Who’s Choice Is It Really?
Posted on: July 23, 2009
Yesterday, Damn Girl and I were discussing health care reform in the company kitchen. (Yes, seriously.) She and I are both avid Obama supporters, drowning amid a sea of conservative Obama-haters, and I am not using the term hate loosely here. The devisiveness is rather sickening, but marked by terms like “Your President” instead of our President and “Mr. Obama” instead of President Obama (which really pisses me off, and is something I’ve caught the mainstream media doing a lot). Anyway, we were discussing health care reform in the kitchen.
It occurred to me as we were speaking that one of the reasons health care reform isn’t happening is because it’s about women and children. Let’s face it, up until recently, if a child was sick it’s mother stayed home from work and took care of it, while Dad went to his office. That was the status quo for decades, until more and more women became equal participators to the family income and hold bigger and better jobs.
There was no incentive thirty years ago to make healthcare available to mothers and their children. They weren’t productive members of society. So who really cared. At least, that’s how I see it. It’s sort of like breast cancer research. Since men weren’t getting it (often) there was no urgency to cure it.
But I didn’t realize how close to the mark I was when I said that. Today, I read this article in Salon.com. If President Obama’s plan goes through, there is some explosive conversation about whether or not abortions will have to be covered. And I can hear the cry and hew in Washington about that, all the way over here in NJ.
So there’s a huge crux of the issue. If we offer healthcare to all, will we have to stipulate that it covers everything but the dreaded abortion? Or will people in this country finally have to suck it up and admit they can’t force people to have children they don’t want or can’t take care of in the name of an imaginary being.
Sorry if that was a little harsh or insensitive. I’m sure some of you disagree with me (all 5 of you that are now reading ::snort::). But hey, it’s my blog.
6 Responses to "Who’s Choice Is It Really?"
July 24, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I’m with ya on this, but you know, anytime abortion comes into a discussion, the discussion heads south fast.
Let’s face it, some people are militant about abortion….deadly militant at times.
July 25, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I’m glad you’re back….
Don’t have much to add to this topic….it makes me twitchy. And rather angry. Am in total agreement with your take on it.
July 27, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Absolutely right. Should be interesting to see how that plays out.
July 28, 2009 at 2:36 pm
It’s true. But even socialized medicine in Canada has its limits, no? Like you can’t go to the dermatologist to have a mole removed if it is purely cosmetic. They don’t cover EVERYTHING in those plans.
Which is fine. I would rather them pass something that doesn’t address abortion as long as they keep it legal and people always have a place to go to have it done. I mean, it isn’t covered now on my insurance, but at least I know if I needed one done I have a place to go that isn’t a back alley with some guy with a hanger.
Vigorous Anonymity 
July 23, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I do not disagree AT ALL!