow, makes people age faster,... One more proof capitalism is bad for health, is the enemy of life and of humanity.
  • BBCmafia, on 10/11/2007, -4/+57I am one of the lucky ones, i have lived in the u$a for 20 years But as soon i need health care i get on the plane go home to England. First question in u$a doctors how ya gonna pay. Insurance is not worth the paper its printed on. They pay people big money to find ways to decline your claim. If this was going on in Europe they would be riots. They feed the Americans about we have the best really 37th best, but it is number in cost.
  • Fhwqhgads, on 10/11/2007, -3/+36The truth hurts don't it?

    Big Pharma always try to shut up all the truth tellers.
    • highandmighty, on 10/11/2007, -12/+2I guess that you shouldn't take any of their products then. Good luck!
      • Fhwqhgads, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I don't as a matter of fact and I'm in perfect health.
  • Dolomite, on 10/11/2007, -6/+28the government will never help these rescue workers, Micheal Moore is the only one who can save them by making movies like Sicko and Fahrenheit 9/11 and exposing all the cover up corruptions, and conspiracy that they dont want you to know. Good think we have a man like Moore on our side to ask the hard questions and bring truth and justice to all. If everyone had just 1% the wisdom and insight he has we would be so much better off. Seriously, I hope he runs for office one day.
    • hotsake, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10I know this is off color, but I'm surprised Moore hasn't been killed off yet. Thankfully, I think our government prefers to ignore his voice and existence rather than whacking him.
      • zweben, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Not so much ignore, but attempt to marginalize.
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3The powers that be cannot kill every popular critic of the system. They killed JFK, RFK, MLK, John Lennon,....but Moore, Chomsky, Michael Parenti, Alex Jones and others are still alive. It seems they prefer to kill politicians and artists. They also killed JFK Jr. who was about to enter politics (get the documentary Assassination of JFK Jr on emule) and Wellstone, both on their planes...it happened to so many politicians in so many countries...a classic.
  • babydill, on 10/11/2007, -4/+29I personally thought this movie was great.
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The questions now are:
      - are you going to show it to dozens, or even hundred of people?
      - are you going to organize with other people to change the health care system?
  • lukemh, on 10/11/2007, -5/+28Living in Australia, having seen the movie, and having been to the USA - i think the movie goes well to explain how good a government/tax funded health care system IS in most other democratic societies (such as Australia) outside the USA. i couldn't believe when in the states a friend had to pay $20,000 for a surgery. People may dismiss moore for being one sided, and stuff, but i dont see anyone else inducing such positive america-wide discussions on issues, and stimulating peoples minds - helping the to come to their own conclusions. ANYWAYs... i think the USA is great, high level of living quality. but not equal healthcare for all.
    • dattaway, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10$20,000 for a surgery? That's cheap. Good medical care here in Kansas City cost $40,000 for my wife's SECOND knee operation. My broken femur cost my employer a cool $62,000.
    • phonepimpbill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Who says it has to be or expected to be? Should everyone get to drive a Porsche simply for being born?
  • HanSolo69, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4This isn't an attack on these people. This is just them getting more attention for the film. Which isn't a bad thing, this is a good movie. But still...
  • RpgActioN, on 10/11/2007, -6/+7The title is really inaccurate...this has nothing to do with "big pharma" going after anyone, and there is no evidence to suggest that even the government is going after anyone. It's just about a preemptive conference.
    • archiesteel, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Read the article linked instead of only watching the video...
  • floejoe, on 10/11/2007, -8/+5I have a family member over in bosnia where healthcare is free. He recently had a kidney failure, he had free hospital care for several months, shots and dialysis, doing a transplant costs $30,000 (Cash). In germany, they refused to do a surgery on another woman that I know, she had a brain tumor, but they just said it would only prolong her suffering and they refused to do surgery to remove it.

    In contrast, my aunt in US had a brain tumor also which killed her in about 8 months, however the hospital still did a surgery and chemo to prolong her life.

    There are philosophical arguments on what is the "right" thing to do, however you can't dispute those facts and they seem to be representative of places with "free" healthcare.

