What Michael Moore left out of 'Sicko'

Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Orange Grove: What Michael Moore left out of 'Sicko'
His film bent over backwards to make socialized medicine look
superior
By RICHARD RALSTON

Michael Moore's comedy-drama "Sicko" presented a great deal of
misinformation--too much to summarize in a short column. Besides,
if anyone in the audience really believes that all Cubans receive
superb health care when Moore's cameras are not running, there is
not much I can say to help them.

However, those who have seen the film should at least be aware of
some of the information that was left out.

After bemoaning the amount of money that Americans spend on
health care, Mr. Moore castigated the "greed" of an insurance
company for not providing routine and immediate approval of a
medical procedure in the 1980s that might have saved a patient's
life at a cost of $500,000. He did not mention whether there should
be an upper limit on any procedure, no matter how experimental or
expensive, and what that would do to health care costs. $1 million?
$10 million? That would surely provide incentives for a lot of
medical experiments.

When Moore described health maintenance organizations as the
creation of a dark and evil conspiracy by Richard Nixon, for some
reason he forgot to mention that Nixon's enthusiastic partner in
pushing the HMO Act of 1973 through a Democratic-controlled
Congress was Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

He also forgot to mention that the Clinton administration's health
care proposals in 1994 would have forced most Americans into
HMOs.

Longer life spans in Canada were cited as proof that Canada has a
superior health care system. Moore forgot to mention how many
Canadians die in traffic accidents, are shot by criminals, are killed
in combat, are addicted to illegal drugs, have diseases primarily
afflicting racial minorities, or are obese, compared with Americans.
He also forgot to establish whether Canadians started living longer
only after they nationalized their health care system, or whether
they always lived longer than Americans. He did not mention that if
they do live two years longer, they need to--because that is how
long they often have to wait for surgery.

When Moore filmed two of his relatives buying health insurance in
fear before they traveled to America, he forgot to mention that
many Canadians travel to America for the express purpose of
spending their own money for more than $1 billion in American
health care each year.

Moore interviewed a physician in the British National Health
Service about how wonderful free health care is in Britain, and how
satisfied the physicians are in the NHS. He forgot to mention that
more than one third of physicians working for the NHS buy private
insurance so they don't have to rely on the "free" care, and that
more than 6 million British citizens also buy private insurance for
the same reason. He did not mention that this year the health
minister admitted that one in eight British patients still wait for
more than a year for treatment. He neglected to say that Britain has
had to import more than 20,000 physicians in the past three years--
chiefly from Middle Eastern and Asian countries--because so few of
the British, after sixty years of experience with the NHS, want to
enter or stay in the profession.

While praising the superiority of French medical care and the fact
that French doctors make house calls--almost as an aside while
praising the superiority of every element of French society
compared with America's--Moore forgot to mention that 13,000
Frenchmen died of heat prostration and dehydration during a heat
wave in the summer of 2003, when most French physicians were on
summer vacation and did not show up in emergency rooms, let
alone make house calls.

Michael Moore forgot to mention why he jammed seriously ill
patients into a small boat to take them to Cuba, in order to film a
stunt attempting to prove the superiority of Cuban health care--
when, for much less money, he could have written them a check for
care in America. It must have been compassion.

Most importantly, when Mr. Moore mentioned that "every
industrial country" except the United States has adopted medical
socialism, he did not mention why that means that we should. Many
of those countries still have monarchies. Should the United States?
Many of those countries have established state religions. Should the
United States? Many of those countries have long waiting lists and
severe rationing of health care.

Should the United States?

Pearl Harbor Survivor Reunited With Shipmates

Release Date: 7/24/2007 5:28:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul D. Honnick, Fleet Public Affairs Det. Hawaii

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- A Sailor who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor was reunited with his shipmates July 17 in a burial at sea ceremony held at the USS Utah Memorial on Ford Island in Naval Station (NAVSTA) Pearl Harbor.

Nearly a decade after his passing, the family of Chief Gunner’s Mate Raymond Haack honored his memory by scattering his ashes into the water next to the sunken ship where 54 crew members lost their lives Dec. 7, 1941.

