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Showing posts with label obamacare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obamacare. Show all posts
Monday, March 20, 2017
MORE events at Planned Parenthood!
Monday, September 8, 2014
"Viagra Versus the Pill;" Should Insurance Cover Both?
Lisa Campo-Engelstein, Ph.D. of Albany Medical College posted an illuminating piece regarding the hypocrisy behind the fact that Viagra is covered by insurance, yet there is a constant brouhaha over the coverage of birth control pills. Far be it from me to imply that healthy sexuality is elective; I understand how vital healthy sexual potency is for well-being of individuals and relationships. But it does seem as if there is an unfair balance in that regard. If sexual potency is important, isn't also choosing when or when not to become parents? Especially when raising a child beyond one's means costs the taxpayer so much more?
Dr. Campo-Engelstein points out:
It really boils down to the basics; patriarchy. The article goes into much greater detail about the misalignment of what is considered necessary healthcare for women vs men, and its potential effects on women. I highly recommend giving it a look, and tell your friends. The fight isn't over until the needs of women are considered just as important to those of men.
Dr. Campo-Engelstein points out:
"Some feminists argue that part of the reason we understand and treat pregnancy and impotence differently is because we have different standards for women's and men's health, which result from the traditional gender norms at play in our society. We (as a society) expect women to adhere to norms of chastity (e.g. fall on the “virgin” side of the virgin/whore dichotomy by not having sex until marriage) and one way we do this is by limiting their access to sexual and reproductive health care. In contrast, because our notions of masculinity are tied into sexual prowess, we are more receptive to providing health care for men who are not able to maintain an erection."Further:
"The ACA includes contraception as a form of preventive care because it recognizes the risk unintended pregnancy poses to the women, their partners, the children, and their families, as well as the public more broadly."If the last bit is true (and it is), then why are people trying to restrict access to this vital preventative service?
It really boils down to the basics; patriarchy. The article goes into much greater detail about the misalignment of what is considered necessary healthcare for women vs men, and its potential effects on women. I highly recommend giving it a look, and tell your friends. The fight isn't over until the needs of women are considered just as important to those of men.Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Sorry Yosemite
Today, as I sat down to my computer and opened my web browser, I was greeted by another lovely Google Doodle commemorating the anniversary of something terrific. You've probably seen it already.
Actually, no. Yosemite will have to spend its birthday all alone-- well, without human visitors, anyway-- because the government shut it down today. Not to over-anthropomorphize a swath of land, but it seems sad. Though 123 is hardly a milestone-- which makes me ponder Google's motives-- a birthday is a birthday.
The actual humans hardest hit by today's government shutdown are the over 800,000 "non-essential" federal employees who will have to be furloughed, meaning their jobs-- and their paychecks-- are put on hold until Congress and the Senate sort this mess out.
Why is this happening? You are sure to receive a different response based on whether you ask a Democrat or a Republican. Democrats say that it is because the Republican-controlled House is essentially holding the government hostage until they get the amendments they want passed along with the budget. The major amendment in question, is the delay of Obamacare.
Republicans say that it is because Obamacare, as it is written, is unconstitutional, could be disastrous to the economy, and allowing it to go into effect right now would be irresponsible.
Okay. Here are the facts: "Obamacare," or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was signed into law three years ago. Why is this happening now, on the day it is supposed to go into effect-- especially when ACA really doesn't even have anything to do with the budget?
Not content to just let sleeping dogs lie, The House is determined to delay or outright repeal ACA, even though 60% of Americans support it, and in 2010 it passed in both the House and the Senate. In 2012, it was under attack by the House, with conservatives challenging its constitutionality. The Supreme Court ruled that it was not unconstitutional, because:
Hopefully it won't take them long to sort this out, because 800,000 Americans aren't getting paid anymore, and that would be disastrous to the economy. It could take a day, or even weeks.
Obamacare doesn't have to be a dirty word. Health Care Reform should be a good thing. If our elected officials would just put on their grown-up pants and work together on this, the country can get back to business.
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No cake for you, Yosemite. |
That's right-- Yosemite is turning 123 today! Huzzah! Break out the candles and party hats!Actually, no. Yosemite will have to spend its birthday all alone-- well, without human visitors, anyway-- because the government shut it down today. Not to over-anthropomorphize a swath of land, but it seems sad. Though 123 is hardly a milestone-- which makes me ponder Google's motives-- a birthday is a birthday.
The actual humans hardest hit by today's government shutdown are the over 800,000 "non-essential" federal employees who will have to be furloughed, meaning their jobs-- and their paychecks-- are put on hold until Congress and the Senate sort this mess out.
Why is this happening? You are sure to receive a different response based on whether you ask a Democrat or a Republican. Democrats say that it is because the Republican-controlled House is essentially holding the government hostage until they get the amendments they want passed along with the budget. The major amendment in question, is the delay of Obamacare.
Republicans say that it is because Obamacare, as it is written, is unconstitutional, could be disastrous to the economy, and allowing it to go into effect right now would be irresponsible.
Okay. Here are the facts: "Obamacare," or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was signed into law three years ago. Why is this happening now, on the day it is supposed to go into effect-- especially when ACA really doesn't even have anything to do with the budget?
Not content to just let sleeping dogs lie, The House is determined to delay or outright repeal ACA, even though 60% of Americans support it, and in 2010 it passed in both the House and the Senate. In 2012, it was under attack by the House, with conservatives challenging its constitutionality. The Supreme Court ruled that it was not unconstitutional, because:
"According to Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution, “Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it. . . .” This is how Obamacare became the law of the land. The House passed the Senate’s version of the health care bill on March 21, 2010 by a vote of 219 to 212. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by the president two days later." --Jonathan Capehart, Washington PostSo really, these attacks are nothing new. It wouldn't even be the first time the House threatened to shut down the government based on provisions that they wanted in the budget. Unfortunately, it is the first time in 17 years that it actually happened.
Hopefully it won't take them long to sort this out, because 800,000 Americans aren't getting paid anymore, and that would be disastrous to the economy. It could take a day, or even weeks.
Obamacare doesn't have to be a dirty word. Health Care Reform should be a good thing. If our elected officials would just put on their grown-up pants and work together on this, the country can get back to business.
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