I saw Sicko and I like to just go into things with an unbiased opinion. I think it's pretty easy to bash Michael Moore but I think the general message he does try to present is that we really need to be concerned about our system and make it better using other countries as a basis for a new model....like encompassing various aspects of other models...

@Darkstar - That's one thing that I realized quickly after seeing the film. I imagined that Moore was glorifying the health care systems of other countries, and I figured it probably wasn't the Utopian system he made it out to be.

I think there's a system to be developed which is in between the idea of free, universal health coverage and the system the U.S. currently has, where if you want better health care you can go ahead and pay for it. The general idea of treating people's health does not need to go entirely, just to a great degree. There are structures in place within health care companies which will inevitably lead to public suffering, unfortunately.

I'm not trying to damn capitalism, but so many other ideals are lost when we focus solely on profit.

I agree, Pooter. And I am probably being overdamning of the Canadian system, but there are certainly problems here. It's one of the largest issues in Canadians' minds. The way the American system treats patients appalls me but there are things done right as well. I don't know to what degree the ingredients of both type of systems need to be merged and in what proportions but it's certainly fair to say that both need significant alterations. Unfortunately, too often these decisions are made on the basis of ideology and/or greed, and not with obtaining an outcome for the patient in mind.

if you're willing to spend money the Canadian system is amazing

but otherwise no way

The Canadian system really does suck. And I would know. SOO much taxing and high insurance rates makes my brother pissed off and wanting to move to the US. I'd rather just pay for the pills because in the long run, you don't pay as much.