Fifty million Americans are uninsured; out of that figure an estimated 18,000 people will die each year because they do not have health insurance. Michael Moore’s documentary Sicko (2007), investigates the American health care system, focusing on greed, political ties, and lack of humanity. Through the use of interviews with health care officials, patients and their families, and his actual experiences, he compares the difference between the U.S non-universal system and the universal Health Care systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba. Moore was brilliant in highlighting these countries success and our failure. The film opens with our current president George W .Bush, speaking on behalf of the health care reform. This opening is very catchy and gets the audience’s attention. He follows this with interviews. Many people have been victimized by the American health care system. First, we are introduced to Adam, a man who just had an accident; he is seen stitching his own knee back together. Unfortunately, he is part of that 50 million who do not have health insurance. Rick on the other hand has insurance, yet due to the high costs associated with his traumatic injury, he had to make a devastating choice on which finger to restore, after they were sawed off by accident. He chose to keep his ring finger instead of his middle finger, because it cost 12 thousand verses 60 thousand dollars, for the middle finger. These weren’t the only two compelling Stories. Moore utilized many interviews with people all over America. He received over 25 thousand responses by email from patients who have either personally suffered or lost a family member because there were denied care. Dr. Linda Pino was an integral part of this documentary. She revealed the sad truth behind this corrupt system. She received a six figure salary increase and physicians received bonuses to deny medical treatments for policy holders. The reason behind her confession was the guilt she felt knowing that she played a huge role, in the devastating death of a father in need if a kidney transplant. He’s younger brother was a perfect bone marrow match but, they denied him care, based on the insurance companies famous line, “it’s experimental”. This father would have been alive today, if this system was based integrity. Then we were introduced to Donna and Larry, they lost their home to bankruptcy after each got sick and couldn’t afford the thousands of dollars charged by co-pays. They had to live in their daughter’s storage room. There also was the baby girl who was going deaf and needed ear implants. She was only approved for one; until her father wrote to Cigna informing them that Michael Moore will be featuring this story on his film. They called back immediately to approve her for both. I guess you have to know someone powerful in order to get descent treatment; even if you are paying your hard-earned money to these companies. The teenage boy was too thin and the girl was too heavy for insurance. Who are we to judge who is going to get sick and who isn’t; how can a doctor place a dollar amount on a body part. Myshelle’s tale was the one I heard. Her mother rushed her to the emergency at Martin Luther King Jr. hospital. She was refused treatment after numerous pleading from her mother; Myshelle died. With these interviews, Moore really drove home the point that the healthcare providers do not have a conscience. Only the rich and powerful Americans are entitled to quality medical care. America is the richest country in the world. I clearly do not comprehend how Canada, Great Britain, France, and Cuba can offer this medical care to everyone, and we can’t. They have fewer resources, yet they work for the common good of everyone. They are a “WE” nation as Moore says, instead of American’s who stand behind a “ME” nation attitude. Unfortunately, the problem does not stem from the average American, but from the government who is placing fear into the hearts of its people. It was interesting to hear that in France, the Doctor makes house calls. Mothers are given a government employee to watch their children, do their laundry, and even cook dinner. All these services are provided at no cost. The government does not charge for Health care, the doctors are compassionate, no one is discriminated against. The health care systems of Canada are quite similar; it is a universal theme among these countries, that everyone deserves proper medical care. In London, doctors receive bonuses for lowering their patients’ blood pressure, or improving their general welfare. This is an example we should follow. Communist Cuba, known for its rigid and fearless dictator Fidel Castro, interestingly they provide excellent health care for their people and ours. As seen in the documentary, they cared for the 9/11 heroes, no ID card were necessary, just their name and date of birth were asked. The American health care system should be ashamed, that they did not help the people who risked their lives to save others. Showcasing the origins of the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 was the final stamp, placed on this documentary. It was presented using a taped conversation between John Enrichment and President Richard Nixon on February 17, 1971; Enrichment is heard telling Nixon that, “The less care they give them, the more money they make,” and Nixon replied by saying this “appeals to me.” They were referring to the lower standards of health care seen today. This led to the horrifying health care nightmare that we are living today. Michael Moore’s use of reference imagery, special effects, scrolling text, and emotional interviews was an awakening experience for me. I particularly enjoyed learning about the connections that lobbying groups in Washington D.C have with pharmaceutical companies, and how they were able to silence Hillary Clinton, through campaign donations. I guess Dog Eat Dog Entertainment was the perfect production company to showcase a “Dog Eat Dog World”.