Michael Moore and I met earlier this year to talk about “Sicko.” Here’s the uncut interview:

America has a health care problem. Health care plans cost quite a bit of money. At times, people who believe they are covered discover they simply aren’t. At that point, it’s too late. They end up way over their heads in debt, or in the worst-case scenario, they are denied treatment. In some cases, the denial of treatment has resulted in death.

These are the stories that Michael Moore tells in “Sicko,” by far his least confrontational film, which results in a more politically effective work. Among the stories is a young woman who was told by her insurance company that an ambulance ride wouldn’t be covered because she failed to call and authorize the ride. The problem? She was unconscious after a car accident. No matter, her provider told her.

More devastating is a poorer family who is denied treatment for their sick young daughter. The girl’s mother had her daughter insured, but this ER would not accept her insurance. They denied her treatment. By the time they made it to the center that WOULD treat the young girl, it was too late. She died of complications from her sudden illness.

Moore does a good job at letting these people tell their stories on their own. We don’t have too many shots of the hulking filmmaker pretending to sob with these people. That technique caused many to stir in their seats during “Bowling for Columbine,” and Moore’s rightfully learned that lesson. He also does a fine job at throwing most of our elected politicians under the bus – on both sides of the aisle. This is bigger than a President Bush issue. In fact, Moore probably gives the biggest jab to Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton. You’ll have to see the film to understand why.

Moore flies off track with trips to France and Cuba. Not once in the film does he showcase any of the problems with socialized medicine. He labels the constant protests in France as a beautiful sign the people actually care about government. No Michael, they’re protesting because there are PROBLEMS WITH THAT SYSTEM. And let’s not even get started with Cuba. Sure, the hospitals might look nice, but I’d probably be in jail writing now for even THINKING about writing a column like this.

In a way, Moore’s solutions cast even more light on our given health problem. A solution is much more difficult than any of us may think. Moore would have been better off highlighting the problems in those country’s systems, because after all, no system is perfect. Perhaps the perks of the European way of medicine outweigh the negative sides of ours?

Checking out the DVD for a film like this is essential, because the special features actually mean something! Included is a segment titled “Sicko Goes to Washington.” In it Moore heads to the Capitol to see if bill HR 676 is likely to be passed. There he profiles what the California Nurses Association is doing to try and shut down Rep. John Connor’s bill before it’s set into law.

Moore also heads to Norway to show why their health system is even better than France’s! Hopefully he skips over the suicide rate.

In another segment he discussed the health care plan for GE employees living in France. How does working 35 hours a week and 5 weeks paid vacation sound? That’s 5 great weeks of protesting time!

Overall, a must-see movie. If you’ve hated Michael Moore over the years, this is his valiant effort to try and win you over. It might not work, but in a country as economically successful as the United States, this is a problem to which we need to find a solution. Hopefully we can all agree on that.