    Let's just hope these are not common scenarios because many people are just cheering on social healthcare without researching anything and instead have some sort of a vendetta to fulfill against the Big Pharma. Impression I get is that people are just pissed off with Big Pharma and want to inflict some vengeance because they feel wronged, it's turning into an emotional issue.
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Hand picking a few cases, whether real or imaginary (some digg members have to be working for the Big Pharma according to probabilities), does not change the big picture, no country spends as much on health-care as the US, yet dozens of countries do better, many statistics prove that.
    • phonepimpbill, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1The hand picking is done by the side represented by Moore way more often than the other...
  • celeb, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Direct link to article @ The New York Sun

    http://www.nysun.com/article/56901
  • theratdotus, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3i compare america to......china!
    • snooly, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1China has less people, per capita, in prison.
  • highandmighty, on 10/11/2007, -15/+7You people on the left have a dangerous view of the world. You feel that you get to criticize anyone (which is fine by me), but in your mind any response is not allowed. The article states, "The pharmaceutical industry and think tanks it backs financially are readying a multifaceted counteroffensive against Michael Moore’s film ..." That is the attack? "Big Pharma" is allowed to defend themselves. And if you don't like them, don't take any of their products.
    • pintomp3, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6except huge industries like health insurance, big pharma, oil, tobacco, etc tend to "defend" their business interests with misinformation and buying out politicians. and yes, they silence critics by attacking the messenger.
  • NeuroSlappy, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9Government lobbyists and compromised politicians cause the problem. Now the government lobbyists and compromised politicians want to solve the problem. Their generated problem, their solution and their ultimate goal, control of health care. These guys are diabolical geniuses and we are the puppets again. Yes!!!???????
    • Trumped, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0You sir are way too wise to be posting here on digg. Prepare to be dugg down!
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Capitalism and representative democracy under the influence of capitalist media cause all those problem, along with the almighty government that becomes a beast working for itself above all.
      Direct democracy appears to me like the real solution.
  • zarex, on 10/11/2007, -14/+2Sooo.. Michael Moore can use lies and distortions to generate hype and sell movies, but it's now improper for those people to respond to his attacks? Hypocritical much?

    If you can't take it, don't dish it.
    • iDragonFly, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4Hello pharma troll.
      • zarex, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Excuse me? Do you have something to offer to the discussion, or is accusing me of being a troll all you're capable of?
    • thatwasknutz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Hello person who refuses to accept that there are other sides to an argument and immediately accuses one who holds a different viewpoint which may be valid of being a conspirator against the American people.
  • garyrmiller, on 10/11/2007, -3/+10The MOVIE is a must see.....Americans need to see it hell everyone needs to see it, i can only hope it causes change and opens those few eyes that can make a difference
  • Airjuggernaut, on 10/11/2007, -4/+10I think Micheal Moore is an amazing dude, he tells it like it is in his Documentaries.
    • Wartz, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2and another one loses control of his brain.
  • uthanda, on 10/11/2007, -7/+4Just remember that even in countries with "free" public health care, this care is not by any stretch of the imagination free. In fact, it's in many ways no more free than in the US. The only difference is like all government programs, the cost is hidden in taxes so you don't see it as a line item on your W2 (wage report).

    I have a co-worker in Canada who makes roughly the same as me, but his tax rate is 60% vs 35-38% for me in the states (I live in an are with higher than average local income taxes). So, to that end, his "free" health care costs up to twice what mine does. (Note this is poor math because I didn't include my health care premiums into the calculation, but at ~$70/month-subsidized by my employer-it's not that much more). Plus, there are no waiting lines (as in some countries) and no need to purchase temporary health insurance to ensure immediate access to health care (as in the UK and Romania)

    Maybe universal health care is the answer, but it's by no means "free" health care.
    • starseed420, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8You're kind of defeating your own argument . I pay approx $90 / month just for a card that tells me I can go see a doctor , pay a co-pay , then pay more co-pays on any kind of treatment he suggests (up to $40 for a prescription) . Let's also hope I don't get sick too many times in a year otherwise my co-pays will go up , and I risk being dropped because I'm not profitable... I would gladly put any money I spend playing the HMO's game into a universal health care system if it meant I could get anything near the benefits enjoyed in countries like Canada, UK, France, etc ...
      • starseed420, on 10/11/2007, -1/+7(comment timed out when editing.. damn you digg comment system!!)
        ..At least these countries know exactly what they're going to get for what they pay .. A longer life, better quality of living, free from the stress of having to wager their health against things like paying there power bill, or affording groceries for the week ... The whole system is backwards, and the only people who are defending it are the ones with there hands in the cookie jar.
    • nycmac247, on 10/11/2007, -1/+41) count all your taxes - all - and you are higher

