Backlash from CNN's blatant critique of Michael Moore's Sicko during Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room has left both parties in the midst of an intense Internet quarrel.

However, the debate hasn't emphasized the most critical problem addressed in Moore's new film: corporate control of our health care.

Much of Moore's film could and should be debated, particularly when his argument gets sidetracked on the merits of social services rather than universal health care.

There are also many legitimate arguments against universal health care that should be considered in any policy proposals.

But pharmaceutical and health insurance companies are undeniably hurting Americans' abilities to receive effective and thorough healthcare.

This evil corporate health care duo creates a cycle of interdependence that disregards ethical provision of what should be a basic service like public education.

Pharmaceutical companies constantly try to feed us medicine for ailments including some as irrational as "restless leg syndrome," encouraging us to simply "visit our doctors."

On the other hand, insurance companies do everything in their power to force us to pay for health services, giving excuses including "experimental" medicines, "preexisting medical conditions" and nameless others.

As a result, many Americans are paying for overpriced drugs they don't need that aren't covered by their health insurance, for which they pay insurmountable amounts of money.

Even worse, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) give doctors cutbacks for the largest number of coverage denials.

Health insurance companies even tie the hands of doctors, something Moore's film doesn't address.

The rates are phenomenal because insuring doctors, particularly surgeons, is considered "high risk."

Thus, the cost of health care is far higher than operating costs. Those extra costs are often pushed on patients. To further complicate matters, pharmaceutical and insurance companies spend exorbitant amounts of money on political campaigns — for both Democratic and Republican nominees — to ensure that they will continue to profit from the U.S. health care system.

Moore adequately critiques the U.S. system and describes the merits of the universal healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, Canada and France.

The United States is ranked 37th out of 191 countries for healthcare and has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the Western world.

However, even if the government wasn't in the pockets of pharmaceutical and insurance companies and willing to implement a new system, universal health care isn't a perfect option.

Sicko doesn't question the long wait times for non-emergency care or the extremely high cost and logistical nightmare of providing primarily free healthcare to nearly 300 million Americans.

A balanced system that oversees the corporate duo, cuts excessive profits and provides subsidies to hospitals, allowing them to serve the poor, would be an especially practical start. If something isn't done, depressing stories of innocent and poor Americans denied healthy lives will continue to become more common.

The most shocking scene in Moore's film shows people dropped off at a local shelter, still in a hospital gown, without having received necessary care.

How could anyone leave a beat-up woman with broken ribs stranded?

I don't care if she's a homeless crack whore, everyone in this country should have an equal right to healthcare.

Just a few months ago, a woman died from a seizure in an emergency room waiting room, ignored by the doctors and nurses because they claimed she was "drunk." Others in the room even called 911, but no one came to help her since she was already in a hospital.

Moore's film brings to light the undeniable fact that U.S. health services are a shambles, and our government should have taken action decades ago.

Politicians' priorities need to shift from their campaign funding and corporate greed to the health of the American people.

However, that won't be happening any time soon, so pray you don't get sick.