I've been watching the whole birth control debate play out in the US with much interest. It's such an intriguing conundrum to me - women's rights will be infringed upon if her employer refuses to pay for birth control, yet the employer's right to religious freedom will be infringed upon if they are forced to pay for something they are wholly against.
The debate came to a head this week when a law student names Sandra Fluke spoke before a congressional committee, talking about how birth control can cost up to $3000 over the course of law school.
In return, everyone's favorite political commentator (not) Rush Limbaud had the following to say: "What does it say about the college coed ... who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex."
He went on to say that if that was the case and they were going to "pay" for her to have sex, she should at least post the videos online so that they could watch. Republicans have yet to speak out against him.
WTF?
In what world is that kind of talking okay? I just don't understand the direction the US is heading. Last month we have a breast cancer charity cutting funding to Planned Parenthood because they provide abortions, and now this? It's like we're moving away from a woman's right instead of toward them. I hate to think about what else will happen if the religious right gets elected in the fall.
And it's times like this where I am grateful to be living in France - a country that still respects a woman's right to choose her own health care plan, instead of having a committee of old men do it for her.
Labels: Healthcare
posted by Ksam @ 12:09 AM
13 Comments:
You'll be happy to know that the Susan G Komen Foundation reversed itself and is funding PP. The board member responsible for trying to get rid of the funding resigned. As far as Rush Limbaugh is concerned, you will also be happy to know that 7 of his advertisers pulled their funding and social media has been outraged at his remarks. He "apologized" but not in a way you or I would recognize. We're not all right-wing nut-jobs - although there are days even I think we are. BTW - I envy your healthcare system too!
Barb in Minnesota
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It just turns my stomach all of this. I visited a new doctor for the first time this week here, and when I asked for birth control, the woman didn't even blink. She just pulled out her pen and asked me if I wanted a specific kind. No asking questions on if I was sexually active. Nothing. Just "Here's the prescription". Why does the US have to be so behind in the times??
Wow, that's terrible! And I don't buy the "employer's religious freedom" bit either. It's basically like taxes - I might not support my taxes paying for wars, for example, but that doesn't mean either that I'm betraying my own ethics by paying taxes or that I can just stop paying them.
Great post! I completely agree with you. When I saw the photo go around of the group of eight OLD men as the panel who would decide this, I wanted to vomit. I can't believe more hasn't been done to get Rush Limbaugh out after that... I'm trying to stay educated about what's happening in the States w the election but it just makes me want to roll my eyes after I hear Santorum say that if you want a college education, you're a "snob" (yet all his kids are in college and he has 3 degrees...)
As Barbara noted there has been major backlash and some repercussions for the Susan G Komen Foundation and Limbaugh that give me hope the fanatical right wing religious fractions won't win all of the fights. Although, at times it does feel like the US is almost on the cusp of a Handmaid's Tale type of era (especially being from TX where the public school sex eduction consists of abstinence only teachings thanks to Gov Bush).
They should cut Viagra, then see how the old men react!
No but seriously it really worries me especially the so-called infringement of religious freedom, I didn't realize insurance companies had that right....
a few companies have pulled their ads from Limbaugh's show...I hope it scares others away so he's off the air for good....Santorum's a real piece of work too....here in VA our GOP gov (the VP hopeful Bob McDonnell) is busy flip flopping on the vaginal probe bill (he was for it until it got nat'l attention)..and they just repealed the "one gun/month law" so now we can buy as many as we want.....if that's not enough to get people to vote Obama, I don't know what it takes
How bizarre, if they just had a decent medical insurance system it would be free. I don't pay for my contraception pills at all. Well, I do, but through my taxes.
I don't see why an employer would have anything to do with paying for his employees' contraception. In that case, they should pay for glasses too, and condoms and contact lenses and shoes... and wine!
I'm in the UK, and just wondering why an employer pays for contraception?? Is it through some kind of medical insurance system? Forgive my ignorance! So glad and grateful that we have the NHS here.
This country frightens me severly. I would love to get out of here. Canada's the best bet I've got and Andrew and I have already agreed we're out if the Repubs get one of their crazy nuts elected.
Republicans have definitely been speaking out against him! I don't know a single republican from my generation who takes him (or his female counterpart Ann) seriously. And as far as the other ridiculous Republicans who want to present themselves as religious saviors (cough*Santorum*) they are NOT what the party stands for.. I'm tired of being mis-represented and mis-labeled because there's a couple religious whackos in the party.
Gwan -- you make an excellent point!
Sam -- It's times like these that I'm glad I live in France too, but you have to admit we're having a mess of our own problems. There's not a single presidential candidate that's hopeful and Sarko has really gone off the deep end. On the subject of women's health, did you know that abortions in France are 100% covered by seçu but the pill still costs money? That's something that I've never understood.. I've always thought that if they were going to pay for full coverage of something, make it the preventative measure in order to limit the number of reactive measures you have to take.
Just my 2 cents.
Should be interesting to see what happens in both countries this year.
Amber, I'm curious as to who exactly has been speaking out? I have been in the US all week and haven't heard any republicans say anything on any of the major news media, besides a few bits about advertisers pulling out.
And there are at least two birth control pills that are covered 100% by the sécu - I used to be on one of them when I first moved to France as a student. It was an older one though, so I switched to a newer one as soon as I had a job. Women under 20 can also receive the pill for free from the family planning clinics, and there is a new proposition out by the government that will hopefully be passed and make contraception free for those under 18. It's never really bothered me to pay the 8€ a month for my pill though, it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than it was in the US!
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