Sicko

OK, I'm ready to defect to another country.
No, seriously.

My life rocks in recent years. I really have everything to be thankful for, but I have also lived on the other side and know just how lucky I am. How we treat the rabble of uninsured is one issue, but this movie isn't even about the uninsured. It's about those who pay into the system and the American way of life and still end up screwed over/ dead. If you're lucky to have a network of some affluence, you might have some theoretical support on a personal level (if you're not too proud to beg), but we as Americans are by and large simply horrible to each other. But how can we help but be when we have to look after our own interests so closely?

Several days ago, I was listening to a story on Fresh Air (NPR) about a father and son who had written books about the son's battle with drug addiction. In recovery, the son discovered that what he really needed was just anti-depressants, not crystal meth. Apparently, 80% of drug addicts are suspected to be self-medicating for psychological disorders. I wonder if we had nationalized health care, and if we had doctors who earned bonuses based on the quality of attention doted on their patients, if it wouldn't affect the "war on drugs"... It would certainly help stem the feelings of exclusion and hopelessness that lead to violent outbursts , so we could stop being so bloody afraid of each other... (I'd pay an extra 10% in taxes to not have to read about another school shooting, but maybe that's just me...)

...but i digress...

I've lived abroad and already know how much better the quality of life is for folks in other developed countries. Halfway through the film, I found myself looking around the room and seriously asking myself if I could abandon all the great stuff I have (I do like my stuff) to live around other dirty socialists, and I found myself honestly replying: "If the weather is still nice? If I could have an equally awesome job? Absolutely."