46. Helen,

You're smoking something if you don't think Moore is an "elitist" also. You question Gupta's background while failing to question the Millions of dollars Moore is making? Moore isn't exactly poor.

y0zee at 4:15PM on Jul 11th 2007

47. michael, all Republicans hate Michael Moore because he exposed the murder Americans committed when Bush ordered them into his "Choice" war for oil. At least, this is what the war started over....as an oilman who went bust, Bushy-tail wanted to get back into the oil business after his term as President ended. What better way to get back into it, that bomb the country of the second largest producer? but first he had to kill Saddam, to get to the oil. This is where it all started going on 5 years ago. If he pulls out of Iraq now, his deal with Iraqi government will fall through. Not oil, for America, but oil for Bush..after the death toll of Americans is at 3615 casualties and wounded at 27,000. Iraqi death toll will never be know...talk about a self-centered, liar, thief. People are still wondering why we ever started awar in Iraq....OIL! OIL! OIL!

Anna L. Richard at 12:47PM on Jul 13th 2007

48. It doesnt matter if uban Medial is free, its not worth that muh.......anything else is a lie....

Eugene Dalton at 7:17PM on Jul 11th 2007

49. Moore won that debate, hands down. Gupta ended up conceding to many of Moore's statements. I think they both came out looking pretty good though...after some fireworks (overblown by the press), they settled into a valuable debate.
I have to laugh at the simple minds that conclude that Moore hates this country. His pov may be different than yours, but he cares enough to put it out there and getting us to take notice. Encouraging people to stand up, take notice and to discuss important issues are attributes we need more of.
Anyone who does not think that we are living in the midst of a healthcare crisis in this country is not paying attention. It's a sin that many of our elderly who have given themselves to this, the greatest country in the world, should have to decide between doctors and dogfood or medication and cat food. We all deserve better.

Pam at 4:47PM on Jul 11th 2007

50. Michael Moore is totally wrong about how long it takes Canadians to get a medical appt. From relatives who visit here often - it can take 1 - 3 months for a routine visit with the longer times being for things like a CRT Scan, etc.
Talk to Canadians who come to the USA when they are worried about some symptoms and want an immediate check-up or referral with a specialist!!!

Andrwe DeLuise at 5:08PM on Jul 11th 2007

51. I've just read Charisse's comments. Even tho- it is lengthy; it tells it like it really is with the horrors that some of us health care workers experience on a daily basis. It is about bias &/or affordability and American health care costs plenty!
I am also a single mom and I have a sick child (epilepsy + depression)and worry about what will happen to her when I retire. I am near retirement age but simply cannot afford to due to needing my health care insurance. Yes, my kid can go the MD route but I work directly with the mentally ill and
realize the honest truth about who gets the better care. It's NOT those on CARE or CAID! To be fair, there are care givers out there that seem to do their best regardless of what kind of insurance a patient might have. Who are these health care givers? The lower ones on the ladder such as nurses, counselors, med techs and younger resident doctors. It appears once the pockets of medical doctors or more so insurances co. execs. do not hold as much money as their colleagues in the field--the race is on! I haven't seen SICKO yet. I did watch CNN Larry King last night. Just from the bit on a half hour show added to what I already realize as a mental health counselor in the medical system, I can tell that MM has done it again! He's pissed-off the BIG money-makers! There are those of us that work our buns off providing quality care equally among our patients and those of them (the ones who hired me + contract with insurance cos. & phamaceutical cos.) that rake in the money and provide quanity of care for patients in order to provide quality of care for themselves. I, too, would not mind paying more taxes to live in a country that would equally treat one another (all of us!) for equal health care services.
Once again, "Go Michael Moore!"

Sandy at 5:20PM on Jul 11th 2007

52. Andrwe DeLuise:
I don't know what your relatives are smoking, but I lived 33 years in Canada before moving to the States (if it weren't for other compelling reasons, I would go back - JUST FOR THE HEALTH CARE!).

In Canada, I never waited to see a doctor - EVER. And I have chronic health issues. If my GP couldn't see me within a couple of days, I would go to one of the many neighborhood clinics (a lot of which are 24 hours) to see another doctor of my choice. They could access my medical records from my GP with my permission, if necessary.

I've had many CT scans (upwards of 20) - for both emergencies and chronic conditions - and I've never waited. Ever. Here in the States, I've waited. I've waited for emergency/specialist care - when I've been on brutal painkillers for a week at a time waiting for an appointment. That would never happen in Canada.

So I don't know what your relatives are feeding you... I was going to say that maybe they live in Nunavut, but even in remote communities, doctors are flown in weekly or bi-weekly.

You can find horror stories in any circumstance - I know of way more horror stories in the US than in every other industrialized country put together. Polling data shows that Americans want more universal health care; citizens of every other industrialized country (every one of which has universal care) do not. The Kaiser Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundations (as well as the Pew Center, I think) have all the polling data on this).

