I had a blast Saturday night, but I wasn’t attending the same event that everyone else on campus was. This weekend, the University Cinema showed Michael Moore’s “Sicko.” Being the nerdy guy that I am, I was in attendance of this movie rather than the football game, and although many of the rest of you were not there, I’ll share the lesson that I learned from watching it.
Michael Moore had a good idea for this film, and he presented thought provoking information. Whether you agree with his sensationalism or not, he shows in the film what the best healthcare in other countries can be like.
It is unfortunate that he only shows the nicest hospitals and pharmacies abroad. He presents a biased view of universal healthcare, but his idea is intriguing.
He shows how by paying higher taxes and avoiding unnecessary spending, many other countries around the world have developed a health care system that rivals that of the United States, but is “free.”
By “free,” he means paid for by taxes; paid for via a different route, like hooking an IV up to your neck instead of your arm.
The biggest thing gained from watching this film is the fact that money management is a very critical and needed skill here in America. We have become a country based on spending money that we don’t have for questionable purposes.
The main message in this film relates not only to our country and healthcare, but to our University as well with the debate centering on student fees.
Chances are that many people reading this article are still upset about our annual fee increases. Chances are that many of you still feel as though the University should be working toward lowering fees instead of increasing them. This isn’t going to happen.
Forget about seeing a year here at N.C. State cheaper than the previous one. It’s called inflation at an expanding university. Cope by drinking and smoking less and becoming more educated about where your money is going.
Free health care, just like promises offered by fee increases such as sustainability and better transportation, comes at a cost. All the proposals of Student Government leaders and the administration here at State are great things and many around campus will benefit from them.
But, in any system, you really do get what you pay for. Rather than just being against fee increases or taxes, we should be more educated and know where our fees and taxes are actually going.
For a campus example, look at our Student Government. They are a great group of people, and they do a great deal to make this university a better place to live and learn, such as the allocation of student fees. But do they deserve parking passes, meal plans, stipends and other benefits?
That they do a great thing for us and for their résumés is undeniable, but do they really need extra compensation? I’m not sure, and it definitely seems like a conflict of interest to have the ones working on our behalf at this University also in the pocket of the University.
Join me in becoming a new kind of tax and fee payer. I’m not going to be the person that writes a column defaming the act of increasing fees; this kind of position isn’t realistic in an increasingly expensive world.
In any system, whether you’re talking about healthcare, buses or free student government parking passes, the amount of benefits we as taxpayers receive is directly related to how much we pay into the system. But if you find something at this University that doesn’t seem like a legit use of fees, do something about it!
Do you plan on joining Zach in his quest to push for legitimate uses of student monies? Unite at [email protected].
