Politically minded Jezzies, would you help me out with this? Does this go to a vote in Congress next? If I want to contact my reps to voice my opinion, does it matter at this point? And would I contact Senators, too? (I feel like I need to watch the School House Rock episode about gov't for a refresher course.) #epicfail
Not that I expect any health insurer would ever do such a thing, but I wonder if it would be possible for them to create an abortions only insurance add on that people who receive federal subsidies for insurance could purchase with their own money? Since it would only cover one very specific condition it seams like it would be a fairly cheap way to skirt around the restrictions. #epicfail
@whats_in_a_name: Yes, an abortion rider is what Stupak also proposes. It's null. No one expects to have an unintended pregnancy or abortion, so why would someone want to purchase a rider? and it would have to be cheaper than an abortion to make it worth it financially. there are also privacy issues involved. #epicfail
Well, I think it's just about time to launch my own radical feminist group of outlaws. We'll go by the name The Weather In My Pants. William Ayers will love it. #epicfail
And I'd like to ask the general public this question: To all of you that are upset that the government won't help pay for an abortion, would you feel the same way about government health care not paying for fertility treatments, like IVF? Because I don't see any real outcry about this, even though it's a real problem for some, and costs are upwards of $25,000. #epicfail
@deeemer: Actually, the federal government WOULD NOT be paying for any abortions. What this amendment does is require that any person who uses federal subsidies to buy health care is barred from purchasing a plan that covers abortions. So, the abortion would be paid for by a private insurer, not the federal government.
John Walker at Firedoglake.com puts it this way: "This would create a dangerous loophole for the new guaranteed issue rule. This could lead to the ghettoizing of the health insurance exchange. Insurers would know that offering plans that cover abortion would prevent low income Americans from being able to sign up. Low income Americans tend to have higher medical costs and are less profitable, less desirable customers. Offering abortion coverage would be a simple way for an insurance company to keep them out of their risk pool."
@deeemer: My basic platform is that the more we can reduce the world's population, the better off we'll all be. So yes. IVF, going by the figures in the article linked to above, can cost up to 50 times that of one abortion. That's not, to me, a valuable use of money when the end result is still one more mouth the planet has to feed. #epicfail
@sableized (just like starting over): See, but that's just your opinion. So if someone is pro-life, you're pissed that they have a say in your medical choices. But if someone really wants a child and has fertility issues, then it's just obvious that their health choices are just bad for the environment, and thus, invalid.
Fine. Then don't get upset about the fact that abortions aren't covered under this plan. Because, as you yourself stated, opinions matter. So now we have to cater to anyone's opinions about what a woman does with her body. #epicfail
@deeemer: Well, yeah. I mean, you wanted my opinion, there it is. All politics is just a collection of opinions, and that's mine. However, I realize that my opinion is kind of an odd one, and I'd be totally willing to have healthcare cover IVF if it covered abortions as well. I mean, if the choice is both or neither, I'm not gonna cut off my nose to spite my face.
Also, where did I say that opinions matter? (I probably forgot.)
Edited by sableized (just like starting over) at 11/08/09 2:29 AM
sableized (just like starting over) was starred
sableized (just like starting over) was unstarred
@deeemer: If a woman ends up undergoing IVF treatment against her will, or after getting drunk at a party, I'd consider covering her. (Actually, I think some form of fertility treatment should be covered – and as far as I know, they are – but I don't think the two situations are comparable.) #epicfail
@deeemer: I don't think that you can equate these two conditions. It's not a "real problem" for some, as the consequences of infertile do not in anyway infringe on the ordinary operation of daily life. Abortion is an necessary medical treatment because it is designed to prevent a condition that is immanent, and whose consequences are not easily avoided, and will proceed to impact the mother's health in increasingly potent ways without external intervention.
The situations are not at all comparable.
It is reasonable to say: as a human being you deserve biological autonomy. It doesn't seem reasonable to me to say, "As a human being, you deserve biological offspring." #epicfail
See, I don't get this. "Except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life." How do you prove the first two? Is it contingent on the rape victim filing a police report? Do they have to have a copy or something? Because I can just see the red tape now. . #epicfail
@deeemer: Yeah, it's hard enough to get a conviction for rape in the first place, let ALONE in time to make it to a first-trimester abortion. #epicfail
I've really had it with the 'BUT IT'S FOR THE GREATER GOOD!' sentiment when it comes to my rights being thrown under the bus.
Look, I voted for someone whose stance on abortion made me the slightest bit queezy because it was for the 'Greater Good'.
I'm sick of being told that my right to control my reproductive destiny must be constantly subjugated for the 'Greater Good' and that I should be fucking happy to do it! #epicfail
Why the hell is a bunch of right-wing nutjobs desire not to pay for a LEGAL medical procedure so damn sacrosanct? Guess what, there's a lot of shit I don't want to pay for, especially in the last 8 years -- like, say, TWO fucking wars, the salaries of people who TORTURED other people, abstinence-only education, etc. But I had to! You don't get to pick and choose the shit your tax dollars go to because THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS. Except when it comes to abortion. #epicfail
@Maritsa: Yes. Because women are really really hated. There's no other explanation for it. We're used as political pawns. We are not considered human by way too many members of this group. #epicfail
@faerietails: I think they're right-wing nutjobs too, no matter what their political affiliation! But good point - we can't let those Dems off the hook. I already checked to see if mine voted for it, thankfully he didn't. #epicfail
This is incredibly fucked up, especially the part about private insurance. I wish Obama would veto this, but I doubt he cares enough to do it. #epicfail
12:23 PM
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09:07 AM
Penis pumps, implants, and pills will continue to be covered, no doubt. #epicfail
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John Walker at Firedoglake.com puts it this way: "This would create a dangerous loophole for the new guaranteed issue rule. This could lead to the ghettoizing of the health insurance exchange. Insurers would know that offering plans that cover abortion would prevent low income Americans from being able to sign up. Low income Americans tend to have higher medical costs and are less profitable, less desirable customers. Offering abortion coverage would be a simple way for an insurance company to keep them out of their risk pool."
[fdlaction.firedoglake.com] #epicfail
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Fine. Then don't get upset about the fact that abortions aren't covered under this plan. Because, as you yourself stated, opinions matter. So now we have to cater to anyone's opinions about what a woman does with her body. #epicfail
02:28 AM
Also, where did I say that opinions matter? (I probably forgot.)
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The situations are not at all comparable.
It is reasonable to say: as a human being you deserve biological autonomy. It doesn't seem reasonable to me to say, "As a human being, you deserve biological offspring." #epicfail
12:16 PM
01:00 AM
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12:41 AM
11/07/09
Look, I voted for someone whose stance on abortion made me the slightest bit queezy because it was for the 'Greater Good'.
I'm sick of being told that my right to control my reproductive destiny must be constantly subjugated for the 'Greater Good' and that I should be fucking happy to do it! #epicfail
05:46 AM
11/07/09
We're fucked. #epicfail
11/07/09
11/07/09
12:23 AM
I posted their contact info here. #epicfail
12:37 AM
11/07/09
But this amendment makes me want to bawl anyway.
OH SHIT 218. #epicfail
11/07/09
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11/07/09
Sounds about right. #epicfail