I watched Michael Moore’s Sicko the other day. It’s a fantastic film; not completely free of Moore’s inevitable bias, but there’s so much less bending of the truth this time because, ultimately, there’s little controversy in what he is saying.
But loads of people have seen this film — what can I possibly add that will be interesting?
Well, I just had a cup of tea from my office’s coffee shop and, on the side of the paper cup, there is a ‘Rainforest Alliance’ logo. This logo “guarantees that the farms meet demanding, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABLE standards” (capitalisation as in original). It continues “workers are… given access to education and medical care…”
So the Rainforest Alliance requirements are more demanding than the social conscience of the world’s richest and, apparently, good country?
Quel surprise.
The NHS isn’t perfect, but it’s infinitely more humane than the US system. Infinitely. And any reform of the NHS must maintain that fundamental requirement that is fairness (and especially free at the point of use).
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#1 by Alan on January 15th, 2008 - 8:33 pm
So what do you think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpKoN40K7mA
?
#2 by Devil’s Kitchen on January 16th, 2008 - 4:43 am
I have not had the misfortune to see this film yet and, given what lying, distorted loads of old turds his previous films were, I have little desire to do so.
However, having read several reviews of the film, I would like to raise a couple of points. First, you aren’t going to start trotting out the line about how Cuba has the best medical system in the world, are you?
And second, the NHS may be more “humane”, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I can now count two friends of mine who got treated for cancer in the US: if they had been on an NHS cancer waiting list, they would be dead.
DK
#3 by Gav on January 18th, 2008 - 1:26 am
Alan, I don’t disagree with anything in that CNN video (and MM makes himself seem like a crank). I think it is to the UK’s credit that we allow a private healthcare system to run alongside. If you can afford to pay then you should be able to get that treatment in better quality surroundings etc.
But if you cannot afford to pay, it is humane and just that there is some provision made available by everyone else.
I would strongly encourage a competitive market in the NHS in a way that is not currently available anywhere in the world. In fact, I shall cover that suggestion in a separate blog post.