Michael Moore and "Sicko"

Photo credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP

Michael Moore has a new documentary called “Sicko”. In case you haven’t heard of him he is the producer of the movie “Fahrenheit 9/11” – the film that has caused George W. Bush so much ire. The film is described by the associated press as “a ferocious attack on the U.S. health care industry” Both Michael Moore and the documentary are the talk of the Cannes Film Festival in France. Moore is using the film to tell the world about the desperate need to reform America’s health system.

As part of the film he took a group of sick Americans, including people who were rescue workers during the September 11 tragedy, to Cuba seeking medical treatment. Moore told the Associated press that the group only went to Cuba for medical treatment after failing to be admitted to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay – where Moore told the associated press that the “al-Qaida suspects receive better treatment than millions of Americans”. He was given 20 days by the U.S. Treasure Department to respond to questions.

“It’s a government that’s funded by the pharmaceutical companies and the health insurers, so I’m not surprised they’re coming after me, said Moore. I’m surprised they’re doing it so soon. I didn’t think they’d want to draw attention to the movie this early on.”

“They want me to name names” Moore told the Associated Press.

To say the film has been received well at the film festive is putting it mildly. The associated press article had this headline:

“Cannes, France – In Cannes, Michael Moore is a rock star-mobbed by fans, assailed by cameras and forced to wolf down a plate of pasta between his latest interview and his next live TV Appearance.”

Mr. Moore had this to say about the film:

“It was pretty somber working on this film. We just kept thinking, the only reason this person is dying is because they hold American citizenship. If they lived in Canada or Britain or France, they’d have a chance.” – Michael Moore

When he was pulling up to a TV studio in France for yet another interview, Moore had this to say:

“The facts are indisputable. People in those countries live longer than us, they have a lower infant mortality rate, they spend only half the money that we spend per person on health care, and yet hey have a healthier nation. There’s no part of that picture that I’m painting that is untrue.” – Michael Moore.

If his work on his last movie is any indication, “sicko” should be a real eye opener.

Sister Julie