Over the next few weeks we can expect to hear from a lot of patriotic right-wing "fact checkers" who haven't and won't see the movie bashing that communist Michael Moore and his manufactured "liberal myths" about health care in the US.
Here's one that made me laugh:
Britons, Canadians and Frenchmen purchase their "free" coverage through their taxes. In America, 44.7 percent of health expenditures came from tax-funded government spending in 2004, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reports. In Canada, that figure was 69.8 percent; while in France it was 78.4. Fully 86.3 percent of British health spending was taxpayer-funded.
So what? What kind of ridiculous non sequitur argument is that? Here are some facts that are more relevant:
| Health care expenditures | ||||
| US | Canada | UK | France | |
| Per capita | $5711 | $2669 | $2428 | $2981 |
| % of GDP | 15.2% | 9.9% | 8% | 10.1% |
| % of gov. revenues | 18.5% | 16.7% | 15.8% | 14.2% |
The Kaiser Family Foundation also has this. There appears to be serious waste and inefficiency somewhere in our system. I wonder where? Oh, and regarding all those taxes they pay for health insurance, see here.
UPDATE: See what I mean? More criticism from someone who hasn't even seen the movie. He should have taken us up on our offer of a free ticket. The most puzzling thing to me, though, is why can't 70% of the people drown out the noise of the 30% dead-enders with facts and logic? I guess we just need to make more noise.
UPDATE: Simply amazing. A plea to all wingnuts. Yes, don't see the movie. It is more entertainment than fact anyway. Except for a few heartbreaks and eyeopeners. But no, you don't need to see it to know that the American health care system is broken. But please do your homework and keep an open mind when the rest of us start pushing for reforms. And if you're going to fight it, you might want to bring your A game instead of this "Michael Moore is a communist liar" bullshit. And while your at it, please point us to the entertaining movie that portrays what a great health care system we have in America.
|
Topics:
|
|
Discussing:
- GOP dereliction of duty, SNAP must be funded (1 reply)
- Medicare Advantage: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (1 reply)
- Electricity prices are rising (2 replies)
- Does Silly Congress care about chaos in cattle market? (4 replies)
- Terrible things are happening outside. (4 replies)
- East TN Health Depts. free flu shots today, Oct. 21, 2025 (1 reply)
- Building housing Knox County Democratic Party headquarters up for sale (3 replies)
- Watch how scam victims lose millions to a con with a modern twist (1 reply)
- Knoxville SOUP proposals Announced for Sept. 23, 2025 (1 reply)
- No Kings Rally - Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 (1 reply)
- Study finds Knoxville has the second worst drivers in the US (3 replies)
- Republicans shutdown government to avoid healthcare support (2 replies)
TN Progressive
- WATCH THIS SPACE. (Left Wing Cracker)
- Report on Blount County, TN, No Kings event (BlountViews)
- America As It Is Right Now (RoaneViews)
- A friend sent this: From Captain McElwee's Tall Tales of Roane County (RoaneViews)
- The Meidas Touch (RoaneViews)
- Massive Security Breach Analysis (RoaneViews)
- (Whitescreek Journal)
- Lee's Fried Chicken in Alcoa closed (BlountViews)
- Alcoa, Hall Rd. Corridor Study meeting, July 30, 2024 (BlountViews)
- My choices in the August election (Left Wing Cracker)
- July 4, 2024 - aka The Twilight Zone (Joe Powell)
- Chef steals food to serve at restaurant? (BlountViews)
TN Politics
- US Senate again rejects bill ending shutdown, as air traffic controllers miss paychecks (TN Lookout)
- Knox County postpones vote to bar nonprofits getting county money from serving immigrants (TN Lookout)
- Stark federal choices harm Tennessee (TN Lookout)
- Tennessee Sen. Blackburn to support food program funding during shutdown (TN Lookout)
- Thousands of preschoolers could lose access to Head Start due to shutdown (TN Lookout)
- Maury County installs first tornado sirens more than 1 year after Columbia tornado (TN Lookout)
Knox TN Today
- Smoky Mountain Tales: A conversation with Charles Maynard (Knox TN Today)
- The Book Whisperer has perfect Halloween read (Knox TN Today)
- Garner on Vol defense: Everybody must do better (Knox TN Today)
- Downtown Knoxville has Halloween covered (Knox TN Today)
- Gibbs cements post season play, eliminates Heritage (Knox TN Today)
- Chunk takes the crown: Fat Bear Week 2025 ends with a big winner (Knox TN Today)
- HEADLINES: World news to local Deputy Kirchner facing amputation (Knox TN Today)
- Young Reader’s Shelf: Harry Potter series (Knox TN Today)
- GCA offers PK-12 & Hybrid Program Open Houses (Knox TN Today)
- BarberMcMurray receives TBR Chancellor’s Award (Knox TN Today)
- It cost a war pension (Knox TN Today)
- Have a Happy Halloween (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- Wild Wing Cafe plans return to Farragut after closing Johnson City location (WATE)
- Knoxville pledges up to $10M annually from sales tax proposal for affordable housing (WATE)
