Ragamuffin Soul - Latest Comments in Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Just an observation.... — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 16:02:18 -0000

Is Michael Moore really about change or is he one more interested in making noise and hearing his own voice? Michael Moore has a vested interest in folks believing and thus paying to view his movie.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:11:01 -0000

*Heavy Sigh*
That should have read, "...two extremes."

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:09:13 -0000

Jimbo:

I wish everyone had that attitude. Nor is it enough to read both sides, especially if they are the two extremes. My attitude is that there are 3 sides to every story. My side, your side, and the Truth, and all three are different. Sometimes the Truth is NOT in the middle. The Truth is NOT a compromise between to extremes.

The Truth is what it is, and must be pursued with intensity. I will drop whatever "side" I am on at any given time when convinced that the path to Truth lies in a different direction.

What Jesus said about Himself also has a universal application. He said, "You will SEEK me. But you will only FIND me when you seek me with ALL YOUR HEART." There must be no ME in the path.

In terms of political truth, I wonder if there is any. I seriously doubt it. I think we MUST choose between different degrees of failure. You can only choose the battle in which you will lose the thing of least value in order to retain a thing of greater value. But if you do not choose a battle, you lose everything.

One thing is for sure in health care. If we get stuck arguing between two choices we lose sight of the fact that there are more choices before us. I think it's possible to establish a democracy in Iraq. But it will NOT look like America and if we try to make it so, we will lose everything. It is also possible to improve the quality and availability of health care. But if we try to make it look like someone else's failed attempt, we will be in a worse place than we are now. And, as someone mentioned earlier in this thread, we are choosing a path that once taken, cannot be taken back.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Jimbo — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:13:02 -0000

I feel much of this post has been overcomplicated... The Sicko subject is simple. The healthcare subject immensely complex.

Moore is entertainment: you like it or you don't. Moore is not a reliable information source on any important subject. If you are interested in education, it would likely be best to use more fact based sources readily available on-line. All sources have some form of bias and a researcher needs to have some understanding of the bias nature. Example: how do you evaluate a source for interpreting God's word?

I would guess that in the 2 hours it takes to be entertained by a Moore movie, an individual could read a few good articles on educational / research techniques and source reliability/credentials.

If you simply enjoy the banter, I get it. If you are serious about understanding important issues, you should take your obligation to gain wisdom seriously.

- Jimbo

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Anne Jackson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:56:30 -0000

I have NO shame whatsoever. I just want to pay off my gallbladder. It cost more than my car! :)

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Abe — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:55:28 -0000

ASA

Michael W Smith is not profiting from putting the Church down, motive and hypocrisy is the problem here, not that fact that he is making money. If you need individual IRS references to the fact that Mr. Moore owns stock in the very Pharmaceutical Companies he is chastising, I would be more than happy to give you the links.

Good Day!

Anne,

Your welcome, I think this would be a great platform for your fund raising campaign!

Maybe Los should post about that?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

the bear — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:00:02 -0000

ASA stop it with the overwhelming belligerence. You're making us gag now.

-Inland Empire Chapter of the United Minutemen's Association :)

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:17:42 -0000

ASA

Your Christian love is a little overwhelming. Michael Mooron's films make you think? REALLY? Well, I guess everyone finds their own level, but that would be a step up from your comments so far. Can you put any of that incredible depth of thought into them?

It appears more as though he's doing your thinking for you.

And again you ask us to do your research. Yet you continue to spit unfounded assertions with no evidence to support them. It becomes as tedious as it is annoying.

Actually I'm just funnin' ya. The only reason I bothered to post this one is to see you gag again. I love it when your eyes bulge out like that.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

anne jackson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:57:48 -0000

Thanks Abe :) My gmail address is located on my blog for those who want to take him up on his suggestion :)

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Anonymous Sandals Attender — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:29:11 -0000

Great....now we're gonna play the race card...NICE!!!! Why don't you research how many minorities were involved in Passion of the Christ or Mel's other recent films.....you might also want to check the staffs at Billy Graham's offices, Dr. Dobson or better yet....check the racial diversity at Liberty University....remember.....the most segregated places on Sundays are our churches.

Moore is a film maker making for profit movies that make us think. Since his media is intended to entertain as well as inform or educate or sway opinion he is all of a sudden held to a different standard as other entertainers? He should make his films a public service freebies? Tell that to Michael W. Smith or he oher christian entertainers who make millions on album sales as well as licensing their materials for our Sunday worship.

I suppose this is the same mentality that calls for the abolishment of the ACLU.....ok....right after you folks quit the minutemen!!!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:23:02 -0000

ASA

Still don't see any references or research on your end. Having a little trouble finding the practice for your preach?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Abe — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:41:40 -0000

Man come on give me a BREAK!

If you really care about health care reform take the money you would send to to the Fat Cat racist Michael Moore and send it to Anne Jackson it will be much better spent!

Michael Moore Owned Halliburton, Defense Stocks

Filmmaker Michael Moore has made a career out of trashing corporations and said he doesn't own any stocks due to moral principle.

