Michael Moore facing Treasury Dept. investigation

[Balta1701]

Well, I think we can safely say this is the first "Here we go again" moment for Moore's upcoming film "Sicko". Somehow, I bet that there were people fairly high up in the government just salivating over this when they realized they could go after Mr. Moore for violations of the Cuban embargo.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore is under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department for taking ailing September 11 rescue workers to Cuba for a segment in his upcoming health-care documentary "Sicko," The Associated Press has learned.

 

The investigation provides another contentious lead-in for a provocative film by Moore, a fierce critic of President Bush. In the past, Moore's adversaries have fanned publicity that helped the filmmaker create a new brand of opinionated blockbuster documentary.

...

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control notified Moore in a letter dated May 2 that it was conducting a civil investigation for possible violations of the U.S. trade embargo restricting travel to Cuba. A copy of the letter was obtained Tuesday by the AP.

 

"This office has no record that a specific license was issued authorizing you to engage in travel-related transactions involving Cuba," Dale Thompson, OFAC chief of general investigations and field operations, wrote in the letter to Moore.

 

In February, Moore took about 10 ailing workers from the Ground Zero rescue effort in Manhattan for treatment in Cuba, said a person working with the filmmaker on the release of "Sicko." The person requested anonymity because Moore's attorneys had not yet determined how to respond.

 

Moore, who scolded Bush over the Iraq war during the 2003 Oscar telecast, received the letter Monday, the person said. "Sicko" premieres May 19 at the Cannes Film Festival and debuts in U.S. theaters June 29.

Best marketing Moore could possibly get.

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

Well, I think we can safely say this is the first "Here we go again" moment for Moore's upcoming film "Sicko". Somehow, I bet that there were people fairly high up in the government just salivating over this when they realized they could go after Mr. Moore for violations of the Cuban embargo.

Best marketing Moore could possibly get.

 

 

Throw that dickhead in jail for about 5 years with Bubba then let him go. When he comes out all bowlegged and 70 lbs lighter, he'll never be heard from again.

[Texsox]

Throw that dickhead in jail for about 5 years with Bubba then let him go. When he comes out all bowlegged and 70 lbs lighter, he'll never be heard from again.

 

you are learning a lot from the Iraqis when it comes to punishment. I wonder, when we finally sink to their level, torture, etc. who comes in and rescues Americans from an evil ruler?

 

Oh, and BTW, Moore is a dickhead and unless Cuba has some radical medical treatment that was these people's only hope, he deserves what ever punishment we dish out. Nuke, you smoking any Cuban cigars?

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

you are learning a lot from the Iraqis when it comes to punishment. I wonder, when we finally sink to their level, torture, etc. who comes in and rescues Americans from an evil ruler?

 

Oh, and BTW, Moore is a dickhead and unless Cuba has some radical medical treatment that was these people's only hope, he deserves what ever punishment we dish out. Nuke, you smoking any Cuban cigars?

 

 

If I did smoke cigars it would be fairly easy to get my hands on some over here.

[Balta1701]

Oh, and BTW, Moore is a dickhead and unless Cuba has some radical medical treatment that was these people's only hope, he deserves what ever punishment we dish out. Nuke, you smoking any Cuban cigars?

Well, I can't speak to them having some sort of radical treatment, but they do have a health-care-for-all system which is, honestly, incredibly good compared to the amount of money they spend on it, which is the point Moore is clearly trying to make. From the Wiki Gonzalez entry on Cuba's health care system:

In 2006, BBC flagship news programme Newsnight featured Cuba's Healthcare system as part of a series identifying "the world's best public services". The report noted that "Thanks chiefly to the American economic blockade, but partly also to the web of strange rules and regulations that constrict Cuban life, the economy is in a terrible mess: national income per head is minuscule, and resources are amazingly tight. Healthcare, however, is a top national priority" The report stated that life expectancy and infant mortality rates are pretty much the same as the USA's. Its doctor-to-patient ratios stand comparison to any country in Western Europe. Its annual total health spend per head, however, comes in at $251; just over a tenth of the UK's. The report concluded that the population's admirable health is one of the key reasons why Castro is still in power.[20]

 

