Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

frank78 — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:02:56 GMT

OK. I'm fed up with people who have no experience in the health care field and who automatically believe the propaganda of Moore. I've enjoyed some of his films, but I can't approve Sicko. The #1 problem in US health care? There's already too much govt control as is. Yup. I suggest spending some time actually researching this topic before spouting off 'oh let's let the govt be in control.' They already are in SO many ways- and that's the problem!!! Nearly 60% of all health care spending in the US is paid for by govt. Medicaid is bursting at the seams. Medicare JUST BY ITSELF is on track to bankrupt the entire US economy in coming decades. The US is ALREADY a mostly socialized medicine country. Free markets don't exist AT ALL in US health care.

No govt program ever works better than a private program. How's the govt doing educating children??? The best thing to ever happen to the US public with receipt of mail & goods is FedEx and UPS. The reason our health care system sucks in some ways is that it is largely private companies being shielded from competition by the government. The Medicare Prescription Program - most irresponsible piece of legislation passed by the federal govt. in my lifetime. The govt regulates the insurance industry. The federal govt prevents people in one state from purchasing a cheaper insurance plan in another state. The restrictions and prevention of competition via the state and federal govts. is too long to list here.

If govt wants to do something that will actually help the citizens it is this- force transparency in costs in health care- the drug companies, insurance companies, health clinics. Strong arm them to cut their red tape. Allow competition. Allow cost saving techniques. As is, the govt strangles competition and transparency. The US health care SYSTEM has problems- the biggest is government itself. Attn govt: step aside and let free markets work. Health costs will be cut in half and work better.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Alvy — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:38:59 GMT

Dr. Mercola,

Been an avid reader of your articles for some time. I really need to take issue with some things you've stated in your comments on "Sicko" and national health care.

There was much more to Michael Moore's solution than just the government footing the bill for us all. I'm surprized that you would boil it all down to one thing and that even if it were so, you wouldn't address the most important issue itself which is that health care can not be a profit making business and serve the people. They will only survive as a business as long as they can keep us ill. You should know that better than anyone. Moore brings this point home in "Sicko" and in his interviews such as on CNN where he compares healthcare to the Fire Dept. What if the Fire Dept could only serve those who could pay them, or had "Fire insurance"? What about the Police, what if they only helped those who could pay? Health care is as important if not more than saving our homes and as important as the protection we get from law enforcement. As long as health care providers and companies have to make money they will go for the biggest profit and keep us sick.

If what you say about most illness being chronic, there are ways to work around that. Why not have a catastrophic government plan as a start and find ways to work with people on chronic illness coverage. You are simply dismissing the issues without thinking outside the box and offering solutions that could be there.

If the govt. regulated costs as all other countries do, If we didn't allow pollution to proliferate and make us ill, if we allowed alternative medicine to be covered which is much cheaper than most allopathic meds, if we didn't spend so much in making war, your point about exorbatent health costs to the govt. would not be so. You have a big pulpit on the net and with your knowledge you should join with Mr. Moore and others to work for more thoughtful solutions than just dismiss them.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Birute — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:24:01 GMT

Get Big Brother out of your thinking. The government should not control us cradle to grave. They mess up most things. Go back and read what the Founding Fathers based our government upon--NOT BIG BROTHER. Government tends to be like a small kid in a candy store with his parents' hard-earned money. Let's get rid of both NEA'S, FDA, and all the organizations that get government (OUR) money.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Pwyll — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:45:12 GMT

