Just Watched: Sicko

Somehow Matt and I managed not to watch this movie when it came out, but we finally Netflixed it. It was depressing, to say the least. So many stories of people dying because their health insurance failed them. So many fabulous stories of other countries - Canada, England, France, Norway, even Cuba. Now I am sure that there are downsides to socialized medicine too, but Moore does make some good points. Here in the US we have socialized fire, police, and education services. Is it really such a stretch to socialize medicine as well?

Every time Moore went to a new country, Matt decided we should move there. 5 weeks of vacation minimum? Plus unlimited sick days, lots of holidays, 35 hour work weeks (where overtime is paid out in vacation), 6 months paid maternity leave plus an optional 6 months unpaid, daycare that costs $1/hour.

The thing that most interested me about the movie, though, was the concept that in France, the government is afraid of the people, and in the US, the people are afraid of the government. People in other countries turn out in droves for protests on a regular basis. They showed one protest because the government was trying to take away one guaranteed holiday. Here in the US, these days we've only had really big protests regarding wars, and even those pale in comparison to other countries.

Here in the US, if you try to hold out for a job with more than 2 weeks vacation, people tell you you should be happy with any vacation at all. Here in the US, we just accept what is given to us. We are afraid to ask for more. Somebody will always be ready to step in and take your place if you ask for too much.

I'm interested in why this difference exists. Why do we think our workers don't deserve paid time off, just compensation, and excellent medical care? Why don't we believe the myriad studies that show productivity increases with shorter work weeks and more vacations? Why do we think that working 3 jobs to pay the bills is heroic and according to Bush, "uniquely American," as if it's a great thing and not a terrible thing? Why is it so much different in France?

I got three weeks of vacation. But I didn't hold out for a job that had the benefit package I really wanted. Still I got better than most. And that is because I had the luxury to be picky in my job-seeking.

But I really do think we have to figure out, as a nation, how to not settle for the bottom of the barrel. If we all decide we deserve better, couldn't we get it? Couldn't we decide to help ourselves and our neighbors?

I realize I'm way off the health care tracks right now, but I think the differences between the US and other countries of our means are astonishingly ridiculous. What happened to us?

Guess we'll be moving to Canada...