Issues

Do you ever have those days when you think nothing exciting is going to happen?

It was definitely one of those days today, the only thing special planned was to go see Michael Moore's new documentary SiCKO. It should've occurred to me however that that was all it was really going to take to make a dull day into an interesting one.

To begin with, I've really got to hand it to the Fleur Cinema, they've got their act together since, not only do they provide muffins and hot chocolate (which was a great alternative from popcorn and pop since I'm on a healthfood kick), but that's just a downright cozy little local place to see a good artistic movie. The crowd there was obviously ready to see a movie that was going to have an impact and the staff and set up were just welcoming. I am just over-f*ckin-whelmed.

So we sat down to see the movie and I've got to give it to Mr. Moore, because I don't know how you manage to make a difference with each and every film that you make. From stories of healthcare and insurance nightmares to point/counterpoint of any potential holes in his arguments filled with real world, unemotional, factual examples, he just never seems to stop despite overwhelming criticism and displeasure with his controversial viewpoints.

I think the world needs a person like Michael Moore, if I may, especially since no one in Washington besides my boys in blue (democrats) seems to want to step out from under Bush's power umbrella and get their clothes a little wet. From Edwards lengthy and extensive total-country-involving energy plan to Obama actually proposing a way to deal with the ever-evolving church and state debacle to Hillary's wheel's-already-spinning support of universal healthcare, from parties to governments to fraternity houses, I think that controversial viewpoints should be and need to be voiced.

The things that Mr. Moore does much better in SiCKO than in say Bowling for Columbine or Fahrenheit 9/11 are that his arguments are less emotionally based this time around. The scenes of crying patients are overshadowed by the interviews with socialized medicine doctors who, despite all of conservative pundit claims of lengthy waits for treatment, lack of equipment and funding in hospitals, and government controlled slave/doctors, are a living, breathing demonstration of not only the viability of universal healthcare, but its inescapable benefits. He keeps it impactful by juxtaposing humor with real-life, tearjerking stories, and never allows you to lull into an arms crossed, dogmatic denial of all claim that his arguments stake. Finally, to top it all off, he manages to hit all the major go-to "enemies" of the United States and shows how, despite their obvious evil, manage to make the system work AND preserve respect and admiration for the American people in the process.

So there you have it. Thanks again Michael Moore, your work here makes us liberals smile, especially this one.

Press on friends.