In what ways does the film John Q represent the struggles of real working people? Is John Q's militant action justified? In what ways does the film's portrayal of the health care crisis in this country exemplify our study of poverty and the working poor? Other topics to consider: what stereotypes does the film employ? Do you agree with the use of these stereotypes? Comment briefly on these topics, and then respond, at least once, to someone else's comment.
45 comments:
I really like the movie John Q. It was very interesting and i felt that it showed the issues with todays healthcare system accuratley. I think that all children should have healthcare no matter if their parents can afford it or not. Children do not choose to be born to poor parents. But i think that once people are of a certain age with a job or out of college, they should have to pay for health insurance. many people think that universal healthcare will solve all problems but i know many people in canada who say that they would much rather pay for better helath care. the health care in canada is free to everyone but is not as good as in the U.S.
The stereotypes in the movie are quite typical for example the dumb girl wearing the blonde wig. i think that the stereotypes in this movie are okay because the movie is not trying to be extremely symbolic and deep.
It's true Katy that Canada's system has problems, but those problems have developed in recent decades as they have cut costs - therefore diminishing the quality of care. The systems of West and Northern Europe offer better care at a better price for all.
I loved the movie John Q. The problems discussed are problems people go through on a daily basis. I believe that everyone should have at least some kind of health insurance. And I also feel that if you work hard you should be able to get all the benefits you deserve not the medioaker benefits people today are getting. Today children are dying and no one's helping them; sons and daughters are dying because they don't have the money to live. That's just sad and pathetic. we can spend billions on foriegn wars and businesses but not on things that matter right here at home...
some steriotypes might include things like the one holding up the hospital is a black man with a gun and that all doctors and people in the medical field are focused on money and not helping people.
My thoughts exactly Ashley!
The film shows the life of working people because the black man had to do illegal things to get his son to live longer. And being paid not to help someone? What is with that? His actions are justifiable becasue noeone would do anything for him, and his son. Blacks have a harder time with living than working whites. The stereotypes show america today.
"John Q." definetly shows the problems with the healthcare system. I just wish we had universal healthcare!! Some of the hardest working people in America are to poor to afford insurance...and on the other hand some people are just born into families who don't have to work as hard as others and they can afford insurance. I just don't get why our country doesn't have universal healthcare. If other countries have it and it works for them then why can't we follow their examples? In the movie I don't think that John Q should have done what he did, but I think that he should have never been in that position to start out with.
The movie john Q sheds light on the huge problem with today's healthcare system. Some people could say thhis movie exagerates the facts, but it is scary how true it really is. No one should be denied healthcare reguardless of their financial situation.
As far a steryotypes go this movie suggests that balcks are more likely to live in poverty and be denied healthcare. The happy couple that got a new heart were white, and all the doctors and workers denying them the healthcare were white. I think these steryotypes are not far off the mark.
To Katy's comment:
Yes the health care in the US might be really good but honestly who is it helping?? Surely not people who deserve or need it... Also people are paying for their own insurance if not through their jobs then out of their pockets, it's not enough, like portraid in the movie. John was a hard woking man and he still couldn't afford the insurance. Who besides the wealthy reap liveable benefits from the health care system? I mean who has $250,000 just laying around to pay for a heart transplant besides the wealthy? If not free then insurance should atleast be affordable...
The film John Q shows how difficult it is to find a good job capable of living off of. It also shows that people must find alternate means of helping themselves when the system of health care fails. John Q cannot find any way to help his son so he takes militant action. Militant action isn't the way to help someone, but when given the situation what are you supposed to do? The situation in the movie seems exaggerated, but the system we live in today is very much the same. The film uses stereotypes like Blacks liking chicken and using guns to show how the government uses these stereotypes to defend the corrupt system we live in. The current political election has a lot to do with each candidate's standings on the issue of health care. Before voting, make sure you are making the right decision.
To Ashley's comment:
I completely agree that we spend to much attention on other countries when we should be helping ourselves. We are in a financial recession and the only thing we can talk about now is invading Pakistan. Why are we invading another country when we are falling apart? The United States needs to help itself, not other countries.
The movie John Q is a very well performed by Denzel Washington. It shows how life is not perfect and what its flaws can be. With the way the economy is it is very acurate to how todays healthcare plans are. John q is just like many Americans in this country they think they have health insurance but when it comes down to it they only have a little bit of coverage. Health care coverage is expensive and there are programs for the lower wage families but they dont get equal coverage.