“Thanks to the family, the United States Navy will now honor this American hero as he so justly deserves,” said retired Master Chief Yeoman Jim Taylor, burial at sea coordinator for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

In attendance were Haack's daughter Jeanne Haack Marcuci, grandson Michael Marcuci and his wife Heather, granddaughter Lisa Fritsch and his great-grandsons Cameron Marcuci and Sylvain Fritsch.

Taylor told a brief, yet moving story about the life of Raymond Haack, his patriotism during World War II and his devotion to family.

“He was very humble, he was handsome, hard working, intelligent, philosophical, nature loving, he had a sense of humor, but above all, he was a tremendous family man,” said Taylor.

Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Bernard Pacaro offered a blessing to Haack’s memory and his many accomplishments during life.

“Raymond Haack is one such person who makes this a holy place and a living memorial to those who sacrifice much for their god, for their country, for their shipmates and indeed for their family,” said Pacaro.

After Pacaro delivered his blessing, the family proceeded to the end of the pier and scattered Haack’s ashes into the harbor.

As his ashes drifted by USS Utah, the NAVSTA Pearl Harbor Ceremonial Guard rendered a 21-gun salute followed by the playing of Taps by the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band.

“I have to think that there’s a possibility that he was here today from wherever he is. I don’t know and none of us will ever know, but in a way, I have to feel that he’s happy right now,” said Taylor.

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Illianna Thomas, a volunteer honor guard member, presented Haack’s daughter Jeanne with his flag.

“It’s a real honor to be able to be a part of this. It makes me sad in my heart to hear about the lives of the people who passed away, but it also gives me a sense of pride,” said Haack's daughter.

Haack was serving aboard Saint Louis-class light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) when Japanese planes were spotted flying over Ford Island at 7:57 a.m., Dec. 7, 1941.

Without delay, the officer of the deck sounded the general alarm and passed word over the announcing system, “Japanese planes bombing Ford Island, man all battle stations, break out service ammunition.”

Only one minute after general quarters had been sounded, a single torpedo struck Helena on the starboard side, inflicting heavy casualties. The force of the explosion knocked Haack off his feet and onto his back while he was racing to his general quarters station. Helena continued to be attacked suffering four near misses by enemy bombs and one strafing attack.

Of the 2,388 people killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 33 Sailors and one Marine lost their lives aboard Helena.

“He saw a lot of terrible things and survived it all, so he was very grateful for everything,” said Haack's daughter.

Perhaps by fate, Haack’s two daughters Randi and Jeanne were each born on Dec. 7 in 1943 and 1946 respectively.

“Perhaps this was part of some grand plan to have his daughters bring him happy memories over the years on that day in infamy,” said Taylor.

Haack enlisted in the Navy in April 1939 and was honorably discharged in 1946.

He passed away August 1998, at the age of 80, and is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren.

“I think he would be very blessed at having been honored and being back here at Pearl Harbor with the people that were here too that meant a lot to him,” said his daughter. “Being in the military and then surviving those types of situations I think are inseparable.”

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.

With A V For Valor Under Fire...

A Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Honored For Saving Lives In Afghanistan

(DAILY PRESS (VA) 17 JUL 07) … Stephanie Heinatz
For the first time in his 20-year Navy career, Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Stephen A. Murray had to put his combat lifesaving skills to work during a deployment to Afghanistan last year.

When ambushes and roadside bombs in rural areas of the war-torn country left American and Afghan comrades in need of immediate medical attention, "I was amazed at how automatic things are, how quickly your training kicks in," said the 39-year-old hospital corpsman from Virginia Beach.

"And yeah," he added, "I was scared."
But Murray pushed through that fear and is credited with saving at least two American and six Afghan lives during two separate insurgent attacks. For that, Murray will receive the Bronze Star with a "V" device for valor at a ceremony Wednesday at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

More than 65,000 Bronze Stars have been awarded to troops throughout the military services since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By mid-April, the Navy had awarded only 2,000 of those.

