Abstract
America is the only rich country that does not guarantee universal health coverage. Instead, there is an interlocking mosaic of programs, some federal, some offered by the states, and some provided by private insurance companies. This system is more or less successful, though highly complex, and it leaves citizens without sufficient coverage. Mickael Moore's latest film, entitled Sicko, underlines the gravity of the situation in the USA, as people cannot afford their own private insurance and enter a vicious circle when they get ill. For example, they have to choose between two operations they require, and have to face debts, while in Guantanamo, America's worst enemies are better cured. How does social protection in the US work? Most social programs provided today date back either to the tenure of Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930's or to Johnson in the 1960's. Both these Democratic presidents had declared war on poverty by setting up a sort of safety net for the poor and the needy.