Its shows the strugle of transportaion and health care and jobs . With the car getting repoed bc he cant afforid to pay all the bills so he choeses to pay wat he fells is the more important bills ! if i was john in the movie in the sampostio i think i would do the same . . . i feel that it exeamplifys bc they were goin g to reject his sun health acre they wernt going to put his name on the list for the heart . the movie also employs that the if ur not white ur not going to get care . i agree that it might have been like that then and kinda a lil still 2day !!!!
i think the movie John Q was a great movie that showed the problem's that we have with the working poor is that what little health care they get its never enough or its an h.m.o also it cant cover any thing that we really need to take care of so in reality people are scared to get sick because the cant affored it i think that john q was rite in what he did to help his son out the sterotypes in the film are that a black man is always going to be taken with a grain of salt in other words nobody cares what happens to the black working class good movie all the way around
fat~ass makes the same strong view's on the film john Q as i do about the poor woring class and if your a black american you come last even if it is wrong i would do the same for my son and so would fat~ass
I agree with honda.rider completly ! the movie is great to bring out the flaws and bs in the american way of life as fare as helth plans go !
"John Q" was a picture perfect example of today's healthcare system and the struggles it brings into a family or individual's life. Like many have said in their comments, some of the hardest working people are to poor to afford healthcare. Going into detail with that, for example, somebody that is going out of their way to better their community and the youth around them. The people that spend the little bit of money they do have, on other people rather than themselves. The result being, the inability to pay for healthcare. With that being said, I don't believe the government has a right NOT to help the lower class. If somebody is going out of their way too better the community, why should they have to suffer from that?
I believe that some of the stereotypes include the black guy holding up the hospital, and the girl wearing the blonde wig.
to ashleyk's comment...I agree one hundred and ten percent. America is in a financial slump, using bail out plans, yet we are taking billions and spending it in foreign countries? Good call on that one ashley.
In response to fat ass's comment:
I agree 100% wit fat ass it is very true u have to make compromises on some things that way ur family stays together and healthy. in some cases as in John Q u could lose everything u have to do this. And i also agree that even now if ur not famous u have less of a chance for health care and if ur not white u r also looked at differently towards ur health care needs.
I loved the movie John Q. I really agree with Katy's comment. I deffinately think that all children should have healthcare. It just seems natural. Healthcare should be payed for by the governemnt until your atleast 18.
John Q shows how hard it is without healthcare. So many kids die or get really sick because their parents can't afford hospital bills. It's rediculous.
John Q shows the cliche sterotypes of how black people are often treated a little differently than white people.
I watched John Q a couple years ago, and thought of it as an "ok" film. Now that I am at the age where the problems adressed in the movie are my reality, I can appreciate the story a lot more. I can see me or any of the people in my life going to the exact same measures as John if some rich bastards denied my son's life to save money. It's weird how a little piece of paper can either make or break a man.
I like the way the movie portrays the doctors, how they are all about profit, and the average "joe" is all about heart. Even the fact that the heart is the main problem in the story is interesting. People tend to forget the power of the heart, and that you can't stick a price tag on it.
Now that I've felt to ramble,I'd like to agree with eagles gk 25 -The American Healthcare system is a joke.
I think John Q was a good quick representation of the crumbling health care system we have today. I would have liked to see them go more in depth on how hard it really would have been for him, but I understand watching Denzel do a shit ton of paperwork doesn't make for a good movie. I also don't like the holloywood ending, because we all know in a real situation that kid would have died long before he made it to the list. The steriotypes were intense and very black and white. A good way to make the movie short.
John Q is a perfect example of the healthcare unit between the rich and the poor. They are all about the people that have money and have insurance because they know the money will be handed down immediatly. but if your poor and have no insuranceng they want nothing to do with you because you have no way of paying them back if they help you. i think that everyone should beable to get health insurance weather your rich or poor.. too many people get hurt, sick,. etc and alot die because they cant get anything to help them. katy's comment a really good and she is exactly right.
For me the movie John Q seemed very realistic. It accurately shows what many Americans go through when dealing with illness, insurance, and many doctors. I feel that his actions were necessary because his son was so full of dreams and life it was important for him to be treated. Just because he didn't have enough money and the HMO decided for John that his son wouldn't get the surgery he needed, he went crazy and I feel that his actions were justified because of this. He really didn't have a choice, somebody needed to take a stand against the insurance and the doctors to save his son's life.
I also agree with the stereotypes that were shown, John Q was black and many people feel that blacks can only get what they want with violence and also many black families who work hard still can't get decent insurance. I don't think that doctors have the right to play god and decide who gets what help and who gets to live and die. It kind of worries me a little because I will be working soon and won't be on my mom's insurance and will be on my own. I guess I really haven't thought about insurance and what would happen.