From November 2005 to June 2006, Murray served as the senior medic with a combat medical company in Herat.
"The Afghan National Army was in its infancy and corpsmen were over there to train their medical companies," he said. "We're trying to just allow these people to be self-sufficient and not be overrun by terrorists."

Murray was in the country less than a month, he said, when he and the Afghan recruits left the relative safety of the military base.

Getting hit by improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, gave the Afghans "some immediate hands-on training," Murray said. "In that first IED hit, we lost a few medics. But the ones that made it through, I'd like to think they were prepared for what war brings to the table."

On March 9, 2006, Murray was again "down range" when his convoy was attacked.
"I was two vehicles behind the vehicle that hit the IED," Murray said.
"It broke into two pieces. Bodies went flying."

When Murray went to grab his medical bag, he said, "my hand was shaking so bad the gunner (in the Humvee) had to hand it to me. I shook until I got where the IED crater was. I didn't stop shaking until I got to the first victim."

That's when something took over, he said.
All those years of constantly practicing the same skills, constantly training to respond to wounded troops, "became automatic."

"He displayed uncommon valor and conspicuous bravery when his convoy struck two improvised explosive devices," Murray's Bronze Star citation reads. "Showing little regard for his personal safety, he immediately dismounted his vehicle and rendered medical aid to several critically injured Afghan soldiers."

Nearly three weeks later, Murray again put himself at risk when Firebase Robinson - one of the military bases in Afghanistan - came under attack "by over 200 heavily armed Taliban forces," according to the medal citation.

"I never quit being scared that night," Murray said. "It was even worse than when the IED hit."
During the attack, according to the citation, Murray moved into "an exposed position on a rooftop to render life-saving aid to two wounded United States soldiers."

All Murray said he could see was tracer fire. All he could hear were bullets and guys screaming for a medic.
"We had one guy hit in the face. His face was all ripped open," Murray said.
Another service member who was behind Murray as he climbed a ladder to get to the rooftop was shot in the back of the head.

"By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative and total dedication to duty," the citation reads, "Senior Chief Murray reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Murray said he was just doing his job and was "lucky enough not to get injured and not get killed."
The troops who didn't make it home, he said, are the ones who deserve recognition.Return To Top

'The colonies' have surpassed Great Britain...

Several weeks ago I mentioned that I had seen some of Ayn Rand's books in a bookstore in Rockhampton, Australia. My intent was to go back and get a photo of the covers of those books because they were different than what we normally see in the U.S.

Well, I never did get back to that bookstore, but when I was in Sydney I went into a bookstore on Pitt Street and found three of her books: The Fountainhead and 2 cover versions of Atlas Shrugged! So, naturally I took a photo. :o)

It's really encouraging to see her books in Australia. Dr. Harry Binswanger of the HBL email list just returned form London with a report that he did not see any works by Ayn Rand in one of his favorite bookstores there.

Based on these anecdotal evidences I'd say "the colonies" of Great Britain (US and AU) have surpassed her intellectually.

Sydney scene...

I have a few more shots of Sydney and of other Australian scenes that I want to post... here is one of them. Shot from the ferry on the way to Manly about 1030 in the morning on July 4, 2007. This is one of my favorite shots of the Sydney skyline.

How'd you get to Iran...?

Here are a couple of running cadences I've heard used by Sailors running in formation. My point in posting these is just to suggest that although military action in Iran does not seem to be widely supported at the higher levels of our government the average enlisted person I think understands what -- or, where -- our target should be. Oh, if only "common sense" could prevail in policy once in a while.

Feel free to incorporate them into your morning run, but you know it's hard to get the feeling of a couple of dozen motivated GI's repeating each line as you go. :o)


When we get to Baghdad
Saddam is gonna say
How’d you get to Baghdad
In just one day

I’ll reply with a whole lot of anger
A little bit sweat and a whole lot of danger

When we get to Iran
The people there will say
How’d you get to Iran
In just one day

I’ll reply with a whole lot of anger
A little bit sweat and a whole lot of danger

When we get to Cuba
Castro’s gonna say
How’d you get to Cuba
In just one day

I’ll reply with a whole lot of anger
A little bit sweat and a whole lot of danger

Here is a cadence that is similar and that I believe was modified to create the above.