How then did author Peter Schweizer uncover IRS documents showing that Moore's very own foundation has bought stocks in some of America's largest corporations � including Halliburton, other defense contractors and some of the same companies he has attacked?

In his first documentary "Roger & Me," Moore skewered General Motors, Schweizer points out.

# In "The Big One," he went after Nike and PayDay candy bars.

# "Bowling for Columbine" was an attack on the American gun industry.

# Oil companies played a major role in "Fahrenheit 911."

# His upcoming film "Sicko" pillories drug companies and HMOs.

# On his television shows "TV Nation" and "The Awful Truth," he criticized HMOs and defense contractors.

He once said that major defense contractor Halliburton was run by a bunch of "thugs," and suggested that for every American killed in the Iraq war, "I would like Halliburton to slay one mid-level executive."

Publicly, Moore has claimed he wants no part of these companies and won't own stock.

In his book "Stupid White Men," he wrote: "I don't own a single share of stock."

He repeated the claim in a 1997 letter to the online magazine Salon, saying: "I don't own any stock."

Privately, however, he tells the IRS a different story, Schweizer discloses in his book.

The year that Moore claimed in "Stupid White Men" that he didn't own any stock, he told the IRS that a foundation totally controlled by Moore and his wife had more than $280,000 in corporate stock and nearly $100,000 in corporate bonds.

Over the past five years, Moore's holdings have "included such evil pharmaceutical and medical companies as Pfizer, Merck, Genzyme, Elan PLC, Eli Lilly, Becton Dickinson and Boston Scientific," writes Schweizer, whose earlier works include "The Bushes" and "Reagan's War."

"Moore's supposedly nonexistent portfolio also includes big bad energy giants like Sunoco, Noble Energy, Schlumberger, Williams Companies, Transocean Sedco Forex and Anadarko, all firms that 'deplete irreplaceable fossil fuels in the name of profit' as he put it in �Dude, Where's My Country?'

"And in perhaps the ultimate irony, he also has owned shares in Halliburton. According to IRS filings, Moore sold Halliburton for a 15 percent profit and bought shares in Noble, Ford, General Electric (another defense contractor), AOL Time Warner (evil corporate media) and McDonald's.

"Also on Moore's investment menu: defense contractors Honeywell, Boeing and Loral."

Does Moore share the stock proceeds of his "foundation" with charitable causes, you might ask?

Schweizer found that "for a man who by 2002 had a net worth in eight figures, he gave away a modest $36,000 through the foundation, much of it to his friends in the film business or tony cultural organizations that later provided him with venues to promote his books and film."

Moore's hypocrisy doesn't end with his financial holdings.

He has criticized the journalism industry and Hollywood for their lack of African-Americans in prominent positions, and in 1998 he said he personally wanted to hire minorities "who come from the working class."

In "Stupid White Men," he proclaimed his plans to "hire only black people."

But when Schweizer checked the senior credits for Moore's latest film "Fahrenheit 911," he found that of the movie's 14 producers, three editors, production manager and production coordinator, all 19 were white. So were all three cameramen and the two people who did the original music.

On "Bowling for Columbine," 13 of the 14 producers were white, as were the two executives in charge of production, the cameramen, the film editor and the music composer.

His show "TV Nation" had 13 producers, four film editors and 10 writers � but not a single African-American among them.

And as for Moore's insistence on portraying himself as "working class" and an "average Joe," Schweizer recounts this anecdote:

"When Moore flew to London to visit people at the BBC or promote a film, he took the Concorde and stayed at the Ritz. But he also allegedly booked a room at a cheap hotel down the street where he could meet with journalists and pose as a �man of humble circumstances.'"

That's hypocrisy with a capital H!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Anonymous Sandals Attender — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:19:03 -0000

Yes, Les....Let's mock Jesus' teachings. You see I've read my gospels and they don't once reference Republican ideaology, health maintenance organizations or even use the new christian right evil word - LIBERAL. They do however, consistently tell me to love one another, to care for the sick and the widows and to turn the other cheek. Oh, and by the way, I've at least seen the film being discussed before typing out my diatribe but you won't because ignorance is bliss.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

anne jackson — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:52:46 -0000

talking about average wait times is null. I waited 15 minutes to see a doc I the UK where I was not a citizen for a nonlifethreatening condition but I have to wait six weeks to see the doctor who helps me breathe AND I have to pay for it.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

S. Pihlaja — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:51:26 -0000

Anonymous people make me gag. At least Les has the stones to admit who he is and what he believes.

Yeah, in Japan people do tend to visit the doctor to get medicine when they have just a simple cold. But rather than breaking the system, it has created opportunities for more people to become doctors and pharmacists. Their are doctors everywhere in Japan. And I suspect that this contributes, at least in a small way, to the fact that people live forever here.

