US Treasury Dept. Vs. Michael Moore

September 28, 2007

Michael Moore is a bit of a problem for me. I sympathize with some of his ideas, but his methods are complete crap. In his film Bowling For Columbine, for example, Moore railes against fearmongering in the media, the utter tastelessness of holding an NRA rally shortly after the Columbine High School massacre, and the shocking ease which people can get their hands on weapons.

I agree with questioning all of those things. But Moore is a questionable journalist at best, and an over-sensationalist documentary filmmaker. His latest film reportedly has some of the most questionable tactics of all. “Sicko” is supposed to be an indictment of the US healthcare system. Something that is long overdue, in my estimation. But this time, Moore has gone too far in his zeal to make a splashy and uber-dramatic case against the healthcare system; he took a plane to Cuba without getting the proper clearances documented for the trip.

Now the U.S. Treasury Department is investigating Moore for violation of the travel embargo to Cuba.