Come See a Movie With Me Friday night: “The Healthcare Movie” in Fullerton

By
Greg Diamond
– July 4, 2012Posted in: Fresh Juice


The Healthcare Movie logoI know, I know — you may be busy tonight. You may be in Huntington Beach learning about Syria or you may be in Fullerton attending the Kelly Thomas art show or there may even be other things happening in the county.  But if — if — you have some spare time tonight at from around 7 to 9 tonight, Friday July 6, I want to invite you to come see a movie with me.

It’s about health care. It’s narrated by Kiefer Sutherland, grandson of Tommy Douglas, the architect of the Canadian health care system, and it’s a “must-see” in this year of turmoil over “Obamacare.” Here’s a preview:

My campaign for State Senate will be sponsoring a free showing of “The Healthcare Movie” tonight at the Democrats of North Orange County Campaign Headquarters on 215 W. Commonwealth in Fullerton (next to the Police Station.) The movie contrasts the Canadian and U.S. health care systems — including on-the-street interviews with citizens asked to explain the role that financial concerns about health care play in their lives. It’s like entering a strange new world — a world without 2000 bankruptcies per day due to medical bills.

You do not have to be a Democrat to come — we’ll hide all the secret stuff we need to hide in the storeroom — and political independents and those without fixed views on healthcare are especially welcome. (Note that the reason my campaign is sponsoring the presentation is simply because it entitles me to use our spacious headquarters for free. It’s not a political event; I won’t be soliciting donations. Congressional candidate Jay Chen is having a “Meet and Greet” starting at 6:00, though, so if you want a political event you should come meet him as well. Nice guy!)  We will eat any food left over from Jay’s event, which is usually pretty good stuff.  Your own food and drink is welcome but not required.

The movie is being provided by a group with whom my friend all-star activist Dr. Bill Honigman is involved; this is its first screening in North Orange County!  We’re assembling at 7 p.m., the movie starts at 7:30, discussion at 8:40 or so, and then — oh, yes — there will be karaoke (barring technical difficulties).  (Strictly speaking, karaoke is not part of the movie presentation.)

For those using public transit, our location is just 2 blocks from Fullerton Transportation Center; the last southbound Metrolink train is the 644 at 10P.  For those driving, due to street construction you should park in the lot in the back off of Amerige; look for the big “Democrats of North Orange County” banner.

Some information about the filmmakers:

Laurie Simons and Terry Sterrenberg are a married couple of mixed cultural heritage. Laurie is Canadian, and Terry is American. From 1982 to 1992, Terry joined Laurie in Canada and during that time their two sons were born in a Calgary hospital.  They moved to the Seattle area in 1992, and experienced the culture shock of switching from the worry-free health care system in Canada, to the complicated, expensive, and anxiety-provoking system in the United States. In making this documentary they learned that the story of the battle for national health care in both countries has been an adventure story, fraught with heroes and villains.  And they learned how two neighboring countries ended up taking such drastically different paths.

We’ll hope to see you there!

About Greg Diamond

Somewhat verbose attorney, semi-disabled and semi-retired, residing in northwest Brea. Occasionally ran for office against jerks who otherwise would have gonr unopposed. Got 45% of the vote against Bob Huff for State Senate in 2012; Josh Newman then won the seat in 2016. In 2014 became the first attorney to challenge OCDA Tony Rackauckas since 2002; Todd Spitzer then won that seat in 2018. Every time he's run against some rotten incumbent, the *next* person to challenge them wins! He's OK with that. Corrupt party hacks hate him. He's OK with that too. He does advise some local campaigns informally and (so far) without compensation. (If that last bit changes, he will declare the interest.) His daughter is a professional campaign treasurer. He doesn't usually know whom she and her firm represent. Whether they do so never influences his endorsements or coverage. (He does have his own strong opinions.) But when he does check campaign finance forms, he is often happily surprised to learn that good candidates he respects often DO hire her firm. (Maybe bad ones are scared off by his relationship with her, but they needn't be.)