thoughtnot

I believe it was Benjamin Franklin that once said “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.” Well, at least one website I found says it was Ben Franklin. It might have been Aretha Franklin for all I can tell. Isn’t it funny… one or two websites claim it was ‘ol Ben’s bit of wisdom, but numerous others disagree and cite someone else. Apparently, no-one has the real facts or, if they do, we can’t distinguish them from falsity.

Which brings up the interesting topic of the movie Sicko, which is the latest bit of slobber from producer/director Michael Moore. This flick opened for the public this past weekend, generating many articles. Some are supportive of the movie, but interestingly an equal number appear to be more cautious. Perhaps one of the most interesting articles I read was Moore’s ‘Sicko’ gives accused little say, an article released by AP writers.

What makes that article special? Simply put, it balances the movie. Like most of Moore’s efforts, Sicko is one-sided. Because of his delivery, many people are fooled into believing it is a true documentary. But the only thing it REALLY documents is Moore’s opinion. He presents “facts”, but does little to balance that information with full disclosure. Thus, people leave this movie thinking that if they want quality healthcare, they need to go to Cuba, Canada, or France. He also presents “testimony” from individuals whose claims have long been debunked. But for the sake of glorification and the “shock factor”, it’s easy for him to ignore the real facts. After all, most people will believe what they are show and told by Moore.

Which brings us back to the “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see” quip. If you choose to see this movie, read the article above, and keep that quote in mind. If you do, you’ll at least exit the theater with some idea of where the real truth exists. While it’s a given that not all doctors, insurance, and pharmaceutical companies are innocent bystanders, the real devil is in the details. And unfortunately, Mr. Moore appears to have left those on the cutting room floor.