The film John Q represents the struggles of real working people because everyday people are denied healthcare by their insurance companies. The system is very corrupt and it exploits the working class to save money. I think John Q's militant action is justified, but i dont think its realistic. Militant action by one man would be shot down much faster then it was in this movie, maybe if more then one person used militant action against the healthcare system things would actually change.hb
I think that the movie John Q is a good representation of the healthcare system today. I think that it is a good example of the struggles that many hard working people go through to get healthcare. I feel that everyone deserves universal healtcare because many hard working people like John Q can't even afford healtcare. I feel that everyone deserves to get the same care wheather they are rich or poor.
Katy put it perfect. Children should have health insurance untill there old enouph to work for there own health benefits. I also really like what ashley said about spending money on other foreign wars but not spending money on things that need it right here in the U.S.
John Q deff. showed the ups and downs (majority would say downs) of the US's Healthcare system. They were trying to deny the life of a child. I mean come on. Any parent would rather you take them, then theyre child. So why not do the absolute least you could possibly do and give children the Healthcare they need. Because as of now, its a bunch of shit.
I think "John Q" represented the struggles of real working people well. People without healthcare have to deal with big bills when they are ill. I think no matter how rich or how poor you are if youre sick you should be alowed to receive help. I think universal healthcare would be a good idea because it shows in Canada that by everyone helping out a little it shows in the long run.
the film represents real working people by showing us the insufficient health care that is provided to them by their employers and the insurance companys that are carried by their employers. i do believe in some cases militant action is justified and in john Q's case it was justified because he used every non militant opption available.
I agree with allisonr. I belive that our country should have universal healthcare. I don't understand why other countries have universal healthcare and we don't.
In response to Allison's post, we don't currently have universal health care because we are run by business men, who like to call it a democracy. Maybe under Obama things will change but money and power make people do strange things. Also with all our bleed american patriots out there still screaming communist whenever they hear a liberal speak, its going to move slow because everyone calls universal healthcare socialism and god forbid the poor ever get thrown a bone like the rich 1% does time after time.
I agree with Nathans thoughts on steryotypes. I think that the movie showed the real life struggles of different ethnic groups.
I really enjoyed the movie John Q. I think the movie does a great job showing the problems on todays health care issues. This movie shows how some of the hardest working people in america stay poor and can actually lose more the harder they work and the more money they make. It shows there are many people who are not getting the benefits they deserve.It really is the sad truth. And it shows how children are born into it with no choice but to live how there poor parents have. This movie is sad in the sense that its true and it happens everyday.
i agree with nathan cronks coment that the movie realy dosent exaggerate the severity of the event in the movie
Im ganna have to roll with Elliott. He actually makes really strong points on denying a child with big dreams. And the sterotypes that may be in effect. Im pretty proud of him. It's probably the most intelligent thing that he's ever come up with. Props to him.
I think that John Q shows one possible strugle that can be related to by many in a similair or possible worse situation. I do agree with his "militant" actions, but I don't believe it was truely militant because at no point did he really pose a threat to anyone accept himself. John Q who actually had a decent job and only to find out that he wasn't covered for his son's opperation. That really shows that there is a problem if somone with a decent job isn't even covered by health care even tho he has it.
The film JohnQ represents the struggles of real working people by showing how even hard working men and woman struggle to pay bills and provide for a family. This movie also proves the sterotype of a poor man wrong. These less fortunate people are not poor because of lazyness or stupidity they are poor because America does not allow people to pull themselves out of poverty. John Q's millitant action is justified. One of the valid legal defenses that could be used is Defense of Family members. John Q's actions are just that. He is defending his son from serious injury or death but it is not approved by many because John was defending his son from Uncle Sam himself.This movie also points out the health care cisis the people of our country suffer from. Even though John Q has medical insurence he is not approved for his sons surgery which is a matter of life and death. This shows how America has put a price on a mans life and even worse a childs life. The sad part is that this isn't just a movie, more than 18000 adults die from lack of health insurance
How can you say that the U.S has a better health care system when it is ranked below Canada by the world health care ranking orginization. Also i dont see how one can believe that people should be able to pay for thier own insurance when they make an income that would not possibly allow them to do so. Their will always be a poor, middle and upper class in America and by saying the U.S has a better system your saying that poor and lower middle class people do not deserve health care and sometimes even life.
Although it has been quite some time since I say the movie "John Q" I have certainly heard some strong opinions from my lovely and talented daughter (who is also very malleable by her favorite high school social studies teacher :) )
Personally, I think that any health care plan will need to draw lines on expensive end of life treatments. Once I reach an advanced age, I would decline such treatments. Knowing God, I do not fear death.
