"Sicko" Offers Profound Critique of AmericaRandy Shawbyline‚ Jul. 09‚ 2007After reading Paul Hogarth’s July 6 piece critical of Michael Moore’s new film, Sicko, I anticipated sharing his reaction. But after seeing the film this past weekend, I reached a completely different conclusion: the film is brilliant on multiple levels. Although Sicko is ostensibly about the health care industry, Moore uses the health crisis as a backdrop for a more profound inquiry: why did selfishness become the dominant policy agenda for America, and what happened to the nation’s communal spirit so powerfully exhibited during the Depression, World War II, and in the aftermath of 9/11? Sicko is as much about the mentality that led to the invasion of Iraq as it is about the health care crisis, and the film’s impact could lead many to reassess their attitudes toward public institutions. |