In 2000, Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan stated that "Cuba should be the envy of many other nations" adding that achievements in social development are impressive given the size of its gross domestic product per capita. "Cuba demonstrates how much nations can do with the resources they have if they focus on the right priorities - health, education, and literacy."[21] The Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-governmental organization that evaluated Cuba’s health caresystem in 2000-1 described Cuba as "a shining example of the power of public health to transform the health of an entire country by acommitment to prevention and by careful management of its medical resources"[22] President of the World Bank James Wolfensohn also praised Cuba's healthcare system in 2001, saying that "Cuba has done a great job on education and health," at the annual meeting of the Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Wayne Smith, former head of the US Interests Section in Havana identified "the incredible dedication" of Cubans to healthcare, adding that "Doctors in Cuba can make more driving cabs and working in hotels, but they don't. They're just very dedicated".[23]

Their life expectancy is roughly equal to that of the U.S., infant mortality seems similar, etc. I'm sure there are some categories where the U.S. does win, but the point Moore will make is that the U.S. spends like 12% of it's GDP on health care, Cuba spends about 7% of its GDP on health care, and Cuba gets similar results. And you can also take a second to think about the values of the GDP of each country - for cuba, 7% of it's GDP levels out to spending about $250 per person on health care per year, to get results that at worst are not horrendous compared to the much larger amount spent in the U.S.

[StrangeSox]

Cuba was one of the few countries with a non-terrible infant mortality rate and life expectancy for decades.

[jackie hayes]

I recall a while ago a promise from the administration that they would step up enforcement of the embargo. Has that actually happened? In any case, they're hardly going to ignore someone openly flaunting the embargo. No matter how idiotic that policy is.

 

Anyway, who cares? Some administration higher-ups get what they want, Moore gets what he wants. Everyone's happy -- except the moviegoing public, which hasn't seen an entertaining MM movie since Roger & Me.

[EvilMonkey]

Well, I can't speak to them having some sort of radical treatment, but they do have a health-care-for-all system which is, honestly, incredibly good compared to the amount of money they spend on it, which is the point Moore is clearly trying to make. From the Wiki Gonzalez entry on Cuba's health care system:

Their life expectancy is roughly equal to that of the U.S., infant mortality seems similar, etc. I'm sure there are some categories where the U.S. does win, but the point Moore will make is that the U.S. spends like 12% of it's GDP on health care, Cuba spends about 7% of its GDP on health care, and Cuba gets similar results. And you can also take a second to think about the values of the GDP of each country - for cuba, 7% of it's GDP levels out to spending about $250 per person on health care per year, to get results that at worst are not horrendous compared to the much larger amount spent in the U.S.

Just curious, who supplied those figures for the amount they spend Were they reported by the Cuban government? I realize that the source is biased, but have you lokoed at any reports about their healthcare that haven't come from government sanctioned sources? Blogs would be about the only thing, I guess, since it isn't likely castro would let a truely free press make him look bad. Interesting pictures and stories here: http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm

Plus, it has been reported that the reason the infant mortality rate is low is due to the high number of abortions performed. Of course, this info comes from an NRLC story, so I guess they would be a bit more biased that Castro. http://www.nrlc.org/news/2001/NRL03/rai.html

 

Somewhere in the middle, perhaps, lies the true Cuba healthcare system.

Edited May 12, 2007 by Alpha Dog

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

Just curious, who supplied those figures for the amount they spend Were they reported by the Cuban government? I realize that the source is biased, but have you lokoed at any reports about their healthcare that haven't come from government sanctioned sources? Blogs would be about the only thing, I guess, since it isn't likely castro would let a truely free press make him look bad. Interesting pictures and stories here: http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm

Plus, it has been reported that the reason the infant mortality rate is low is due to the high number of abortions performed. Of course, this info comes from an NRLC story, so I guess they would be a bit more biased that Castro. http://www.nrlc.org/news/2001/NRL03/rai.html

 

Somewhere in the middle, perhaps, lies the true Cuba healthcare system.

 

 

Everything I've read about Cuba's medical institutions tells me that they have a great many quality doctors. Hooray for them. Those same readings tell me that their standard of living is light years behind ours. Thank you fatass Michael Moore but I'll stay put right here in the good ol USA.

[Texsox]

Everything I've read about Cuba's medical institutions tells me that they have a great many quality doctors. Hooray for them. Those same readings tell me that their standard of living is light years behind ours. Thank you fatass Michael Moore but I'll stay put right here in the good ol USA.

 

Exactly, like we could ever learn anything from Cuba. We are the only smart people on the planet. We never should look at anything developed in some Commie third world country.