- Anakeesta's Local Appreciation Days to help Second Harvest Food Bank of East TN (WATE)
- Blount Mansion raising money to preserve Knoxville landmark (WATE)
- Officials respond as report highlights major issues at Knox County juvenile facility (WATE)
- Dollywood announces opening date for 2026 season (WATE)
News Sentinel
State News
- Chattanooga Now Events - Chattanooga Strings Autumn Concert - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Chattanooga Now Events - 2000s Themed Music Night in Chattanooga – Dress Up & Sing Along! - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Revamped GHSA softball schedule no major concern for Gordon Lee - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Virginia Wills Obituary - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
Wire Reports
- The Fed’s balance sheet takes center stage as liquidity concerns rise - CNBC (Business)
- South Korea trade deal appears elusive as Trump seeks $350B investment - AP News (US News)
- China Purchases First Cargoes of US Soybeans This Season - Bloomberg.com (Business)
- Democratic states sue to force SNAP payments during government shutdown - The Washington Post (US News)
- Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says Bill Gates warned him that investing in OpenAI would be like setting $1 billion on fire - businessinsider.com (Business)
- Futures: Trump Upbeat On China; Fed, Key Earnings On Tap - Investor's Business Daily (Business)
- Poll: Most Californians say they’ll vote yes on Proposition 50 - Politico (US News)
- Ben & Jerry's co-founder says Unilever blocked Palestine-themed ice cream - BBC (Business)
- Federal Judge Disqualifies Trump-Backed Prosecutor in Los Angeles - The New York Times (US News)
- Trump says US blocks him from running for third term - Reuters (US News)
- As Amazon lays off 14,000, some employees worry more cuts loom - The Seattle Times (Business)
- A deputy killed. A 150-mph chase. Then, an off-duty cop took dramatic action on live television - Los Angeles Times (US News)
- Trump counts on public support for drug boat strikes without congressional approval - Politico (US News)
- Microsoft shares once again surpass $4 trillion valuation, joining Nvidia - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos (Business)
- Airlines are feeding air traffic controllers as they miss their first full paychecks - CBS News (US News)
Local Media
Lost Medicaid Funding
Search and Archives
TN Progressive
Nearby:
- Blount Dems
- Herston TN Family Law
- Inside of Knoxville
- Instapundit
- Jack Lail
- Jim Stovall
- Knox Dems
- MoxCarm Blue Streak
- Outdoor Knoxville
- Pittman Properties
- Reality Me
- Stop Alcoa Parkway
Beyond:
- Nashville Scene
- Nashville Post
- Smart City Memphis
- TN Dems
- TN Journal
- TN Lookout
- Bob Stepno
- Facing South

Simply amazing. A plea to
I am unamazed. Thanks for reminding me why I don't go to Nashvilleistalking anymore.
Thanks again to Jesus General, by the way -- due to his diligent efforts to rid the Tennessee blogosphere of the corrupting influence of pithy links, now there's not a single liberal voice at WKRN's blogs. Now all parrots trained to recite wingnut talking points have a perch with network affiliate backing! Just what we needed!
As far as SU is concerned, Moore dared [gasp!] to have a negative opinion about gun violence.
The horror. The horror.
____________________________
I'm a guy in a Reagan mask -- and I'm running for President!
I am unamazed. Thanks for
I am unamazed. Thanks for reminding me why I don't go to Nashvilleistalking anymore.
Yes, that was certainly a rapid descent into wingnuttery. Very disappointing.
I did read an exchange a
I did read an exchange a week or so ago where the libertarian proprietress was maundering on and on about the upcoming cuts to the Nashville public library system and how bad this is.
Now, I'm not down with making huge cuts to the public libraries. I'm certainly opposed to them. But then again, I'm one of these supposed "big-gumbit librulz" according to the libertarian yardstick, so you'd think that my position there was ideologically consistent.
I'd made an argument a couple weeks before about school vouchers vis-a-vis "market magic," in that I'm a married guy with no kids. So, in that whole scheme of school vouchers? Why shouldn't my wife and I get a refund? Why should I have to pay to put ANY kids through private OR public schools? Sure, I went to public schools growing up, but so what? I got mine!
Why should I pay for libraries, for that matter? I never use 'em. And hey, I have only been to one Titans game. What portion of my tax dollar went to the bond issue that paid to build that stadium? I want it back! Me! Me! Me!
Small government types always oppose "the public good" until it affects them personally, and it really makes me want to retch. Oh, well, apparently it's just fine to be in favor of strict laissez-faire market dynamics in local governments until you can't get your books and movies for "free" anymore, huh?
____________________________
I'm a guy in a Reagan mask -- and I'm running for President!