This may be simplistic--and H.L. Mencken has something to say about complex problems and simple solutions--but putting that aside--whenever people give up their power to take care of themselves at any level--they must accept it when someone else(government, e.g.) takes up that power and uses it to do what you are not willing to do. People ostensibly vote in people to do what people use to be more involved in to do themselves--then when THAT doesn't work--vote in someone else and HOPE they will do a better job. Right now, Healthcare is only one area where the people have given up their power. There is no accountability for doctors--they have a blank slate as for money--thru the contamination by insurance companies--which are calling the shots.(so to speak) The loss of Sovereignty of the entire country is an even bigger issue--a North American Union--wherein Mexico, Canada and the US form a super government ---. Is this what the people want? Is this why the admin is wanting amnesty for millions of illegals? Why the borders are not being guarded? What about the executive order which allows the president to declare a national emergency(trumped up at that) and have FULL control of all tribal, city, county, state law and private businesses--signed in May--is this claiming responsibility for how we want to live--under a dictatorship? The woman from Canada has it right. The rest of the world can clearly see--most here cannot because they refuse to believe it can or will happen. As well, the media here is owned and told what to say--so we cannot possibly expect to get a straight story. Being accountable for our lives is one of the most important things we can do... blaming someone else for what is wrong--serves no one. We are all where we are on our path and our perception of what IS. Doing what we can in our own sphere of influence is the most powerful thing we can do. Be the change we desire. The Elders said" We are the ones we have been waiting for".

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Think-About-It-Think — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:52:46 GMT

from: finance.yahoo.com/.../it

Based on the below, Mark Rachesky owns 7.28 million shares and is listed as the primary non-institutional shareholder.

16-Aug-07 RACHESKY MARK H MD

Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 626,500 Indirect Purchase at $9.03 - $9.04 per share. $5,660,0002

15-Aug-07 RACHESKY MARK H MD

Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 130,000 Indirect Purchase at $9.20 per share. $1,196,000

14-Aug-07 RACHESKY MARK H MD

Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 93,900 Indirect Purchase at $9.33 per share. $876,087

10-Aug-07 RACHESKY MARK H MD

Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 242,273 Indirect Purchase at $9.20 per share. $2,228,911

9-Aug-07 RACHESKY MARK H MD

Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 262,900 Indirect Purchase at $9.31 per share. $2,447,599

20-Jun-07 RACHESKY MARK H MD

Beneficial Owner (10% or more) 5,925,953 Indirect Statement of Ownership N/A

from biz.yahoo.com/.../people_michael_moore.html: (more spin)

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."

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Joan Courtenay — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:38:41 GMT

Hey FreddyVorhees00: I'm a Canadian and believe me, only wealthy Canadians go to the U.S. for healthcare (and certainly not all wealthy Canadians either), and they do so only rarely. AND in Canada there isn't anyone, and I mean not a single person, who has been bankrupted by medical bills. It just doesn't happen here. The U.S. has the best health care in the world? Not a chance. In fact, Canada has just had a record year of immigration -- from U.S. citizens -- many of whom oppose Bush and the invasion of Iraq, but surprisingly, many are coming now because of our health care system. Take off your rose-coloured glasses.

Your society (and ours is right behind it) is rapidly degenerating. Your country couldn't (or wouldn't) even help its own citizens during Hurricane Katrina. The FIRST rescuers anyone in New Orleans' 9th Ward saw were the Urban Rescue Team from Vancouver, BC, Canada. From Canada! So what were you saying about "the best in the world"??? Oh, yah and how about your "sub-prime" mortgage scandal -- nobody there seems to be giving the government any heat at all about their lax control of that money-making machine. Didn't any of you learn anything about the Savings and Loans scams a few years back (you know when the Bush-kin made a bundle)? Now the rest of the world is having to bail out the U.S.A. financially. Best... fouler of the planet maybe. (This is not to say there aren't nice, caring, thoughtful individuals in your country, there are.)

The U.S.A. is a self-interested, bloated violent bully of a country who is way past his "best before date" but doesn't realize it. Sorry but that's how many people in most (maybe all) other countries see your country. Please wake up, we're all dancing to the tune of more, bigger, faster, better jingle-jungle of the corporate multi-nationals. They have no allegiance to any country, and much less (none) to individual citizens. It may be too late, but we need to try to overthrow the tyranny of the super-rich.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Think-About-It-Think — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:45:11 GMT

Many good comments. Here's some more:

1. Supply and demand: as insurance dollars are pumped into a market (e.g. health care) prices escalate to absorb the $$$. Think how much car auto maintenance would go up if you could buy auto maintenance insurance? At least in a govmnt funded system there would be a real need to keep costs down. (Unless the HC co's influence wasteful spending like FH911 says current defense co's do in the Iraq war...)

