Michael Moore's "Sicko"

[innerSpaceman]

One of the main purposes of the tax code is to act as a carrot and stick to promote behaviors desired by the government (purportedly at the behest of the American people).

So I don't see anything wrong with using taxes to promote health, and reduce costs on public health care.

Alex is right about one thing: there's no such thing as "Free" - and since he didn't bother to see the film (I haven't yet either), he's simply assuming that's what Moore is recommending. From the extensive interviews I've heard Moore give, he is simply recommending that the profit motive be removed from health care, and I heartily agree. Whether or not that would stifle innovation, it's blatently immoral to make health decisions for individual people based on profit motive.

Everyone's morals are different. But I'd like to see some rationale for this kind of thing being morally justified. And I'd like to see any such justifications include a hypothetical involving the justifier's self or loved one.


Just a request.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

he's simply assuming that's what Moore is recommending.

As blueerica pointed out, the assumption I am making is that mousepod correctly stated the position of the movie.

Whether or not that would stifle innovation, it's blatently immoral to make health decisions for individual people based on profit motive.

I disagree, and that is why no justification I could offer for my views will be seen by you as reasonable. We are simply beginning from completely different axiomatic points of view.

However, even if you remove "the profit motive" (oh that evil thing) from the equation you are still not removing "mak[ing] health decisions for individual people based on" financial considerations. Removing the profit motive is simply price caps and rationing. Instead of an HMO telling you that they "won't pay for some very expensive procedure but you an go do it yourself" you'll have the government telling you that they "won't pay for some very expensive procedure and feel free to go to Thailand if you want it anyway."

Now, there are many things I think could be done to improve our "health system" in this country. But they don't remove the profit motive. But I was just responding to the range of things I've seen in Moore's discussions and particularly to mousepod's summary of the movie's.