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The Southampton Democrats at the Movies - "Sicko" Movie Event a
Huge Success
On July 2nd, over 100 eager Southampton residents attended Michael Moore's latest documentary, "Sicko."
This is the film director's most recent effort to spotlight a significant issue confronting the American people
-- Healthcare.
From the moment the Southampton Town Democratic Committee's fundraising committee members lined up in front of
the East Hampton movie theatre, it was a non-stop rush for tickets. Fortunately, members had clipboards and movie
tickets in hand, and were ready for the overwhelming demand. The committee -- Mia Grosjean, Molly Bishop, Brette
Haefeli, Seth Grossman, Marla Schwenk, Grania Brolin, Irene Donohue and Gordon Herr -- planned quite an event.
What a scene!
Although the committee had purchased a significant number of tickets beforehand, the response to the fundraiser
was dramatic, and even those who had not purchased tickets wanted to participate. Much discussion and bonhomie
characterized the pre-movie mingling and ticket distribution activity. The 5 candidates - Jim Henry, Anna Throne-Holst,
Sandra Dunn, Andrea Schiavoni, and Bruce King -- were on hand to greet everyone and share in the anticipation of
the evening's festivities.
So, what was the verdict? Was the movie well received? The answer: a resounding YES!
The most widely heard comment was that Michael Moore gave us something to consider - can't we fix the U.S. healthcare
system? Why, in the richest country in the world, do we have to have such poor healthcare statistics? Infant mortality
too high, mortality and morbidity too high, obesity and other preventable diseases too prevalent---all of these
are indicators of a malfunctioning system. Moore focused on the key problems: too many uninsured, and those with
insurance often have to fight uncaring and rule-laden greedy insurance companies. Moore compared U.S. healthcare
with the systems in Canada, Great Britain and France to illustrate that in those countries the basic premise -
that healthcare is a right - drives a humane and better functioning healthcare process with better healthcare outcomes.
The evening concluded with cocktails at the Palm Restaurant. A few hundred feet west of the movie theatre, the
Palm Restaurant, with its old-world ambience and charm, was a perfect place to mix and mingle, discuss the movie
and have an opportunity to meet the candidates. Chairman Mike Anthony enthusiastically introduced the five candidates.
All the candidates stressed the need for community to solve our problems As Jim Henry said, " It is exactly
that process - coming together, single-mindedly, with reform in mind - that will heal Southampton Town government."
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Southampton Democratic Committee • PO Box 384 • Westhampton • New York 11977