At a very basic level, yes, universal health care costs more in taxes. But YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING MORE in taxes for Medicare and Medicaid than other industrialized nations (see Britain and Canada in particular; I don't know about others) pay for their entire health care system. The difference? PROFIT. It's a lot cheaper to provide health care to everyone when you're not paying for the profits of HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, lobbyists, campaign contributions, etc., etc. - which is what the majority of your tax dollars for Medicaid and Medicare pay for.

Think about it. It's not rocket science. Every other country in the world figured it out. And they DON'T want to change it.

Heather at 5:22PM on Jul 11th 2007

53. ERROR:
In my previous post, I implied that people in countries with universal health care don't want it. What they don't want is to LOSE it. The vast majority of people in these countries want to KEEP their system of universal health care, because it works. Yes, there are problems - but not near as many as what I've observed in the few years I've lived here.

Apologies.

Frustration with the rampant misinformation flying around made me type faster than I could accurately communicate...

Heather at 5:26PM on Jul 11th 2007

54. Whoever wants to see the results of governmental efficiency of socialized medicine need only visit any Indian Health Service to see how well care is allocated.Sorry Mr. Moore but for all it's flaws I will keep our present system of health care.It is my choice to have three or four tv's and drive the newest model of auto instead of putting that into increased health care coverage. We as American's do not care about medical care coverage as much as we care about having all the other trappings of modern life in the USA.

nativenurse at 6:01PM on Jul 11th 2007

55. The facts are clear when it comes to the medical system in the USA. Medical care in America excellls intwo areas only. Crisis or truama care and elective surgery. As far as being the garudians of ones health, the medical system is a total failure. Medical care is one of the leading causes of death in this country. Prescription drug uses is another leading casue of death in this country and that is essentially the MDs number one tool followed by surgical intervention. The medical system is no place to seek health. If you are crushed in a car accident they rock and can save your life. Want a smaller nose or to have your shoulder scoped out, they can do that well as well. But when it comes to health care or enhancement thier entire paradigm is way way off base.

tbossart at 6:08PM on Jul 11th 2007

56. When most Feature films come out, the stars get a few minutes on talk shows to plug the film.
When this lard-ass makes a Documentary he is interviewwd before, the film is released & EVERY F****** day that it is in the theaters.
Why do you give him so much free publicity? Could it be liberal bias? Oh, of course not.

Paul at 8:05PM on Jul 11th 2007

57. Michael Moore is my hero, that man is so courageous and to bring to the table for discussion the shame of the American health care system run by greedy Republicans who could care less about the poor and middle class, we are less that ants under their feet. Any one who criticizes what he is doing obviously is very wealthy or never had a very ill family member and then had to go bankrupt with the 20% copay of blue cross. See what line you wait in if you arent rich and have no insurance, their isnt a line for you and they will watch as you die on the hospital floor in the emergency room as they did to that woman in California. To all those who criticize MM you too will one day be sick and so you too will lose everything in this current system or maybe you will get to watch your kid die as you head to another hospital because the first one you got to refuses to treat because they arent part of your authorized facilities. Wake up, face the facts their is nothing so special about you that this cant happen to you as it has happened to countless of your fellow citizens. Do you think if you dont wake up these greedy insurance companies will give you and your family a pass? Wake up, Wake up, Wake up.

Kathy Shrum at 2:25PM on Jul 14th 2007

58. Michael Moore speaks the truth and do you know what the problem with that is, most American's CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! Say what you wan't about him, at least he's not afraid to open a dialogue about the kind of things that we should be talking about in this country.

Glenn at 9:07PM on Jul 11th 2007

59. I'm REALLY disappointed with CNN !! Although I don't watch TV, my parents watch The Situation Room and are visiting. I came into the room when the interview started and knew this would be a big deal, as it should be.

Gupta painted an intentionally false picture of inaccuracies; never apologized for it for the unfair and untrue spin (except for one blatant lie); and CNN got caught playing lapdog for its Big Pharma advertisers. I would expect this from Fox, and seeing it happen on CNN makes me think I should start getting all my national news from the BBC.

Michael Moore will go down in history as an American hero.

Phil at 9:42PM on Jul 11th 2007

60. I didn't see the debate between Gupta and Moore. I did see 'Sicko' though...and thought it was pretty damn good. I like the idea of a universal health-care system...but don't believe it will work out in America...at least not in my lifetime...and I'm in my late 20s. The system can work...but implementing it will require a level of unselfishness and sacrifice that our generations would not find acceptable. It's all about the bottom line...and what's in it for me in our society with only few exceptions. We also must have credible political leadership before getting the ball rolling on a system that places more control into those jokers hands.

Joshua at 6:22PM on Jul 14th 2007