hoodwinked

I’m pretty disgusted right about now. I was asleep, knocked out due to my sickness and woke up at midnight to find that the House had passed a health care reform bill (HR 3962). Sounds good at first, especially since we have been trying to get SOME form of legislation moving through the process. Unfortunately, this is not what I was hoping for. I get the feeling that most people had/have no idea that today, in what felt like a backdoor sneak move, Representative Bart Stupak put forth an amendment on a Saturday morning to the proposed health care bill. Oh, it got passed, by the way. What is this bill that you probably didn’t know was even being discussed?

“The Stupak/Pitts amendment violates the spirit of health care reform, which is meant to guarantee quality, affordable health care coverage for all. In fact, this amendment would create a two-tiered system that would punish women, particularly those with low and middle incomes, the very people this bill is intended to assist. The majority of private health insurance plans currently offer abortion coverage, and the Stupak/Pitts amendment would result in the elimination of private abortion coverage in the ‘exchange,’ the new insurance market created under health care reform, as well as in the public option, if one is created.

“The Stupak/Pitts amendment would purportedly allow women who want comprehensive reproductive health care coverage to purchase a separate, single-service rider to cover abortion.  But such abortion riders do not exist because women do not plan to have unintended pregnancies or medically complicated pregnancies that require ending the pregnancy.  These so-called ‘abortion riders,’ which would be the only insurance policy through which abortion care could be covered in the ‘exchange,’ are discriminatory and illogical.  Proposing a separate ‘abortion rider’ or ‘single-service plan’ is tantamount to banning abortion coverage since no insurance company would offer such a policy.*

Take some time. Read that again. How ridiculous is that? While folks were on Twitter talking about brunch, football and #threewordsaftersex, anti-choicers were hijacking health care reform and using this opportunity to revolutionize American health care as a stage for their anti-abortion agenda. Dude… not here. Not this fight. SMH. Don’t be mistaken, taking away abortion coverage (in both private insurance plans and the public option) will not deter people from having unprotected sex. It will not result in a significant decline in abortions sought or performed. It will not only hurt the people you think it might hurt.

Abortion is legal. Until Congress passes a law otherwise (that passes Constitutional scrutiny by the Supreme Court), it is legal. I can’t get hype about HCR, and trust me I WANT to be so hype about HCR, when people are trying to use the backdoor to chisel away at my rights. It’s sneaky and I don’t want my government to work that way. Please believe that the NRA folks would not be down for this. You see how they get when someone even breathes gun control. The Second Amendment gets trotted out like it was the 11th Commandment.

I took a Legislation & Public Policy course in law school. I’m currently taking Politics & Policy in my MPA program. Even without those classes, I know some BS okey doke when I see it. Game recognize game, right? This is a CLASSIC example of how you get a piece of legislation to FAIL. Instead of coming out and saying no to HCR (which will make you look bad, for sure), you say yes but also get on board with an amendment that will alienate so many people that it’s sure to bring down the whole house. This is some back to the drawing board shit if I’ve ever seen it, yet so many folks are just happy to have something, I bet they won’t raise a fuss. You are so used to accepting crumbs from the gov’t that you’re not willing to fight for what you believe in. Meanwhile, those that are AGAINST what you believe in are up ALL night, working hard. No, really. They’re up ALL night. Crazy does not sleep. But listen yall, don’t drink the kool aid. This is not the HCR we want. It’s the HCR we’re settling for.

Find out how your representative voted on the Stupak/Pitts Amendment. If they were on board with the amendment and you are not, please call your rep and let them know how poorly they’ve represented you this weekend.

Definitely hit up your Senators. Ball’s in their court now.

*Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Read the whole statement here.

I don’t blog politics

Mainly because there are a grillion bloggers out there who do and, frankly, who’ll do a better job. I just don’t have the time to stay as updated on the issues and updates to write in such a way that would really do anything new or different. If you want some good coverage (better than that on CNN, MSNBC, FOX), head to Jack & Jill, Black Snob, Ta-Nehisi, Post Bourgie or some others scattered in my blog roll.

I will just jot down a few thoughts on the “issues”:

Taxes: I know we’re in a “financial crisis” or whatever. Still, and I’ve always felt this way, I am not all anti-taxation. I believe we need MORE taxes. Americans are so afraid of being taxed. I get it, ya know. When I was working I didn’t like seeing that money coming out of my check. I don’t like to pay local tax, state tax, federal tax. Tolls all up and thru the northeast. Tax on goods. We work hard for our money and guard it dearly. I get it. But as much as I like to hold on to ALL of my money, I realize that taxes go toward the greater good. We are so selfish in this country and I attribute that to our sense of independence and the idea that you take care of yourself and your family, that’s it. In other countries, they put more money into the pot and everyone benefits. I know I’m willing to give more if more of us will benefit as opposed to keeping more of my own money where only I benefit. I don’t think there will be any change in people’s feelings toward this. You get to talking about social programs and more taxation and people will accuse you of being a socialist or a *gasp* communist. Sarah Palin said that taxes are not patriotic. She’s a nitwit.

Crashing Rights – “The Conscience Exception”

Americans tend to take their rights pretty seriously. Right to free speech, assembly, bearing arms, voting, privacy, religion, etc; we love that shit. People from all walks of life and every belief on the spectrum clings to one or many of those rights at some point in time. What happens, though, when my right to do something comes up against your right to do something? Who’s holding the big joker?

This may have slipped under your radar, depending on how up on public policy you are, but the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is proposing new regulations which basically says medical professionals/facilities receiving Federal funds do not have to perform abortions or like procedures if those acts would conflict with the professional’s/facility’s religious or moral belief.

Alright, well depending on where you stand this might not sound so bad. I can see why someone would think this was a good idea. If I were a conservative person or practiced a religion that taught me abortions were dead wrong, well then I would support the regulation. Perhaps instead of going to law school I wanted to be an Obstetrician (I really did consider this path once in my life, Ob-Gyn). I should be able to choose the kind of job I want without being forced to do things that go against my personal convictions, right?

real quick: Palin

Briefly: I really hope that America is not fooled by this Palin for VP mess. I REALLY hope that those sensitive to feminist issues and women’s concerns are not fooled by this. I REALLY REALLY hope that those who were supporters of Hillary Clinton are not fooled by this.

Sarah Palin may be a woman (can we get verification on this?), but she is all Republican. She is not in favor of the policies that women like myself believe are important. She doesn’t even think you should be able to have an abortion if you were raped! Not even if your daddy did it! She totally thinks that Daddy/Grandads are good American/Christian values.

What a crock of shit. What a silly decision. Whatever you think of Biden, you gotta admit he’d be a decent candidate second to Barack Obama. Hell, at least Joe Biden has championed legislation favoring women such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). I admit that I don’t know much about this Palin lady (doesn’t that say something?) but I don’t think she’s “experienced.” Familiar accusation isn’t it? They said the same thing about Barack Obama, but I guess inexperience is okay for the Vice President. A VP who could very likely become President if old man McCain kicks the bucket.

How long are American men living nowadays?

Fin.