We need to get better

In an attempt to escape the heat last night, I went to see Michael Moore's new movie. OK, so let me start with the usual Moore disclaimers: yes, the end of the film is a big stage-y set piece that's probably the weakest and most egotistical part of the movie, but overall Mike's message is loud and clear. And really, I didn't need much more persuading. Our health care system is tremendously dysfunctional, and we need to do something to bring it in line with that of every other industrialized nation's. Call me a liberal; I don't care. This issue transcends all partisan labels (or ought to), because for the vast majority of us, it's our own personal security and well-being that is on the line.

But I was most struck by something Mike said in the voiceover about 3/4 of the way through the film: what kind of people are we? Obviously he is trying to convince his viewers that we deserve better (not hating on America, as his critics will no doubt claim). Of course, we all can ask ourselves that same question and even answer it, to an extent. Americans are good people, among the best anywhere. We're good people with a bad government. Not a bad system of government, an actual bad, reckless, pathological government - and unfortunately, those assholes represent us to the rest of the world right now. There's a lot of healing, rehabilitation and recovery that needs to happen within our government before anything will change in the health care system. We need to elect a healthy government, for starters.