2. Insurance co's are profit-motive inc's without any profit margin caps (unlike public utilities). They're acting just like profit motive incs. Perhaps we should convert them to something akin to a public utility or force them to be non-profit (however, I've heard "non-profit" means a only a maximum of 30% revenue must go to some cause...)

3. We, the people, need to take back our government. Currently our govmnt is ruled by an oligarchy of corporate donors that hire lobbyists - even foreign countries and foreign companies are jumping in the "buy Congress" game (Indian headhunter companies seeking more H1B visas are dumping dollars to buy congressional votes for more work visas). Without "taking back Congress" even a govmnt run system will only service the world's rich. Go Ron Paul.

4. We, as Americans, can be more compassionate and concerned about our fellow citizens. Perhaps we can start private, non-profit, health co-ops that build hospitals and open clinics. If charitable orgs can open clinics in Africa etc., why can we not do so here in our own country? If these orgs start hitting the commercial HC ins. co's bottom line, then there will be real competition and real reform.

5. One of the major points of fact in Michael Moore's film is that European/Canadian HC sys. actually serve everyone in need. He tried to de-bunk the "wait forever" belief that is marketed by our insurance co.s. What is really true about wait times? Average dogs and cats in our country get better/faster service than poor people...

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

edward_203 — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 02:43:42 GMT

Abuse, harass, humiliate, deceive, threaten, impersonate, intimidate or engage in any other abusive behaviors with those who comment on Mercola.com.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

mamabear — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:32:30 GMT

Perhaps hospitals should be charitable organizations working on money donated by 'AMERICAN PEOPLE". It works well for Shriners, Scottish rites, St. Jude. Good grief, anytime there is a disaster anywhere in the world we open our pocket books and give our blood. We could all just give charitable contributions to "hospitals" of our choose and they would probably have more money than they do now. We are a very charitable nation...... just a thought.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

Cthulhu — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:44:02 GMT

Great! Now they have him on their butts! Millions of people are finding out the truth, and that is all I care about. Once those millions of people know, they'll tell their freinds and family, and so on. The drug companies are losing and they know it. You can't hide from the truth! Over 20 million people already know this when KT released his two natural cures books. Thank God for people like this.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

curious7 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:22:02 GMT

Just sit right back and you wil hear a tale, the tale of a nation that was supposed to have all these rights, and freedoms, but in reality, the opposite is true. Just goes to show you, big money can do anything.

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

FreddyVorhees00 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:38:21 GMT

Again, I'm very disappointed by some of the views here. The United States of America still has the best Healthcare in the world. Sure, there are problems. No system is perfect. If anyone wants to take a look at socialized medicine, just go to Canada and see how long the wait for emergency procedures is. 6-8 months just for EMERGENCY. Canadian's often come into the USA for lifesaving treatments because they can't get them there. So go ahead, praise Michael Moore, Mr. Consipiracy theorist (Mr. 911 was caused by our own government propagandist), and the rest of the democratic canidates for President who support socialized medicine and you'll see where that gets us. Drinking the coolaide a little too much people

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

ReBEL_203 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:34:05 GMT

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re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

sergebosque — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:10:29 GMT

According to IMDB Sicko was released on 441 screens but then it increased up to 1117! So it looks like the distributor couldn't resist the potential profit ;-)

$503,702 (USA) (5 August 2007) (349 Screens)

$1,173,740 (USA) (29 July 2007) (850 Screens)

$1,945,723 (USA) (22 July 2007) (1,117 Screens)

$3,600,179 (USA) (8 July 2007) (702 Screens)

$4,501,712 (USA) (1 July 2007) (441 Screens)

$68,969 (USA) (24 June 2007) (1 Screen)

www.imdb.com/.../business

re: Drug Companies Suppress Wider Release of Sicko

stoicathos — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:42:58 GMT

Socializing healthcare will only make it worse. All the same advertising & BS propaganda will still be out there regarding health issues. People will be all the more ready to go to their doctor and ask for the latest purple pill if the government is paying for it. Personally, I'd rather not subsidize mass hypochondria.

Socialized medicine economically doesn't work because it doesn't force people to acknowledge (i.e. paying) the value that they're getting from a limited and valuable resourse, known as the doctor's time.