      2) I have a strong feeling that you have not seen the movie since it addresses the points that you bring up


      • JombieZesus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2You are full of *****. Not one person in Canada is taxed at 60%. The highest tax bracket in Canada when you include federal and provincial is around 46%. And you'd have to make over $120,000 a year to be taxed that high.
      • JombieZesus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Sorry, replied to nycmac247 instead of uthanda by mistake. This comment system is crap. How the hell do you reply to the original comment?

        All I see is show/hide comments. I don't see any reply button.
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1uthanda is a Big Pharma/HMO shill: he uses their exact strategy as explained in the New York Sun article: to discredit the countries with universal health care, one way or another...by lying, of course. There is no other choice, since they do better than the US, while the US spends more than any other country on health-care...so much of that money ends up in Wall-Street, in big safes, stock-options,...enough to pay PR people to lie on digg and many other places.
    • ChrisGranger, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0The cost might be similar when you're healthy and just going for check-ups, but if you need major surgery and/or a prolonged hospital stay in the US it is going to change the equation. The point is, the people without health insurance hope and pray that they don't get seriously ill or injured because they simply can't afford to.
    • jonathaz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+01. You are ASSuming that that the entire difference in tax rate is attributed to health care.
      2. Your health care premium isn't only $70. You pay $70 a month and your employer makes up the difference. In the US, the average premium for a family is $11,000 / year. Add that in and you're still not making an apples-to-apples comparison. Every time you go to the doctor, there are additional charges. For example, the out-of-pocket maximum for the family plan at my employer is $10,000 per year. The US pays the highest prices in the world for the 37th best care. Canada is only 30th best.
  • Fallout911, on 10/11/2007, -3/+8The current health system needs change ASAP call or write your congressman about HR 676 the Conyers-Kucinich healthcare bill.
    • cjhowe, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I don't understand why we look to our federal government to solve health care. Health care is a product and service, just like televisions, computers, wine, cheese, mechanic services, accountant services, etc. We wouldn't want the federal government selling those things, why health care?. If the state of the health care industry is as broken as everyone suggests, why do you continue buying it? Why do you purchase health insurance? I'll tell you why. The entire system is over regulated. Remove the need to have a prescription to purchase pharmaceutical products and you will see the price of brand name drugs plummet and consumers won't be as ignorant about their health care.
      Remove the mandatory referral loops that the HMOs require and you will have doctors doing pro bono work in order to market their services.
      The market is perfectly capable of hashing this issue out, if government will just get out of the market's way.
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Exactly! Check it out:
      http://www.google.com/search?q=Conyers-Kucinich+healthcare+bill
      The first link is this great interview of Kucinich:
      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-scheer/rep-dennis-kucinich-tack_b_35182.html
      Quote:
      " Close to $2 trillion a year is spent for healthcare in America, but one out of every four dollars goes for the activities of the for-profit system: corporate profits, executive salaries, advertising, marketing, the cost of paperwork--anywhere from 15 to 30 percent, as compared to Medicare's 3 percent. And so a for-profit healthcare system is crushing everyone, except the insurance companies. It's crushing workers, who may actually be working 40 hours a week and not have healthcare coverage. It's crushing businesses, particularly small businesses, who are finding that they cannot afford healthcare for their employees. It's causing major manufacturers to renege on commitments they made to their workers years ago and to retirees years ago for healthcare.

