Health Care

One of the most common and easiest criticisms of Michael Moore is that he frequently shows one person or case that supports his point of view, and acts as though that proves the wider point. Frankly, this is actually true; he does do that, quite a lot.

In Sicko, Moore travels to the U.K. and meets with some doctors and patients who are experiencing the National Health Service (NHS) first hand. Because these few people have no complaints, Moore concludes that everything is great, and clearly the stories of long waits for treatments, low-paid staff, and inadequate facilities are all bunk.

Having grown up in Britain, this view of the NHS is certainly rosier than that to which I am accustomed, and better than most Brits would probably hold.

But, if we ask whether that means most British people, knowing what they do about the NHS, would prefer to move to an American-style insurance system, the answer is obvious. Would they prefer 15-20% to be unable to receive treatment? Would they choose to deal with insurance claims, paying premiums, and risk denial of coverage due to existing conditions? Would they like to see their premiums rise, year after year, being able to do nothing about it? Would they want to swamped with ads for prescription drugs?

Even conservatives in Britain wouldn't make that choice - why would they?