When I get to Heaven
Saint Peter’s gonna say
“How’d you earn your livin’ boy?
How’d you earn your pay?”
I’ll reply with a whole lot of anger,
“I made my living as an Airborne Ranger!”
Blood, guts, and a whole lot of danger
That’s the life of an Airborne Ranger!”
When I get to hell
Satan’s gonna say
“How’d you earn your livin’ boy?”
How’d you earn your pay?”
I’ll reply with a boot to his chest
“I made my living laying souls to rest!”
When I get to home
Mama’s gonna say
“How’d you earn your livin’ boy?”
“How’d you earn your pay?”
I replied with no such anger
Mama used to beat me with a coat hanger

The "Galloping Ghost of the China coast..."

From the Whiskey and Gunpowder Newsletter:

Greg’s Note: We wish our readers a safe and happy 4th of July. On this occasion our Peak Oil correspondent Byron King has a special tribute to a recently deceased man of significant accomplishment. If you care to comment, please send any notes to the publisher’s desk, greg@whiskeyandgunpowder.com

Whiskey & Gunpowder
Independence Day, 2007
By Byron King
Pittsburgh, U.S.A.


Eugene B. Fluckey,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (1913-2007)

WE NOTE WITH SADNESS the recent passing of Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, U.S. Navy, Retired, aged 93. Adm. Fluckey and his wife lived in Annapolis, Maryland.

Most Decorated U.S. Veteran

At the time of his death, Admiral Fluckey had the distinction of holding the most combat decorations of any living veteran of the U.S. armed forces, to include four Navy Crosses and the Congressional Medal of Honor, earned on submarine patrols in Japanese-controlled waters of the Pacific Theater during World War II. In addition, Adm. Fluckey was entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation. As a sign of his humility, however, Adm. Fluckey often noted that the award of which he was most proud was the one that neither he nor any member of his crew ever received, the Purple Heart.

Eugene B. Fluckey was born in the District of Columbia in 1913, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935. Then-Ensign Fluckey's first assignment was to a battleship, USS Nevada (BB-36), later damaged and sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

In 1938 Fluckey transferred from USS Nevada and entered the Navy Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. At the time of U.S. entry into the Second World War, Fluckey was serving aboard USS Bonita (SS-165). Between December 1941 and June 1942 he participated in five war patrols on other submarines, against Japanese shipping and naval forces in the Pacific. Fluckey excelled at a variety of jobs, and gave the appearance of being cool under pressure. He advanced through the ranks, and after one war patrol as prospective commanding officer of the Gato-class submarine USS Barb (SS-220), he assumed command of that soon-to-be legendary vessel on 27 April 1944.

“He Revolutionized Submarine Warfare”

“He revolutionized submarine warfare," said Carl Lavo, author of the biography “The Galloping Ghost: The Extraordinary Life of Submarine Legend Eugene Fluckey,” published in May 2007 by the Naval Institute Press. Lavo recently told the Los Angeles Times that “(Fluckey) was the first submarine skipper in history to employ a submarine to launch guided missiles at an enemy target,” referring to missiles fired from a number of tubes arranged in a rack anchored to the Barb’s deck. These missiles destroyed factories in two coastal Japanese cities, and “the Japanese thought this had to be an aerial bombardment, but they could not find any airplanes.” According to biographer Lavo, “By that time, the submarine was long gone.”

Also, according to author Lavo, Fluckey “thought submarines could be used for landing saboteurs on shore.” In one demonstration of this technique, U.S. underwater demolition commandoes, fore-runners to modern Navy SEALs, went ashore in Japan from USS Barb and blew up a 16-car railroad train on a northern island off the Japanese mainland. Thus, according to Lavo, Fluckey is “credited for creating havoc by hit-and-run tactics, so that the Japanese never knew where the attack was coming from, and that's how he got this moniker, ‘the Galloping Ghost.’”

