Michael Moore Defends Sicko on ABC 20/20 (Preview)

NO, I don't think it's a privilege for the rich. I also don't think it's a "right". Life is a right- Constitution says so. Health care is a product. It's produced by the labor of people and therefore is for sale, not free. I believe it should be an affordable choice to purchase it.

"Not to be rude, but who are you to decide what is enough for someone else."

Aren't you doing the same thing in the way of saying that medicare is good enough for the less fortunate?

Access to high quality health care is a right we should all enjoy equally.

Now if you're talking HD TVs and BMW's, that's completely different...but you're trying to make it the same.

"The fire department is a bad example."

For you it is yes.

You're right, we do disagree at a very basic level. My opinion is that high quality health care is a basic human right for any citizen, while you think it's a privilege.

"and you believe the government's roll is to protect us from ourselves."

No, I believe the Government should do whatever we want it to....and right now I'd like it to enact social insurance for all of it's citizens.

Just like every other country in the free, industrialized world.

Not to be rude, but who are you to decide what is enough for someone else. In this country, a non-socialist country, the government has absolutely NO business telling anyone "we've decided you make too much money...it's for the common good. Even liberal politicians vote themselves pay hikes.

I think where you and I disagree at a basic level is that I believe the government's roll is to protect us from each other, and you believe the government's roll is to protect us from ourselves.

The fire department is a bad example. Fire departments are locally funded by the municipalities they service. There is no national fire department that is looking after my house. Not to mention, property taxes pay for it, therefore property owners are protected.

"..it was not financially beneficial."

Yes greed is an ugly thing. If the U.S. were to go universal it's sad to say that instead of making 500k a year a Doctor might only make a mere 400k a year. It's harsh I know but it's something I think people (including Docs) could deal with.

The fire dept. for example in areas of the country were privatized. Didn't work. Socialized it and made it much better. Today it's not even a second thought on peoples minds.

That said, a national database would be implemented with UHC and would reduce or eliminate the need for paperwork. Reducing costs and thereby "streamlining".

Health care is too important to trust free market entities with. Too many ways to neglect the customer and get away with it.

Someone in another thread brought up cellphone providers to use as an example of "free market" working....how?

I pay almost $60 a month for basic cellphone service. I don't consider that "low priced".

Cut that in half and I would start to believe.

...And my basic point is, not everyone can afford to have one. Free market health care will not make it available to all..and they shouldn't be forced into a half-assed poverty program with tons of paperwork.

"Hell, we fought a revolution to improve on Europe's failures."

True but they are a lot freer than we are in a lot of areas now. They have more basic human rights while fascism is creeping it's way into the US. Maybe it's about time we did look back.

The clue is that they would never give up their social systems (they're not perfect I know) but we're just begging to have our system changed.

I do see the problem, I don't agree with the fix. The fix is contrary to how this country works. Everyone looks to Europe for answers, but this country is premised on NOT looking to Europe. Hell, we fought a revolution to improve on Europe's failures.

Totally agree that the Current US system is broke. Rather than scrap it and replace it with government run, it can be fixed with free market purchasing power of the consumers. This too eliminates the money hording insurance industry by forcing them to be competitive. They compete, innovate, improve service or consumers go elsewhere. Another other company WILL capitalize on bad business practices of other carriers.

"...by streamlining the process..."

Name one instance that government "streamlined" anything better than the private sector while driving costs down---not subsidizing it with taxpayer money, but truly driving the costs down consistently.

"Well Canada has a shortage on Doctors, which causes the wait times."

Canada has a shortage of Doctors because in the 90"s, 10,000 left their practices because it was not financially beneficial. Socialized care directly to blame