      The high cost of healthcare and healthcare for profit has transformed American society and has been a powerful engine for accelerating the wealth of the nation upwards. And so what I've advocated with John Conyers is HR 676: universal single-payer not-for-profit healthcare, which provides that everyone's covered for everything. And we're already paying for a universal standard of care--we're just not getting it because--if you took that almost $500 billion a year (of corporate profits, executive salaries, advertising, marketing, the cost of paperwork) and put it into healthcare in the form of a universal system, we would have enough money for all basic medical care, plus dental care, vision care, mental healthcare, long-term care, prescription drugs and even broader coverage. We're already paying for this. We're not getting it. We need to have the end of healthcare for profit in the United States and the beginning of a healthcare system which helps those who don't work or can't work, which helps workers, small businesses, manufacturers. This could be--this single move towards healthcare for all can bring about a dramatic shift in the American economy and in the lives of every man, woman and child in the United States."
  • Barbarino, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3So funny that a c&l link was used instead of the real link! Digg needs to remove posts that don't directly link. The C&L page HAD NOTHING ON IT!
  • NikoKun, on 10/11/2007, -2/+6Too many people are looking at this movie because of the whole Cuba thing... instead of looking at the real message of the movie... -_-
  • Jennifurret, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11I actually just recently visited one of the big pharma companies in America less than a week ago through an internship of mine. Let me just say, I was shocked at how honest they were with us. Shocked because they told us how they and doctors overprice everything to make a profit, that they only cure the diseases that will bring in the most money, that they aren't interested in doing something that will only help 100 people because that won't make money...Granted, I'm cynical and knew all this ahead of time, but I'm surprised they came out and told us. They probably thought we were prospective employees or something. Personally, the whole show they put on was very elitist and disgusting, and in no way would I be able to work for a company like them.
    • Barbarino, on 10/11/2007, -5/+1that is why the Gov has the orphan drug act. Of course they won't plow 10 billion bucks into curing 10 people. How would they make money?
      • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That is the problem of capitalism: the goal is to make extra money for a few to live a luxury life, money that could be used on solving important human problems.
        Capitalism is not human. We had better get rid of it before it gets rid of us, for example with robots.
        • darthsabbath, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Right, because that worked so well for other nations in the past. Capitalism isn't perfect, but it rewards hard work and effort and encourages people to work hard. Yes, a few will get wealthy, but so what? Good for them I say. If there's no incentive to work hard (wealth and property), why work at all? So what's your solution? Communism? Socialism? No thanks.
    • Trumped, on 10/11/2007, -8/+0Well Jenn, why dont you go out and start a business. No need to break even or turn a profit, just run off the "charity of the people." ..... See ya in bankrupcy court. Oh, and if you are really as dim as your comment suggests ... you would never get a job at a pharma compacy. They have access to way too much talent to even consider you. Go on your merry way being cynical ... see how far that takes ya!!!
      • iDragonFly, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5"Go on your merry way being cynical ... see how far that takes ya!!!"

        Oh the irony from a troll ...

        At least 'Jenn' isn't MORALLY bankrupt.

        Those talented employees you refer to ... are either terribly desperate, or they're jaded to the point of having sold their humanity for a monetary reward.
      • BGFeltenink, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Holy crap! You are a true sociopath Trumped, do you laugh when you pass a horrible car accident too?

        "NOT MY PROBLEM, SUCKERS!! BWAHAHAHAHAHA.... oooh a cat to plow!"
    • thatwasknutz, on 10/11/2007, -3/+1Hey Jenn maybe they have to overprice things because of an overbearing regulator body that we call the federal government. You realize that with the further regulations that you people are calling for that the costs will only rise. There will be no incentives for any pharmaceutical company to research new drugs because there will be no real profit...the brilliant minds who would normally be working to save people will move to other industries where they can make MONEY! OH NO HOW EVIL! THEY ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELVES! In the long run no one will be better off. Why is it that the majority of research and development occurs in America? Because we are one of the last remaining systems that is not completely socialized. Please everyone lets not let America turn into a socialist state.
  • UluvBeerSoDoI, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2STOP THE FEAR MONGERING!!

    Why is it that I never see a story of a big Pharma being afraid of someone rather then the other way around. Don't let these corporations put fear in your heart!!
  • tuzziel, on 10/11/2007, -4/+2In other news: It is good to be a private doctor in America.
  • OakRidger, on 10/11/2007, -2/+11About four years ago, there was a report on a long-term study on the use of high-dollar blood pressure meds versus the use of generic diuretics. Turned out that the diuretics - that cost a couple cents per pill - were as effective as - and in some cases more effective than - the high dollar blood pressure meds. They're also safer, the long-term effects are known...but doctors keep prescribing the high-dollar meds.