[Gregory Pratt]

When Paul O'Neill teamed with Suskind for The Price of Loyalty, the Treasury leaked that he'd stolen documents and used them illegally and that they might be pressing charges but would be investigating.

 

It was a ploy. Nothing more. O'Neill wasn't stupid enough to do something illegal that the attack dogs could get him over, and neither is Fat Ass.

[Rex Kickass]

I thought that it was stated that Moore went under a journalist license since what he makes is technically a documentary.

[EvilMonkey]

I thought that it was stated that Moore went under a journalist license since what he makes is technically a documentary.

It said he APPLIED for it, but that there was no record of it having ever been granted.

[Rex Kickass]

Ah. Okay. I guess we'd know for sure if he flew from the states on a charter or flew out of Canada to get there. Flights don't get to leave for Havana without special clearance from here.

[Texsox]

We trade with so many countries with terrible track records against the US, their human rights records suck. Perhaps it's time to drop the embargo.

[Balta1701]

We trade with so many countries with terrible track records against the US, their human rights records suck. Perhaps it's time to drop the embargo.

It's been time to drop the embargo for a long, long time. Man, the economy of that island is just going to absolutely explode if that ever happens, and it'll make a lot of people a lot of money.

 

Then again, I just want sugar to replace the corn syrup in my carbonated beverages.

[Texsox]

There is a lot to be said for Trade, not Aid. Plus, we start putting a McDonalds on every corner, and Castro starts liking that McMuffin in the morning and a Big Mac in the afternoon, biggie sized of course, and he's finally gone from there.

[Heads22]

There is a lot to be said for Trade, not Aid. Plus, we start putting a McDonalds on every corner, and Castro starts liking that McMuffin in the morning and a Big Mac in the afternoon, biggie sized of course, and he's finally gone from there.

 

The McMuffin probably isn't best for his artifical anus.

[Rex Kickass]

After just coming back from San Francisco, there is something disturbing about hearing the words "Castro" and "artificial anus" together.

[southsider2k5]

Just curious, who supplied those figures for the amount they spend Were they reported by the Cuban government? I realize that the source is biased, but have you lokoed at any reports about their healthcare that haven't come from government sanctioned sources? Blogs would be about the only thing, I guess, since it isn't likely castro would let a truely free press make him look bad. Interesting pictures and stories here: http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm

Plus, it has been reported that the reason the infant mortality rate is low is due to the high number of abortions performed. Of course, this info comes from an NRLC story, so I guess they would be a bit more biased that Castro. http://www.nrlc.org/news/2001/NRL03/rai.html

 

Somewhere in the middle, perhaps, lies the true Cuba healthcare system.

 

Economies of scale is the interesting problem here, and in a lot of cases around the world. Sure this works when you are talking about 3 million people, but how well would it work for 300 million? And if it works so well for 3 million people, why are people risking their lives in shanty boats to get to where it doesn't work?

[kapkomet]

Economies of scale is the interesting problem here, and in a lot of cases around the world. Sure this works when you are talking about 3 million people, but how well would it work for 300 million? And if it works so well for 3 million people, why are people risking their lives in shanty boats to get to where it doesn't work?

Because they want to come to America to have our (socialist) government take care of them. puke.

[Texsox]

After just coming back from San Francisco, there is something disturbing about hearing the words "Castro" and "artificial anus" together.

 

bastard

 

 

Because they want to come to America to have our (socialist) government take care of them. puke.

 

And we welcome Cubans with open arms. Just wondering about other areas, how many retail shops, dry cleaners, etc. are owned by immigrants where you live? While it is easy to take a shot at immigrants just wanting to sponge off the taxpayers, I see a lot working their asses off starting businesses here.

[southsider2k5]

bastard

And we welcome Cubans with open arms. Just wondering about other areas, how many retail shops, dry cleaners, etc. are owned by immigrants where you live? While it is easy to take a shot at immigrants just wanting to sponge off the taxpayers, I see a lot working their asses off starting businesses here.

 

Which is fine. What isn't fine is foreign governments using us as a dumping ground for their unwanted citizens (ie namely poor and problematic) and then using our burgeoning social programs as a rallying cry against our country for propaganda purposes.

[Texsox]

Which is fine. What isn't fine is foreign governments using us as a dumping ground for their unwanted citizens (ie namely poor and problematic) and then using our burgeoning social programs as a rallying cry against our country for propaganda purposes.

 

I would be a supporter of a no immigration without jobs or non governmental support for the newly immigrated policy.