The Galloping Ghost

Fluckey’s nickname was coined the night of 25 January 1945, when USS Barb was idling in shallow waters between two promontories off the coast of China, looking for Japanese shipping to attack. After several hours of nervous waiting, the expected Japanese convoy failed to appear. Fluckey decided to move back out to sea, turned to the executive officer and said, “No joy at this [position]. Let's gallop.”

Hearing the comment, the executive officer replied: “Captain, where is the Galloping Ghost of the China coast going to gallop tonight?”

Fluckey and his submarine galloped throughout the waters of the Japanese Empire. By the end of the war, official Navy statistics credited Fluckey with five war patrols in command of USS Barb, and with sinking 25 ships totaling 179,700 tons. However, in a recent statement released by the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Fluckey is “credited with sinking 29.3 enemy ships totaling more than 146,000 tons.” Among the Japanese ships sunk by USS Barb under Fluckey were an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and numerous cargo ships.

Significant Accomplishments

For heroism during the patrols of the USS Barb, specifically the vessel’s 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th war patrols, Fluckey was awarded four Navy Crosses and the Congressional Medal of Honor. No other American fighting man has ever equaled that total.

Adm. Fluckey’s Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. BARB during her 11th war patrol along the east coast of China from 19 December 1944 to 15 February 1945. After sinking a large enemy ammunition ship and damaging additional tonnage during a running 2-hour night battle on 8 January, Comdr. Fluckey, in an exceptional feat of brilliant deduction and bold tracking on 25 January, located a concentration of more than 30 enemy ships in the lower reaches of Nankuan Chiang (Mamkwan Harbor). Fully aware that a safe retirement would necessitate an hour's run at full speed through the uncharted, mined, and rock-obstructed waters, he bravely ordered, "Battle station--torpedoes!" In a daring penetration of the heavy enemy screen, and riding in 5 fathoms of water, he launched the Barb's last forward torpedoes at 3,000-yard range. Quickly bringing the ship's stern tubes to bear, he turned loose 4 more torpedoes into the enemy, obtaining 8 direct hits on 6 of the main targets to explode a large ammunition ship and cause inestimable damage by the resultant flying shells and other pyrotechnics. Clearing the treacherous area at high speed, he brought the BARB through to safety and 4 days later sank a large Japanese freighter to complete a record of heroic combat achievement, reflecting the highest credit upon Comdr. Fluckey, his gallant officers and men, and the U.S. Naval Service."

Many of the littoral missions of modern submarines were prefigured by exploits in World War II. Against the Japanese, Fluckey pioneered a role for submarines in both land attack and sabotage. He took USS Barb into heavily defended coastal waters to launch torpedo, rocket, and gun bombardments, many of which inflicted severe damage on Japanese coastal installations.

In his final war patrol report as Commanding Officer of USS Barb, Fluckey had this to say about his crew:

“What wordy praise can one give such men as these; men who...follow unhesitatingly when in the vicinity of minefields so long as there is the possibility of targets... Men who flinch not with the fathometer ticking off two fathoms beneath the keel... Men who will fight to the last bullet and then start throwing the empty shell cases. These are submariners.”

After the War

After the Second World War ended, Fluckey was ordered to command a new submarine being constructed in Groton, Connecticut, but was soon transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Navy to work under Secretary James Forrestal on unifying the Armed Services. Not long after this, Admiral Chester Nimitz, the in-coming Chief of Naval Operations, selected Fluckey to be his Personal Aide.

Later in his distinguished career, Admiral Fluckey served as Commanding Officer of Submarine Division 52, of Submarine Squadron Five, and of the submarine tender USS Sperry (AS-12). He was selected for Flag Rank in 1960 and reported as Commander, Amphibious Group Four, and later as COMSUBPAC. He also had successful tours as the Head of the Electrical Engineering Department at the U.S. Naval Academy, as the U.S. Naval Attaché in Lisbon, Portugal, and as Director of Naval Intelligence. Adm. Fluckey retired in 1972.

Adm. Fluckey's first wife, Marjorie, died in 1979. In addition to a daughter, he is survived by his wife, Margaret; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. We send our condolences. R.I.P. Eugene Fluckey, holder of a Medal of Honor.

Until we meet again…
Byron W. King

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