    I've seen patients where their treatment regularly exceeds five million ($5,000,000) per year for medication alone - clotting factor for hemophilia is a complex and expensive item to make. Yet, where the insurance plan is paying out $400,000 for a 30 day treatment, the patient is only paying a copay of $20. Where does the insurance company get the money to pay for that? They're not in business to lose money - they're there to make a profit - so they hike everyone's costs to cover those folks that have very expensive treatments.

    People rail against the insurance business (and guess what - I'm one of them), they scream about how much they have to pay on a monthly basis, they get upset over having to get prior authorizations and overrides and the like - but then, instead of doing what would save money all around (getting generics, going through mail, understanding their plans), they demand the brand name, high-cost medications.

    An example - Vytorin is a fairly new cholesterol medication...but it's actually not. It's a combination of two generically available medications, Zetia and Zocor. But rather than the inconvenience of taking two pills at a generic copay of about half the brand copay (depending on the plan) - they'll pony up the high dollar copay, and cause their plan to pay about twice what it would for the two generics.

    I'm not a doctor - I work for a Pharmacy Benefits Manager, and I see this stuff going on every day. I see things that make me want to scream - the hoops set out for approval for medications can be insane - but I also see that the plans are trying to save money - which would also allow the patients to have to pay less to them on a regular basis. Someones grandpa is taking Aricept - but when he takes his MMSE, his scores are going down, and the medication isn't working. Should the plan continue to pump money into treating the disease?

    Those folks who are calling for government run health care - think about it - this is the same government (whether democrat or republican) that is trying to manage Medicare Med D. It's the same government that created and runs the IRS - the same government that runs the USPS and Amtrak.

    I'm sure I'll get flamed - but thanks for the opportunity to vent a little.
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -2/+5Ban ads for drugs and people will stop asking for new expensive drugs! Such ads are forbidden in many countries for a very good reason. Nationalize Big Pharma and doctors won't get bribed anymore!
      Government-run health-care works better in many countries than the for profit system that kills so many people each year in the US. Dozens of countries spend less than the US and their citizens live longer and healthier lives. The case for universal health-care is logical and proven.
    • Mullinsmcd, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2In regards to the beginning of your comment, I think that its understandable that they would have to make up the $5mil difference somewhere, but if all things were relatively equal, most Big Pharma companies would not be raking in these huge year end net incomes. There might not ever be a way for us as a country to be on a single payer system but it is certain that we all need a change in the current system to provide better care for the poor and those without insurance.
  • jamesallen74, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11What a sick country we would live in, if the government comes after Moore and these 9/11 heroes.

    Question to government: What should you be more mad at?
    a. That this group of people broke the law and went to Cuba to get the care they NEED
    b. That our Health Care got put to shame by CUBAN health care by treating OUR 9/11 heroes better than we can!

    Kinda of like what Tony Campolo tells churches. It is sad that:
    1. 30,000 children died in 3rd world countries last night
    2. That you don't give a *****
    3. That you are more upset that I said the word ***** in church than you are upset that 30,000 children died.
  • Alpione, on 10/11/2007, -9/+4It's so funny to hear people whine about this, as if the US didn't have the best health care in the world. I get insurance through my company, like millions and millions of Americans, and it always comes through for me. Two years ago I paid $500 out of pocket for a $10,000 surgery and care. Oh, woe is me... The fact is that huge amounts of people in this country do just fine witih the current health care system. Sure there are problems and we need to find a way to get insurance to everyone (without making those who already have insurance pay for everyone else through taxes.) But this hysteria is typical of liberals - seize the absolute worst-case scenari and make it seem like it's the norm....
    • CogitatorX, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Huge amounts of people DON'T get the care they need. Kids die in the US from lack of medical care. Good for you that you're one of the lucky ones but you need to get into reality and realize not everyone has the same opportunities you do. The fact that 25+ million people can't afford health care is not some sort of "liberal hysteria" but an ugly fact of life in the USA.
      If we can afford to fight a war that benefits a handful of wealthy citizens and a small group of multinational corporations to the tune of millions of dollars an HOUR we can sure as hell make sure everyone has access to health care.
    • blacklilyninja, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1huge amounts is not everyone. and ask yourself about your deductible if you have to in repeatedly for similar issues.
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2You say "Sure there are problems and we need to find a way to get insurance to everyone".
      You do not say how. So I ask you the question: HOW?
      Of course you will not answer because the only answer is universal health-care paid for through taxes. Taxes that on the whole would cost less than today's system: 500 billion health-care dollars spent on: corporate profits, executive salaries, advertising, marketing, the cost of paperwork,...Getting rid of HMOs and Big Pharma is the only way to end this huge waste and to stop killing citizens.
    • ChrisGranger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The number of people in the US who have no health insurance is more than the entire population of Canada. If you think that it's funny that people whine about this, your sense of humor is different than mine. The best health care system in the world isn't worth a wooden nickel if you die because you can't afford it.
    • jamesallen74, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1WOW, there is the "me" mentality. "I got mine and it works, so it must be fine" so it must run smooth, right? Please.