I have to laugh when my daughter tells me what sounds to me like sheer propaganda that "the poor are DYING in America for lack of health care". The very same young lady has been on Child Health Plus/aka government health care for at least 6 years of her life. The government health care was actually a Cadillac program compared to our present company supplied Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. The Government plan included free eyeglasses, free dental care, $3 co-pay for prescription drugs, etc.
My fear is that a president and congress which does not value life will expand the killing to the other end of the age spectrum by introducing and pressuring the infirm elderly toward euthanasia. Euthanasia is already legal in at least one state. By the time I am a senior citizen, not only will expensive life extending procedures be denied because they are too expensive (ala John Q) but I will be expected to head for the place where they will euthanize me because health care, social security, etc... for "useless" old people is just too expensive.
I think that the movie John Q really represents the health care crisis in certain states. Some states do have adequate health care, and take care of their people very well. Other states have very insufficient health care, and their people don't have good coverage. I think that most people on medicaid have decent health care. The real problem lies in the people who are above the requirements for health care. They are often covered very lightly by their employers, but when a real crisis arises, they have no way to pay for the medical expenses. Their health care providers don't cover enough to sufficiently care for them. The worst part about our health care is that we spend billions of dollars on other industries, but cannot justify spending money on this. If we simply did not have the money, that would be understandable. That is not the case. We have hundreds of billions of dollars to spend on wars and on bailing out rich companies, and we still say that we don't have enough money to provide national healthcare for children. This is the real problem represented in John Q.
John's military action is justified. His son is dying, and the only way that he is able to stop it is to take action. Yes, he does deserve the jailtime he is sentenced to. He did break the law. However, he did it with a good heart. He never intended to hurt anyone and he only wanted to save his son.
The major stereotype that I see in the film has to do with John's race. He is a black man, and he is portrayed as being poor and stuck in a dead-end job. He works hard, but just doesn't have many opportunities. I think this is a good use of the stereotype though, because black people do have a much higher percentage of poverty than white people, and it is good for people to be aware of this.
In response to Gem's comment. Mom, please don't comment on my school blog. It's embarrassing. Everyone knows you are way too conservative, you don't need to flaunt it. Thanks.
Conservatives are welcome on this blog too, sorry keren34!! Though, I think gem's point about her daughter being on child health care plus, and its remarkably superior quality in comparison to non-government regulated plans, only proves that when health care is treated as a right rather than a commodity (and therefore privilege) it is superior in quality, delivery, and of course in moral purity. Personally, I believe that if Obama is able to manufacture some sort of "universal" health program, this will only reinforce what many of us suspect: that Obama does in fact "value" life, despite his rather staunch pro-choice stance on abortion. Remember though that under the Clinton era, abortion was reduced by 11% basically because of its social and health programs, which the most recent admin has greatly neglected. Time will tell what Obama will do in these areas. See the following excellent piece by EJ Dionne for more on this issue:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081113_ej_dionne_obama_culture_wars/
Thank you for your hospitality and tolerance, rust. :)
I read the link you supplied, rust. I was encouraged to read of "pro-life democrats" and the Obama quote that "sexuality is sacred and that they should not be engaged in cavalier activity"- a most refreshing change indeed compared to the last Democratic president!!! Let's hope and pray- for the sake of "the least of these", the innocent, powerless, voiceless, tiniest among us- that Obama won't keep his promise to planned parenthood to sign The Freedom of Choice Act which would annul every state or local restriction on abortion in the 50 states.
Just to set the record straight: I don't self identify as a "conservative". I'm a single issue voter- pro LIFE- and unashamed of that. If I lived in Nazi Germany in the late 30's early 40's, I would not have voted with the majority either.
I could support some form of socialized medicine although I think NYS handles their version very poorly and should not be the role model. My one family was on 4 separate programs at once with all the attendant red tape and administration cost (one for under 5, one for over 5, one for pregnant adult, and the Healthy NY for the adult male).
My daughter pointed to Italy's socialized health care and the satisfaction of their citizens. Having lived there and experienced their system first hand, that option intrigues me. The doctor had a clinic within walking distance twice weekly and he made house calls to check on sick patients (including my own first born one time). However, doctors there are not paid as much as our doctors. They make as much as a schoolteacher :) Not sure I could go along with that since my firstborn is studying to be a doctor and assuming the massive debt necessary to finance the education.
Anyway, I'll stop posting and lurk now out of respect for K34's sensitivities.
I think that the movie John-Q represents the health care system in many states. The people either have very little health care to none at all. John-Q shows how the hospitals are denying health care to many of the patients in need, just because they don't have enough money. The health care system in Canada is good yes but by having universal helthcare its not as good as anywhere else. I think that there are many flaws with universal health care even though it would be good for most and better than most people have but it has a potential for problems in the end.
Felisha
Post a Comment