Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Sicko Politics


Life, liberty, health and great clothes -- isn't that everyone's inalienable right under the Constitution?

I just got back from watching Sicko, Michael Moore's latest attempt to shock audiences into mass hysteria and a Marxist revolution....and I'm sold! (If only because I look pretty good in camouflage).


We all know that healthcare in America sucks. I should hope it's not anti-American to say so -- the fact is we spend more money on WMD's (fighter planes don't drop daisies, you know) than on taking care of the sick. And behind this gross prioritization of funds is a (sadly) uniquely American ideal: I'll take care of myself, eff the rest of you. We simply do not see healthcare and education as a basic human right.


And that's the point Moore's film makes.


I know, I know, Moore is a fat liberal who hates America more than Osama himself. But take him out of the equation -- the fact is that America is the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn't offer universal health care. We're the richest nation in the world yet we can't manage to provide decent medical care for all of our citizens.

That's not a partisan statement, it's the truth. And it's beyond infuriating.


Another truth is that the price of denim should outrage people just as much as our abysmal healthcare system. Death and taxes are unavoidable, as is my dismay that every pair of perfectly faded and abused jeans I see bears a price tag of $250 or more.

Well I've certainly had enough (thank God it's summer and I can wear speedos everywhere) and so has one Sarah Jessica Parker. Her new line of women's clothes, Bitten, offers all the basics for a cute wardrobe -- from shoes to coats to panties -- for under $20.


But just like Hillary Clinton faced a ton of hate when she tried to bring healthcare to the masses, so too has SJP been hated on for bringing fashion to the people.


I often entertained the thought that it would be a wonderful world if everything were free. I'd toil at my PR job while the janitor toiled at his, but we could all rock denim and diamonds if we so chose.


But we're feudal creatures -- our titles define us, we all need to rank in order to matter don't we? Everyone in his place... what's the point of going to the best doctor if you're maid can see him too? What's the point of wearing a Tom Ford tuxedo if the H&M version looks the same? (that was more of a plea from me to Tom to introduce a men's line at Hennes).


Health and fashion shouldn't be political issues. To those who poo-poo on universal healthcare and fashion at great prices, I offer the following words from SJP: "tell me what troubles you about women in this country having affordable, well-made clothes [and free healthcare]. Let’s talk about it."


6 comments:

Berdo said...

GCL -

I wouldn't base your hopes on utopia on Michael Moore, unless your idea of it involves a man who:

Simultaneously invents facts to prove how terrible America is while capitalizing off his lies to what must be near nine figures.

Says his movies are documentaries (and winds awards for them), but then jumps to the "it's a satire" defense when someone calls him out on his wholesale deceptions.

Claims to not invest in the stock market, hires only unionized workers and is a beacon of cultural diversity while deriding others for not reaching his own standards. All lies. The person who doesn't come close to reaching his own standards? Moore himself.

Lionizes the Cuban healthcare system - the version that only caters only to government officials and the few other rich people in the country - while claiming to fight for healthcare for the working masses.

I could go on, but will it really matter.

I mean this sincerely: when will the left realize that it doesn't do much for their crediblity to fend off accusations of reflexive anti-Americanism while putting on a pedestal an America-hating liar who, as Christopher Hitchens put it, "openly roots for the other side."

James Henry Bailey said...

GCL- How much would you be willing to pay for someone else's health care? And what would you be willing to sacrifice? Check out the statistics. I will let you do the research (assuming you know how to do it), but you should look at the mortality rate in those industrialized, universal health care countries. See what the average waiting time is prior to a life-saving operation! See if you can find a reason why people from all over the world come to America for care when their doctors and institutions let them down.

Simply suggesting that America is the only industrialized nation blah blah blah is not a valid reason for submitting to "Universal healthcare". We aso have the best hospitals and the best doctors in the world. We are the forefront in medical advances, without which the world would would be a much uglier place. Smarter, and more trustworthy people than you have suggested that socialized medicine would destroy America's paramount position in medical research.

...a loud, proud, liberal... said...

RE: We're the richest nation in the world yet we can't manage to provide decent medical care for all of our citizens.

Right on, GCL! That hits the nail right on the head. Sweet, sweet, sweet. Start with healthcare, but provide education as well. But, fuck man, we can't even feed our own kids in this country!! After healthcare, we should make sure that food is available to every single American citizen. If they can't afford it, then take it from those who can. There is no reason why Oprah should be so fucking fat while there are starving people!!

And shoes! I read somewhere that 1 million American kids can't afford shoes!! OMG!! There is no reason for anyone child to go shoeless while others have plenty of shoes. I am sure nobody would miss ONE PAIR of shoes from their collection if it meant that all children had shoes!!

And you are right- spending money on defense when people are starving and can't afford healthcare is irresponsible! It's not the governement's duty to protect! it's their responsibility to provide! What good is defending a nation of sick, shoeless, fat, starving children?

Yo Go Bicth!! Love the blog!!!

Gay Conservative Liberal said...

Berdo, right on about Moore's irresponsible "lionizing" of the Cuban system. That was the one part of the film I couldn't swallow: the glossing over of Castro's trespasses on human rights. At the same time, though, there is healthcare for everyone in Cuba. Even the commies think that every citizen deserves a shot at good health. Free speech is another issue. But this movie is about healthcare and many people's lack of access to it in this country.

JHB, right now my taxes go to supporting a President I didn't vote for, a war I was against, and the appointment of Supreme Court justices that I personally don't care for. This isn't about me paying for your healthcare, it's about this country acting like truly concerned citizens. what's the point of this war on terror when our own people are terrorized by doctor's bills and heartless HMOs?

I don't understand why this is such a hot button issue. Every American deserves health care; why can't the tax dollars we're already having taken from us go towards making sure that every last American has access to proper medical attention?

Anonymous said...

SJP's bitten line cannot be mistaken for fashion,

Anonymous said...

You, sir, are a total idiot.

You clearly cannot write, and I wonder if you are even able to read.

This isn't about me paying for your health care, it's about this country acting like truly concerned citizens.

Your view of your fellow countrymen is sad indeed. In fact, Americans and America are the most generous people in the world. I don't see how turning over health care to the state will make us any more truly concerned than we already are.

Even the commies think that every citizen deserves a shot at good health.

That statement is obscene and moronic for even a infantile mind such as yours. The commies needed to keep their labor force alive so they could maintain a slave-labor work force.

Go back to school. Apparently you didn't make it too far past the 5th grade.