Michael Moore has it wrong. Yeah--he does.
But what he does have right, Kossacks who are genuine Democrats should take a moment to consider.
As you know Michael dropped in to stoke us with a visit from Cannes. Very nice of him, and I was eager to read his comments.
At one point someone asked what he thought the problem was. His movie articulates the symptom--the insanity which is America's approach to healthcare--but what's the problem Michael?
He replied:
The main obstacle is that we, as a people, don't think it's our responsibility to take care of each other when we're sick. It's all about 'me' in this country, not about 'we.'
Another huge obstacle is the amount of money constantly flowing into our United States Congress. The people want universal coverage now, but The main obstacle is that we, as a people, don't think it's our responsibility to take care of each other when we're sick. It's all about 'me' in this country, not about 'we.'
Another huge obstacle is the amount of money constantly flowing into our United States Congress. The people want universal coverage now, but until the pharmaceutical and health insurance industry can no longer buy our elected officials' votes, nothing will change.
Somehow Michael fails to make an important distinction. It is not my responsibility to take care of him if he gets sick. But it is my responsibility to pay attention to what individuals who people my government are doing--or more importantly, not doing--to make sure he's taken care of.
One of the reasons for government is to support the disabled, and sick, because not every member of our society is going to be graced with a perfect body or perfect health. And one of the reasons I pay taxes to my government is so that, should I ever happen to become either disabled or sick, my fellow taxpayers will reciprocate.
I’ve been all over this country and I can tell you that very, very few of the hundreds and hundreds of Americans I’ve talked with had the attitude of "It’s all about me." Not because Americans are an especially benevolent breed, but because human beings are social creatures, so it’s natural that we seek out society. Therefore it’s in everyone’s interest that we promote the welfare of the society we’re part of, and this includes taking care of the disabled and sick. It also includes taking care of those who have misfortune visit their lives, because to love someone one day and discard them the next is psychotic behavior, and life is no fun if you’re faced with such personal behavior. If Angelina Jolie were in an accident and her face were marred, I doubt very much that her fans would stop caring about her. Why? Because most people aren’t psychos.
The second part of Michael’s reply is something Democrats should consider carefully, because it’s the truth. It’s a truth that--unless it’s addressed--will have all our efforts come to nothing.
Michael erroneously fingers this problem as secondary, but it’s really primary: it is "...the amount of money constantly flowing into our United States Congress. ...until [corporate interests] can no longer buy our elected officials' votes, nothing will change...."
He’s right Democrats. And since the money flowing into Congress is a manifestation of institutionalized corruption, nothing any movie articulates, or any community of bloggers agree on, is going to break our government free from. The only thing that will do that is an amendment to our Constitution. There are only two groups who can propose such an amendment: Congress or Convention.
I'd like anyone reading this diary to remember Michael’s quote, because that will likely be the message of his movie: that the state of healthcare in this country is our own society's fault because we don’t care. In essence, Michael’s movie will rub our noses in the filth of corruption and then imply it's our own fault.
Is Michael an idiot? Or is Michael simply failing to make a logical conclusion based on his own work? Or is it something else entirely? Only he can answer that. But for now, today, I encourage any Kossacks reading to join a list of Americans who are calling for an Article V Convention in order to propose the necessary constitutional amendments the U.S. Congress never will.
http://www.foavc.org