The single most profound thing from Sicko

[SmileyRose]

The Americans are afraid of their government. In France, the government is afraid of the citizens.

[armyowalgreens]

1. The French should be afraid of their government...

[aquart]

2. Honey, they still know how to make a guillotine.

[armyowalgreens]

3. I think the whole "being afraid of the other" thing is weak...

A citizen should always have a healthy amount of cynicism towards his or her government balanced with a certain amount of love for what the government does. The government should never fear the people. They should see the people as their people and they should love them as their people.

After all, in the end the government and the people are the same.

When the government fears the people, they attempt to marginalize dissent. What we want is a balance.

[depakid]

4. Americans are afraid of their own shadows

[Locrian]

5. the most profound thing I got out of it

The most profound thing I got out of it is that in France and elsewhere - nurses, doctors and people in general get to ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE.

The saddest thing I saw was that the US a HUGE percentage of time and energy was wasted trying to fuck someone over. The whole industry of insurance is nothing but a giant fuck you industry. I pity the people working in it, having to go to work day after day - not to HELP but as a hired gun for some mega company. Ditto with doctors, nurse, et all.

Yeah - the saddest thing I saw was such a WASTE of potential to actually help - and to feel GOOD about it (about helping).



This "profit" model is going to destroy us if we dont do something. There is more to life than what $$'s can measure.

[Auggie]

6. I was impressed with that statement too, though technically

I would say the French are more informed and engaged than their American counterparts.

[lame54]

7. Here is the smoking gun...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QkgUkM0o6Q

[Sal Minella]

8. How did we escape having for-profit fire departments?

And I wonder why I'm not being charged a monthly fee for the air I breathe.

[lame54]

10. They'll get around to that

[Jane in Texas]

9. Most profound thing for me is how utterly backwards we are

How can we live in the supposedly "best nation on earth" and not consider healthcare a right?