"In France, the government is afraid of the people. In America, it's the opposite"
I saw SiCKO last night. It was brilliant.Moore went to France to speak to a room full of expats living in Paris to discuss the French healthcare system. What he found was a group of people who loved it. "I've found France to be the most family-friendly country around" one woman said. As evidence of this she pointed out that;
- All health care is free in France
- The doctors will make house calls 24-7... for free.
- Sick leave is unlimited - if you're sick, you get time off.
- As a new-hire, companies are mandated to provide 5 weeks of vacation when you join
- College is free
- Parents get regulated, professional day care for about $1 per hour
- Parents get respite care - including doing your laundry.
In this country, the government has no reason to listen to the people. In France, they do. Ask Marie Antoinette.
The US government likes it that we're afraid. They want us ignorant, insecure and demoralized.
If we, as individuals, keep our heads down and hope for the best, maybe it'll all work out. This is rarely true.
From Pink Floyd's Sheep
Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.
You better watch out,
There may be dogs about
Ive looked over jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.
What do you get for pretending the dangers not real.
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes.
Now things are really what they seem.
No, this is no bad dream.
The lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green he leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives he releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, he hath great power, and great hunger.
When cometh the day we lowly ones,
Through quiet reflection, and great dedication
Master the art of karate,
Lo, we shall rise up,
And then well make the buggers eyes water.
Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream.
Wave upon wave of demented avengers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.
Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as youre told.
Get out of the road if you want to grow old.
3 Comments:
Little Stash says we're going to the movies today to see Transformers. I guess Sicko needs to get on the list for sometime this week as well.
Great stuff.
I just love it when people point out some minor flaws in the national healthcare systems in other countries and say "See, it doesn't work".
The US has all sorts of programs around the world to pick what's working.
There is ample money to easily fund the a national healthcare system. What little extra we might pay in taxes will be more than offset by eliminating the 30% overhead in the insurance biz.
Good post!
Toward the end of the movie, Moore was walking around Paris, taking in the sights, while in his voice-over wondering why the powers that be including the media want us to hold France in contempt.
It's because we're docile (in ways of democracy) and the French are not. French citizens are not people that the kleptocracy want us emulating.
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