SICKO - or - The Corporatists do Health Care

I was anxious to see Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" in the theater when it was released. Alas, it did not grace a screen of our local cinema. With only 8 screens, classics like "Saw IV" and "Epic Movie" could not be denied their billing. However, through the wonders of DVD technology, I finally saw "Sicko" this evening in the company of my son, Miller.
As much as I already know,as a physician, of the current mess of the American health care system, I felt angry and frustrated by our current situation as exhibited in the movie. I deal daily with many of the problems highlighted in the film. I have read many books, especially recently, that present the problems and inequities of U.S. health care. The solution is elusive, but will require something like a federally mandated "universal coverage."
One can only feel a sense of shame at the inhumane system that has evolved here. Many are at fault, including physicians and especially their representation by the AMA ( I here submit that I proudly have never been a member of the AMA.) But most at fault is our hypercapitalistic system, courtesy of those who stand to profit most- primarily health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. Certainly hospital systems, home health providers, retail pharmaceuticals and others game the system and want their piece of the healthcare fiscal pie. But the major malefactors are insurance and big pharma and the legislators and occupiers of the executive branch who are heavily influenced by donations from the aforementioned.
I was especially beguiled by an interview by Moore with an elderly British labor party gentleman. He gave the history of the origin of the British National Health Service. It was formed in 1948, in the wake of WWII and in a mood of shared sacrifice for the common good after the devastation and deprivations of that war. (As I recall, there was a similar consideration in the U.S., defeated in large part by the AMA.) He made the point that citizens can be particularly controlled by two factors: fear and despair. In America, those in the lower socioeconomic strata are put in a situation of helplessness and despair, knowing that they depend on their employment for health insurance, and fearful of risking that employment and being at the mercy of a merciless system should they or a family member become ill. We see other situations in this country where fear and misinformation are used by politicians to manipulate the masses (ie. 9/11 and WMD, gay marriage and guns and abortion). He made the point that the only remedy is the vote, as , at least presently, our system is still democratic. He iterated (also a quote from the excellent movie "V for Vendetta") that people should not fear their government, government should fear the people. In Europe, the governments do have a healthy respect for the interests of their people, as there is true fear of the power of the vote. But as the "powers that be" in the U.S. control the media, voters cannot get the truth, and cannot then vote their interests.( A sticky situation to be addressed in a separate diatribe---- I mean entry.)
The bottom line, I believe, of Moore's movie is that, at our core, we Americans are a generous and good people. Powerful forces, motivated by greed and the maintenance of power, are preventing us from having a fair, humane and cost effective health care system in this country. Universal health care is accomplished in many other countries with less economic wealth, and with excellent outcomes and satisfaction.
The financial power and political influence of the "health care industrial complex" has contributed to their entrenchment in this country. They have a huge Washington lobby. Hillary Clinton- that old ex-health care reformer- has received HUGE campaign contributions from the health care lobby. All the major players in Washington (including W) have big debts to these people.
The odds are stacked against the citizens on this issue. The corporatists, as in most issues, have the upper hand. But the people have the vote. We must get past the jingoism of the day and yield influence as is our duty, in an organized fashion as urged by Edmund Burke. I fear that if the current inequities and inhumanities persist, we will see a deterioration in our democracy that could ultimately lead to severe unpleasantries.
Watching Sicko makes me feel that in many ways we live, humanistically, in a third world country. It is our duty as citizens to change this status quo.