      True, that insurance companies APPROVE claims all the time, BUT they do go OUT OF THEIR WAY to see if they can DENY IT!! They take the gamble knowing 6 out of 10 will not fight back. They WILL decline at least 5%, 1 out of 20, that 1 person is a human being. They will hope that person will give up.

      In the movie, out of the 25,000 emails Moore received in 1 week, hundreds were from INSIDERS!!! Employees of these companies and they are SICK with what they see.

      Get a clue. Read some books on it and find out what OTHER people say about this system besides Moore. They will actually SHOW and PROVE to you it's AS BAD, and WORSE than what Moore says.

      Wake up America!!
  • LeeSoong, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5I want to see the political suicide of anyone
    who would dare arrest a 911 responder,
    sick from rescuing people from the fallen Twin Towers,
    for going to Cuba,
    to get free medical care,
    they were denied by their own USA government.

    How Outrageously Sad is That?
    • Alpione, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0First - was that some sort of poem? Interesting formatting...

      I'd love to see the real story on how this came about. It's clearly a typical Moore publicity stunt. A filmmaker can make anything look like anything, and Moore's fans eat it up with a spoon without questioning a single point. I encourage all of you to go down to Cuba and see what kind of treatment people get when there's not an anti-US, pro-Socialist filmmaker on site. A bunch of gullible people around here, that's for sure...
      • iDragonFly, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2So you're saying that you've been to Cuba?
        How'd you manage to get permission?

        Please enlighten us, the poor spoon lugging gullible types ...
      • ChrisGranger, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2You know what? I don't even care if it was a publicity stunt. The treatment that many 9/11 rescuers have gotten has been insufficient at best, and that is obscene. Those people should have their every need taken care of, period.
    • ISIfunded911, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4Many more people would see that the US is now a fascist police state controlled by the corporations, and that a revolution, either peaceful or violent, is needed.
  • Phos, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9SiCKO was a huge awakening for me [and the end of the movie, I was deeply offended, embarrassed that our Country is doing this, and outraged]. I always knew the system was corrupt, but I didn't realize just how bad it is. It doesn't surprise me that Pharm and Insurance companies are trying to smear this film or Moore: these CEO's, crooked doctors/hospitals/companies are earning a lot of money denying people coverage/treatments.

    America needs focus on the health care industry and make a change. It doesn't matter what political affiliation you're associated with, just watch the movie.
  • zabzany, on 10/11/2007, -1/+3Sicko was a great movie and also a rude awakening on how america treats its citizens. the most outrageous part was when they said that a medication costs about i think 100 dollars in america costs like 5 pesos in cuba.
    • Vagabond91, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13.20 pesos or .05 cents American. Basically $120 inhaler medication in America, costs $.05 in Cuba.
  • thorlax, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I never realized how bad it was
  • kinerry, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2It's like pulling teeth to get people to watch this movie that are against a socialized health care system.

    They already have come to a conclusion without watching it.
    • gojeda, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1Or perhaps Moore's reputation for disingenuousness precedes him.
  • CaHealth11, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0There are obviously a lot of aspects of our healthcare system that are inefficient, however, we still have one of the best worldwide.
    I belive that government intervention is not the asnwer but there does need to be something done to control costs . That problem is systemic.
    http://www.healthinsuranceshopper.com
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