Posted on 06/27/2007 1:39:00 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Moore to Schwarzenegger: Adopt Austrian health care system
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
By: DAVID GERMAIN - Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- Michael Moore has a suggestion to help California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger bring universal health care to the nation's largest state: Just do it the Austrian way.
"I would like Gov. Schwarzenegger to say that he wants the citizens of California to have the same, fine, universal health coverage he got as a young man in the country of Austria," Moore said Tuesday of the Austrian-born governor.
"That's all we're asking for, governor. Just give us the Austrian plan," Moore said at a rally outside Los Angeles City Hall for supporters of universal health care. "That great Austrian health care system that provided you with that fine body that you brought to this great country."
With his health care documentary "Sicko" opening nationwide Friday, Moore accompanied his advice with a few kind words for Schwarzenegger, who has proposed a plan to extend health care coverage to most uninsured Californians and require all residents to carry insurance.
"I'll say this for the governor," Moore said. "At least unlike many Republicans, he's willing to recognize there's a problem. When you're willing to state there's a problem, what's the old cliche? You're 50 percent of the way there. ...
"Now we have to help him come up with the right solution, and the right solution is not to mandate health care and to put the burden on the average working person, who's already overburdened."
"Sicko" features health care horror stories from Americans who suffered financial hardship or lost loved ones after health insurers declined coverage. The film also chides U.S. officials for failing to follow the lead of countries that have universal health coverage, such as Canada, Great Britain and France.
The Weinstein Co. and Lionsgate plan to release "Sicko" in about 400 theaters to start, roughly half the number for Moore's last film, the $100 million hit "Fahrenheit 9/11," in 2004.
Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Co., said that because of its wider release, "Fahrenheit 9/11" came and went at theaters faster than he wanted. With "Sicko," he said he hoped for a longer shelf life similar to last year's "An Inconvenient Truth," a documentary chronicling former Vice President Al Gore's campaign to educate people about global warming.
"We saw the effect Al Gore's movie had. When President Bush comes out for global warming, you know 'An Inconvenient Truth' had an impact," Weinstein said. "'Fahrenheit,' we went wide and we went fast. I'm thinking that like the Al Gore movie, maybe we should play a long time. I don't mind sticking around and just keeping the debate going."
I remember Schwarzennegger making his excellent keynote speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention. He explained why he left Austria (the rampant socialism) and he described how great America was because the individual is not restrained by nanny state regulations.
It now appears that Schwarzennegger has betrayed what he said in that 2004 speech. He is attempting to turn California into the socialist Austria that he left behind. Michael Moore is only throwing fuel onto the fire.
Terrorizing America's health - Coming to a theater near you!
In the Hillary Klinton administration,
Michael Moore, Sec. of Health and Human Services
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sec. of State
Al Gore, Secretary of the Internet & EPA Sec. & Energy Sec.
... still working on others
Moore is a complete chode. Britain just enacted a policy that would deny treatment to the obese. So instead of waiting “four weeks for a knee replacement” he’d probably have to wait for two years, or twelve years for a vital organ (in other words, wait until he expires). The sad thing to see is that so many people fall for this pie-in-the-sky nonsense that Moore claims will save the universe.
APf
And Moore is who again?
That anyone should take advice from him on anything?
What a loon.
If and when Michael Moore gets sick, other than the head; I want him to go to Cuba for their excellent health care; and not the fancy health care they give people other than the Cubans. I want their national health care system to help Michael Moore, you know the one that is suppose to take care of the Cuban population.
Hey, Mikey! Our healthcare system in the U.S. of A. was a heck of a lot better when I was a kid than it is now, thanks to Government sticking their big nose in it! Do us all a favor--get lost!
A blast from the past...
The glue binding Schwarzennegger to Moore and to the rest of the California liberal wing-nut socialists...
The glue binding Schwarzennegger to Moore and to the rest of the California liberal wing-nut socialists...
When this fat fraud is diagnosed with the inevitable heart attack and type 2 diabetes, it would be sweet justice if every doctor he went to slammed the door in his face and said, “take your fat ass to Cuba!”
Here in Germany, US military families often use the local health care system, which is paid for 100% by the health insurance plan provided to military dependents (this insurance is called TriCare, formerly known as CHAMPUS).
(By the way, active duty soldiers are always treated at US military facilities, and often so are the dependents).
My family has spent time in the local German hospital for treatment. We have generally been pleased with our care while in the hospital - that’s because we are considered to have “private insurance” and so we get the first class treatment. Those who have the socialist free insurance get the second class treatment, and let me tell you there is a big difference - and the staff of the hospitals constantly take notice and remind us that we will get the better doctors and priority treatment due to our “private insurance” status. For example, the surgeons who operate on my family are always the university hospital’s department head ir the hospital’s chief surgeon instead of one of the assistants or residents.
In other words, those who pay for extra insurance (or pay cash out-of-pocket) get the best doctors and special treatment while in the hospital - even better hospital rooms with nicer furnishings and more attentive staff (higher nurse-to-patient ratio).
I am grateful that our US Government (and the US taxpayer) has chosen to provide such good health benefits to my family and all US military dependents - don’t get me wrong.
I just want to point out that most patients are German citizens and have the standard socialist German Government insurance - and get second class treatment (which is probably decent, but never-the-less second class).
That is what we can all expect if we go to this system. 80% of the people will be enrolled in a “free” system and recieve care that is noticeably not as good as they are getting under the current system, so that the other 20% who have no insurance can get free insurance. Because of the new socialist scheme employers will no longer offer privae insurance, so the rich will be the only ones who can afford the first class health care.
I do not want to be part of such a scheme.
beside that is the standard of the german health care system high and a reason why a lot of british people with their private system get their treatment in germany or other countries on the continent.
health care is a very complicated topic and every developed country has a discussion about the costs of health care or better the best system.
I could get a private health care insurance because of my income but i stay within the public system because of the fact that when i am old the private insurance costs would be much higher than in the public system. The same is true for families. That is the reason why individuals try everything to change the system when they are old or have a family with several kids.
In the end i believe that a public system has many advantages but should adopt some parts of the private system to avoid unnecessary costs. But the US has a different tradition and people grew up with that system. Thte same is true for europe or better the rest of the world because th eUS system is quite unique.
govt running medical care. I think I will take my vitamins and eat right. Stay away from anything I can possibly avoid.
Lyrics from an old dittie...
You party pooper! Pointing all that out just makes life no fun!
(she says, while chomping on a carrot, depressed) LOL
Ah yes!!! Nothing but “rabbit food!” (pardon be while I open my Tri-Tip beef sandwich in the old lunch pail...)
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