As far as costs in the US system, ever the empiricist, I need facts. Numbers, analysis, conclusions. Anything like that from anyone out there?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

the bear — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:48:55 -0000

"Anonymous Sandals Attender";"Christian Conservatives showing their IGNORANCE!!!";"What would Jesus do?"; "Church's used to care for the sick..."; "Les has posted so much far-right political BS on this blog that I gag when I see his name."

It is awesome that this is all in the same comment!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:30:04 -0000

Here. Have another gag on me.

Research? I don't notice any references on your comment. But maybe it's because you're so bursting with love and constructive criticism that you only need to toss out simplistic generalizations and everyone is supposed to be humbled into contrition and seek only to drink from your fountain of truth.

Well, you sure turned me around. From now on I'm with you. We'll hit the blogs together screaming, "LOVE ONE ANOTHER, YOU IGNORANT, B.S. SPOUTING CONSERVATIVE MORONS!"

And thus usher in the Kingdom.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Anonymous Sandals Attender — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:28:30 -0000

Once again....Christian Conservatives showing their IGNORANCE!!! What would Jesus do? Let people die because of the profit motive of US Healthcare Corporations? I forgot....America is a "christian" nation. Go ahead watch the film....see the Doctor testifying before congress about letting people die to make more money and advance her career. People....LOVE ONE ANOTHER is THE Christian value. Caring for one another begins with basic health care. Do some research....Church's used to care for the sick....now greedy Multi-national Corporations put together insurance schemes that bilk the poor and enrich the rich. Les has posted so much far-right political BS on this blog that I gag when I see his name. Pull your head out....Michael Moore is not the enemy. Satan is the enemy....and Satan loves to see people suffering while others are getting rich.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:58:53 -0000

Los;

I agree with the perspective thing. That's why I'd like to see the movie. But this is where the old liberal argument comes in: "If you don't like it, turn it off." And I agree with that. So I'm turning it off, because I already know that Moore isn't serious. When he is, I'm ready to listen. Seriously.

If he was, he'd make this thing as a public service. Hale-Yeah has it right. Michael Moore doesn't share a "perspective" in his films. 9/11 wasn't a perspective. It was straight ahead propaganda designed to incite emotion and reap huge profits off the fears of the gullible.

If he cared as much as he claims to, he'd make it a public service. I could go see it for free, "inform" myself, and make a decision.

But where information is concerned, Moore dissembles far more than he disseminates.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

lorijo — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:44:53 -0000

i dont know alot about the details of healthcare, but i would be interested in
seeing it.
what i do know is that growing up overseas we had better health-care under my dad as an international student in australia than my family does now, here in the usa. we never worried about the bills, or having to wait to see the doctor.

I was shocked that I had to wait 2 weeks just to get an appointment with my current provider, then my original appt was canceled by the dr. and postponed two more weeks. and it was kind of a big deal.

i'm sure my mom will be wishing we had more now that my dad has cancer. oh goody, more bills, more debt, more hassle, more frustration. on top of what she already has to deal with. i have no idea how much chemo and all the drugs cost, but it can't be cheap.

usa is stuck up, and just annoying. and yes i was born here, but i don't really care. this world is not my home anyways.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

loswhit — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:39:36 -0000

All I know is that we can all take a stand on things. But to say you will not see another sides perspective because you already have a stance is confusing. Micheal moore is already rich. I'm gonna see it because in the circles I run in he is the hated one. So whn I get a chance to hear the hated ones perspective...I like to hear it.
Los

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Hale-Yeah! — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:21:01 -0000

Wow, Anne, I think you need a new insurance company! Maybe I'm different than others, but I pay $180 a month for me, my wife, and my 2 girls. The total cost of having 2 C-section surgeries for the girls= $0 We even charged our dinners and lunches to the room! Actually, another dr. outside our plan assisted on the surgery and I think I had to pay around $300 co-pay for him. Even though the insurance company pays the bill, they still send it to you, I must've edged out of close to $20,000! Each time! I gotta say, from the healthcare people I personally know, they think free healthcare would be insane.

My brother cut his foot pretty bad last week. He was waiting in the ER from 10pm until about 2:30am. Just imagine if everyone with a cough or the stomach flu was in the ER waiting to see a Dr....it could have been days.

Oh, and I agree with most of the michael moore comments. I think he is just as much a capitalist as the rest of them. If he's so concerned, he should make his films free. He's a hack-job conspiracy theorist who preys on americans and their fears.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

Les — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:52:17 -0000

JRocka! You can't just drop a bomb like that and walk away! What are you dying of?

In Britain you would have to wait from 6-8 months just to get started.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/...
http://observer.guardian.co...

I'm on mrs. bear's team.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

mrs. bear — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:49:24 -0000

Hang in there Justin. Once we have our single payor system it will be "free." But then again, you might have to wait until the end of August or even September to see that doctor.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » SiCKO

justin aka j rocka — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:41:09 -0000

i need to go to the doctor right now, but I cant. I have to wait until the end of July.

I could be dead by then. Yet I pay xxx a month for this service.