So I went to go see Michael Moore’s new movie last night at a sneak preview.
It was well done in that Michael Moore kind of way we are all used to now: humourous, insightful, thought provoking…and ultimately just downright sad at how some of the things in the U.S. are either behind the times due to lack of caring or policies that are in place due to corporate greed and political control.
During the film, I couldn’t help feeling a little envious of folks in Canada, the U.K. or France for the healthcare they are entitled to. How in Britain all meds, regardless of quantity cost £6.65 – or about $13. If you are over 60 or unemployed the same drugs are free of charge.
People in the U.S. (and other places) will tell you that HIV is a “manageable disease”. And it is – if you can afford for it to be. With decent (not outstanding) insurance, I pay about $1500-2000 for my medications per year. Without insurance, it would be about $2000 per month. That does not include blood draws, doctor visits or the like.
How do folks do this without any assistance or coverage? The short answer is: they don’t, or are in debt up-to their eyeballs.
There was an interesting observation in the movie on why France has got such great services in place that are cost-free to their citizen (even ex-pats who live there): the government fears them……and in the U.S., we fear the government.
To a degree this is true – we don’t shut down ‘the system’ for weeks on end and with hundreds of thousands of folks protesting at any one given time. France does.
It is time for a change – and as much as I’d love to blame this whole thing on Shrub, I cannot. But since 2008 is right around the corner, it is time to hold the dozens of candidates who are running for president to have a formulated healthcare initiative before we nominate them…..not promises of looking into this after they are in office.
And lest folks think this is and HIV/AIDS thing I’m griping about – it isn’t. Families, friends, partners (or someone they know) suffer from some malady that could bankrupt them in a heartbeat.
Go see the film when it opens this week. There are no answers to it, but enough questions that might get a bunch of us (even me) more politically active.
(Blobby stands off his soapbox)
Filed under: HIV/AIDS, Inspirational, Movies, Nightlife, Politics
