Sicko

Michael Moore is still the same person, but in Sicko, he seems more mature than when he embarrassed the heck out of Charlton Hesston in Bowling for Columbine. Apparently having taken to heart the criticism he recieved for Farenheit 9/11, he tries to put less spin on the facts, and he lets other people do most of the talking.

Their message is clear: the American health care system is ridiculous, if not evil, and corporate greed is plunging millions of Americans into debt and ill health. At the same time, other countries, including Canada, France, Great Britain, Cuba, enjoy excellent, free, universal health care.

Like all Moore's films, Sicko has a comedic element. As a filmmaker, I admire his talent in presenting a thoroughly depressing subject without making us feel overwhelmed, and making us feel outraged rather than blind with rage at the greed and injustice of the American health care system.

Countering criticism that Sicko paints too rosy a picture of health care in Canada, I will say that I have lived in both countries, and would much rather have the Canadian system.

I didn't realize until recently that Moore is still trying to impeach the president, presumably for his sins regarding Iraq. Where he failed there, he just might get his way in nudging America towards universal health care. The difference is that Iraq is over there, but an expensive, innefficient health care is just an accident or infection away for all of us living in the US.