Feeling sick about healthcare…
Today I went to the movies with fifth congressional candidate Jamie Eldridge, who had invited a group of us to see Michael Moore’s new film Sicko and discuss it afterwards. Since I wanted to learn more about the healthcare issue, particularly this candidate’s support of a universal single-payer system, I decided to check it out. First off, the film is a must see whether you like Moore or not. It’s thought-provoking, moving, funny, and informative…to a degree. (With Moore, you always get a one-sided argument, but this is a kinder, gentler film, especially in contrast with his movie Farenheit 911 where he seemed determined to offend and shock everyone.) As in his other films, he uses a lot of anecdotal evidence, such as the uninsured man who must choose which finger to have reconnected after an accident because he can’t afford both (ring finger for $12k or middle finger for $60k); Moore emphasizes the horror of this choice by showing us the reaction of a French doctor and his reconstructed-hand patient. There’s a lot in the film to digest and much of it uncomfortable—even disturbing, but when Moore informs us how much campaign money certain members of Congress receive from healthcare lobbyists and power brokers (Hilary Clinton got a chunk, and Bush got about $900k), I actually felt a little sick myself. Later, during the discussion, I asked Jamie Eldridge about his strategy for getting something done when he admits “there are not enough people willing to stand up in Congress for universal single-payer healthcare.” He said that it must start with strong principles and bold leadership, and campaign finance reform clearly plays a role. He also faulted the Massachusetts healthcare model that some of his congressional opponents have been touting as a national solution as “not enough” because it doesn’t provide healthcare for all, the premiums are too high, and it is still based on a profit model. According to Jamie Eldridge, we can afford it: He says we’re spending $1.9 billion now and universal single-payer healthcare would cost $1.6 billion. I don’t know enough to suggest how we get there (watch for a future post on the new Mass. healthcare laws), but I’ll tell you one thing I do know: Good healthcare, like good public schools for our children, should be available to all Americans.