61. In reply to Charisse's comment: If she is so concerned about the well being of her patient than she would know that there are many many programs available through the pharmaceutical companies that would allow this patient to access most if not all of his medicines for free. It is the responsibility of caring healthcare professionals like herself to direct patients to these programs. Many healthcare institutions ban pharmaceutical company representatives because they do not want their providers influenced by "perks" such as information and patient education materials as well as information that would help patients with access to medications.

AMR at 11:23PM on Jul 11th 2007

62. We need to quit worshiping at the altar of profit in this country. Some things are necessary whether they turn a profit or not. As far as saying Michael Moore is pushing "socialized" medicine - SO WHAT? We have a socialized public education system in this country, we have a socialized highway system, we have a socialized library system, we have a socialized medical system for seniors called Medicare that actually works - all these things are paid for with "taxes," and by the way, Bush's war is sure as hell "socialized." In California, when Enron was sabotaging our electricity allocation to illegally boost their profits, the lights stayed on in Los Angeles while the rest of the state had rolling blackouts. Why? Because back in the 1930's, a bunch of "socialists" socialized our Department of Water and Power in LA, because they realized some things were needed whether they turned a profit or not. We need to quit being emotionally and intellectually manipulated whenever someone pokes us with the big stupid stick of calling something "socialist;" if it works, use it. Capitalism works best in some circumstances, and socialism works best in others. They certainly have free enterprise in Canada and Europe. People say "socialism" in this country with this whacked out religiosity that's just irrational. Let's grow up and quit worrying about big red bogey men and use whatever works best in a given situation. When it comes to this deplorable lack of a health car system, I totally support a national system and I'm leaning heavily on my representatives to get with the program.

Kimberley at 1:31AM on Jul 12th 2007

63. No wonder so many Americans are risking their lives fleeing to Cuba. How fortunate those folks are to live in a country with such a wonderful health care system!

jim at 5:12AM on Jul 12th 2007

64. Propaganda? Who uses more propaganda than our current administration? Read the news. Today Bush will declare progress in Iraq. Yeah, sure. That's not propaganda or chosing your facts, that is plain lying. The same way he has lied every day he has been in the Oval Office. And when did such behavior become "American?" Gee, I wish I was a republican apologist so I could create fairy tales, claim moral superiority and accuse the other side of being evil, while others who also take a head in the sand approach to American life would actually beieve what I am saying.

John at 7:39AM on Jul 12th 2007

65. The problem with Michael Moore is not his opinions, but the fact that he makes these movies, and markets them as documentaries. Documentaries should present both views of an issue and make no judgements one way or the other - leave it to the sudience to make the final judgement. Moore fails miserably at this as his movies are clearly biased and have been shown to present inaccurate and misleading information.

I also find amusement in the notion that existing socialized programs 'work'. I guess we would have to define the meaning of 'works' to really make judgement. In my opinion, our public school system, especially in the inner cities, are disasters and even after pumping more and more money into them, they really aren't getting better. Do they work? Sure, students have more knowledge then they would without it, but the system clearly isn't efficient. Private schools do the same job - and some argue that they do it better - and for much less money per student. Our public school systems at one time worked really well back when they were managed locally. Now with a federal bureaucracy that really eats up a lot of taxes and produces no results, plus some other reasons I won't discuss since its out of topic, the system has failed our youth.

Without addressing the failure of individual responsibility of the residents of New Orleans, the stories about how the government dropped the ball after Katrina are wide spread and it wasn't just a Bush/FEMA problem, it was a system failure up and down the spectrum including the city and it's mayor, the state and it's governor and FEMA and it's directors. That socialized system didn't work at all and years later, still isn't working, is mismanaged and inefficient and we want to put the responsibility of health care for millions of people in the same government hands? The reality is that socialized healthcare might 'work' in providing healthcare for everybody, but one would have to wonder about the quality of that care if left up to the management of a government bureaucracy.

The FDA has been in existance for how long? And how would you rate their job in keeping food and drugs safe? They do an OK job as a watchdog for the unethical or unscrupulous, but otherwise, they get a D- at best.

Keep in mind that once you have government healthcare, or government anything, that's one more aspect where they are involved and and controlling some aspect of our lives, and once they are in, they don't get out.

Ed Onimus at 7:55AM on Jul 12th 2007

66. Anyone who hasn't gotten it yet that a documentary supplies a viewpoint is not playing with a full deck. MICHAEL MOORE IS A HERO. I'm an Independent, and I was furious when I saw Farenheit 9/11. Imagine how MUCH more furious when I checked facts and found out he was RIGHT!

M Dooley at 8:06AM on Jul 12th 2007

67. The facts are still that the US ranks last among industrial nations in medical care. The facts are that drug companies and hospitals have conspired to make obscene profits with the aid of compromised politicians such as Hatch, Frist, Hyde and Hastert. The fascist reactionaries can call Moore all the names in the book, but the facts are that he has exposed to our revulsion another part of the neo-cons contract on America as a sham and a putrid festering rot hole of profit before humanity.

BigSteve at 8:47AM on Jul 12th 2007

68. I guess I would like to see evidence for your "facts", and the term "obscene profits" is subjective that has little to do with facts.

A hospital that doesn't make a profit can't expand to meet the demands of a growing population. A hospital that doesn't make a profit can't find the capital needed to replace aging fixtures and medical equipment. A hospital that doesn't make a profit can't hire high quality doctors and nurses. A drug company that doesn't make a profit won't have the capital needed for additional research and development for new drugs need to fight new - and old - problems. A drug company that doesn't make a profit also can't expand to meet the demands of a growing population. Companies that don't make profits don't stay in business; they don't have employees, they produce nothing and help no one.

Ed Onimus at 9:32AM on Jul 12th 2007

69. You know, since we are last in medical care, why not adopt the system that most European countries use. Lets pay 50-60% taxes, and then on top of that 19-22% sales tax. Oh I forgot the 10% church taxes. Now we can all be happy and be feed our medical care. Geez, people, get away from McDonald's, sitting at your computers/playing videos games, or if your nice comfy gas guzzling SUVs and talk a walk or ride a bike. Ahhh, I forgot you might miss a reality show episode.

jim g at 3:45AM on Jul 13th 2007

70. It's too bad that most people don't realize that there is a 3rd alternative: Deregulation. The reason that prices don't come down in healthcare is because the market is not being allowed to work, due to government intervention and protectionism. In industries with less regulation, prices come down with technological innovation and economies of scale. Obviously, the market in healthcare is simpy not free enough. Deregulate, don't socialize.

Dale Black at 12:40AM on Aug 15th 2007

71. Michael Moore is a heavy weight hero who came from a valley of frustration in Flint Mich. to battle the injustice inflicted upon the masses by greed and insincitivity. May God have mercy on your blindless soul if the heroics of this man are not evident to you.

Jim Childers at 11:13PM on Aug 16th 2007