Former CIGNA executive says Michael Moore was right all along [UPDATE]

[Mari333]

'He talks about how a lot of these executives, including himself, are so removed from the real world, that the insured are no more than just numbers.

And that was my problem. I had been in the industry and I'd risen up in the ranks. And I had a great job. And I had a terrific office in a high-rise building in Philadelphia. I was insulated. I didn't really see what was going on. I saw the data. I knew that 47 million people were uninsured, but I didn't put faces with that number.

Then he says that everything about Canada and England that was reported in Michael Moore's Sicko was true and that they made a costly and concerted effort to derail the message of the movie.

We shouldn't fear government involvement in our health care system. There is an appropriate role for government, and it's been proven in the countries that were in that movie.

Potter then goes on in a very calm manner to indict the entire insurance industry for putting profit before people.'






http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/11/752306/-Former-CIGNA-executive-says-Michael-Moore-was-right-all-along-%5BUPDATE%5D-

[liberal N proud]

1. Duh!

[abumbyanyothername]

2. Duplicate -- I appreciate getting the word out and all but

this is at least the third thread on this. (more for the rec'ers)

The initial post linked to PBS's Moyers site with a transcript of the entire interview.

[bobthedrummer]

3. Wendell Potter is the Senior Fellow on Health Care at The Center for Media and Democracy

Wendell Potter's Source Watch profile
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wendell_Potter

[malaise]

4. Watch Bill Moyers Journal from last night

Potter was excellent

[Ian David]

5. I think they should be tried for murder. n/t

[slipslidingaway]

6. The show was excellent, especially revealing was the plan

adopted by AHIP to discredit SICKO.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/transcript4.html
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch.html

"BILL MOYERS: We obtained a copy of the game plan that was adopted by the industry's trade association, AHIP. And it spells out the industry strategies in gold letters. It says, "Highlight horror stories of government-run systems." What was that about?

WENDELL POTTER: The industry has always tried to make Americans think that government-run systems are the worst thing that could possibly happen to them, that if you even consider that, you're heading down on the slippery slope towards socialism. So they have used scare tactics for years and years and years, to keep that from happening. If there were a broader program like our Medicare program, it could potentially reduce the profits of these big companies. So that is their biggest concern."


From the AHIP plan mentioned above...

"BILL MOYERS: This is fascinating. You know, "Build awareness among centrist Democratic policy organizations--"

WENDELL POTTER: Right.

BILL MOYERS: "--including the Democratic Leadership Council."

WENDELL POTTER: Absolutely.

BILL MOYERS: Then it says, "Message to Democratic insiders. Embracing Moore is one-way ticket back to minority party status."

WENDELL POTTER: Yeah.

BILL MOYERS: Now, that's exactly what they did, didn't they? They--

WENDELL POTTER: Absolutely.

BILL MOYERS: --radicalized Moore, so that his message was discredited because the messenger was seen to be radical."

[slipslidingaway]

7. rec #24 n/t

[nightrain]

8. yes, excellent show and adds more weight to single payer

rather than "public option". These extortion corporations detract from the provision of healthcare and should be eliminated.

[slipslidingaway]

9. kick nt