After my last post about women's healthcare I felt I needed to do a follow-up with a commentary by fellow blogger, Juanita Jean's. My favorite thing about her blog's are how incredibly pro-democrat they are, but my least favorite thing about her blogs is how incredibly anti-republican they are. Yes, I know it sounds a bit like an oxymoron.
One of her latest commentaries, Stop the Spinning! Stop the Spinning! I'm Gonna Throw Up!, is about the latest women's healthcare crisis between Texas and Washington. Her statement, "So, it’s not the state’s fault for being outlaws. It’s Obama’s fault for being sheriff" seems to put it in a perfet metaphor for all the "simple folk". I love her spunk in each post she ads, but sometimes her posts/blogs come across slightly biased because I get the feeling she possibly despises Republicans.
I learned something new about the issue/topic by reading her commentary. I had no idea Rick Perry suggested he would match the $36 million dollars in funding. According to Juanita, "Rick Perry pledged that Texas would come up with the 90% matching federal funds on our own, meaning he has to go find $36 million dollars in a state with a $15 billion deficit." After checking facts, Rick Perry did say this! What a dumb... Well, nevermind that, but has Perry not done enough this last year or so? Now he has the audacity to put pride before the health of women.
The one comment I did not necessarily agree with but probably because of my own opinions. Duh.. Juanita's last comment is, "And that's how pro-life works." I felt like that comment would cause pro-lifers who did not agree with what the state is doing to get offended. To me, this is not about being pro-life or pro-choice, but being pro-women. While I would not be shocked I could definitely see some pro-life activists preferring the state's side versus Obama's.
Juanita's commentaries always help me see things in a "lighter" perspective, but I am always sure to double-check facts because of her outward bias towards the party she does not like.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
War On Women's Health (Stage 3)
The "war" on women's health seems to be the biggest topic of debate in the news lately. After reading a commentary in the Austin American Statesman, Women's Healthcare Offers New Wrinkle in Texas-Washington War by Jason Embry I asked myself, is it just a war on women?
A little background for the ongoing..."controversy centers on the Women's Health Program, which provides Pap smears, breast exams, birth control and other services to low-income, uninsured women between the ages of 18 and 44. A new state law says money for such programs cannot go to providers that are affiliated with abortion providers." But, "That bars Planned Parenthood from participating in the program, even though its participating affiliates are legally separate from the Planned Parenthood entities that perform abortions, and even though the law already prohibits taxpayer-funded clinics from providing abortions."
This topic touches home for me in a very personal way. Two years ago I was "fired" after 3 years of dedication and acceptance into the Coorporate Management Program by a major coorporation the day before my lumpectomy in my right breast. I was terrified! How could my company do this? I would have 30 days of insurance coverage. I immediately called Planned Parenthood, not because I am a believer in abortions, but because they, along with the Women's Health Program, would be my best bet to take care of any surgeries, medications, or procedures I needed done if I in fact did have breast cancer according to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Fortunately, my labs came back pre-cancerous, but benign. Not all women are as blessed as I was and will need somewhere to turn. This debate should not be a "show" for Washington OR Texas politicians.
Jason Embry wrote a very informative commentary on the debate without coming off left or right-winged. Instead he just stated the facts and spoke his opinion on both political parties. Embry goes on to say that this is a concrete decision and because of that politicians have everything to lose. It is not a decision like job creation or environmental issues that can be debated and fidgeted with, women's health is not something to "debate" about. At first, I did not like that it was a man writing about this topic, but his commentary soon made me realize this affects men as well as women. Fathers, brother, sons, husbands, and grandsons will be affected by this because their wives, mothers, daughters and sisters will be.
I wish everyone would read this commentary because he points out more than once that this is a war between Washington and Texas, primarily Texas Republicans. They are trying to make it seem like the federal government is overstepping their boundaries but if Texan's are smart, "they might decide that the state government, and not the federal government, is the one that's overreaching this time."
Embry did a great job of informing without over-stepping political boundaries.
A little background for the ongoing..."controversy centers on the Women's Health Program, which provides Pap smears, breast exams, birth control and other services to low-income, uninsured women between the ages of 18 and 44. A new state law says money for such programs cannot go to providers that are affiliated with abortion providers." But, "That bars Planned Parenthood from participating in the program, even though its participating affiliates are legally separate from the Planned Parenthood entities that perform abortions, and even though the law already prohibits taxpayer-funded clinics from providing abortions."
This topic touches home for me in a very personal way. Two years ago I was "fired" after 3 years of dedication and acceptance into the Coorporate Management Program by a major coorporation the day before my lumpectomy in my right breast. I was terrified! How could my company do this? I would have 30 days of insurance coverage. I immediately called Planned Parenthood, not because I am a believer in abortions, but because they, along with the Women's Health Program, would be my best bet to take care of any surgeries, medications, or procedures I needed done if I in fact did have breast cancer according to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Fortunately, my labs came back pre-cancerous, but benign. Not all women are as blessed as I was and will need somewhere to turn. This debate should not be a "show" for Washington OR Texas politicians.
Jason Embry wrote a very informative commentary on the debate without coming off left or right-winged. Instead he just stated the facts and spoke his opinion on both political parties. Embry goes on to say that this is a concrete decision and because of that politicians have everything to lose. It is not a decision like job creation or environmental issues that can be debated and fidgeted with, women's health is not something to "debate" about. At first, I did not like that it was a man writing about this topic, but his commentary soon made me realize this affects men as well as women. Fathers, brother, sons, husbands, and grandsons will be affected by this because their wives, mothers, daughters and sisters will be.
I wish everyone would read this commentary because he points out more than once that this is a war between Washington and Texas, primarily Texas Republicans. They are trying to make it seem like the federal government is overstepping their boundaries but if Texan's are smart, "they might decide that the state government, and not the federal government, is the one that's overreaching this time."
Embry did a great job of informing without over-stepping political boundaries.
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