For those of you following the recent attacks on Planned Parenthood, and, consequently, women's health, in the state of Virginia, I have some great news! The final version of the Biennial Budget will be voted on today and it does not include these two harmful amendments:
- Planned Parenthood funding restriction: Prohibits Planned Parenthood from receiving state funding to provide prevention health care, including low-cost gynecological care, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment and birth control. Introduced by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-37).
- Medicaid funding restriction: Further restricts Medicaid funding for abortions to circumstances when the woman's life is at risk, or the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. It prohibits funding for women whose health is at risk or have pregnancies with serious problems. Introduced by Del. Bob Marshall (R-13).
Ahhh, but it is nice to see that all the LTEs, editorial pieces, news reports, and calls to legislators actually worked in our favor (and by "our" I mean men and women who actually give a flip about the health and wellness of our citizens) this time! Del. Marshall and Sen. Cuccinelli are two of our legislators with the worst track records of serving women and their healthcare needs. You should really look into the types of ass-backwards bills they introduce which have no intention of actually solving the problems and root causes of unintended pregnancies - they are all about punishment, shame, fear, and sex with the lights off (which, don't get me wrong, can be fun, but c'mon! Live a little!).
What makes it especially galling is that Cuccinelli won his seat by a mere 92 votes - largely accomplished by playing down his fundie side - and yet, now, claims to speak for a "majority" of Virginians. Heck, he claims to speak for a majority of Americans if you get down to it. But then, the good senator has never been great with facts, has he? Big on rhetoric, but short on details. There is another, kinda clueless, guy who sits in a big ole white house who holds to that same approach. Not a great way to forment public policy on, however much it appeals to those who lack critical thinking skills.
So, thanks for all that left comments on news articles, called your legislator, went up to Richmond for the hearings, wrote LTEs, and put your effort behind supporting women's health here in Virginia. Awesome!
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Progressive is as Progressive does...
It was the progressive movement itself that embraced Hitler and Stalin; and, of course, fat Benito in the 1920's. As for Woodrow Wilson, he is the father of American fascism: It was Wilson who brought us the un-constitutional national Federal Reserve (the non-bank bank) and the federal income tax. During WWI, Wilson presided over what was little more that a fascist police state where being "100% American" wasthe rallying cry. Literally hundreds of thousands of American citizens, labeled "Kaiserites" (a Wilson word) by the mob, were fired from their jobs, beaten and/or jailed for not being, you guessed it, "100% American". Wilson created the War Industries Board overseen by Bernard Baruch who nationalized industry and unions through strong-arm tactics that would have made a Mafia don swell with pride. American children were coerced in the public schools to sign a pledge card, "A Little American Promise" that had them pledge to turn in to the Liberty League anyone (including their parents)who failed to support the federal government. I fear, my dear, your public school education has led you astray.
Southron
Snugglecats definitely count!
And I wish there were a spell check on this web application we are using. I'm a terrible speller as well.
As for the progressive stuff. I have no beef with being called a progressive or self-decribing myself as one. I'm a fan of Wilson (though he didn't do enough for the women's movement) and Taft (not just his presidency, but also his stint on the SCOTUS), and both Roosevelts. I'm curious to know who labeled Hilter and Stalin, was it (I can't see the original page anymore now that I'm typing this) a progressive? I think of social justice, care for the environment, workers rights and anti-trust laws when I think of progressivism. I'm down with that. But I'm down with being called an activist too ;-)
Snugglecats?
One other thing: My wife and I have two cats who are absolutely addicted to snugglebugging. Can I assume they would qualify? (Oh, and please excuse my spelling; my wife is fond of saying that I'm the worse over-educated speller she has ever known or would ever wish to know.)
Southron
Progressive redux...
I believe you mean activist, as in my church is active in assisting the poor or I actively support my community developing a program for the unwed, unfe and the needy. That I understand and it fits well into your Southern background (that is, unless your're from the Peoples' Republic of Et-lanta; you arn't,are you?) Do you know that the Progressive Movement supported such social luminaries as Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin? Historically, they count amongst their ranks the Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the worse kind of national social planners. In short, the government belongs to and should serve all of the people and nothing else. As such, I am for programs that assist people and make for a better community. However, I am absolutely against universal social planning, especially on the no-nothing national level. That, my dear, is a natural road to fascism. Oh, and I absolutely loath Republicans. They are, after all, the party of that greatest of American progressive/fascists, Abraham Lincoln.
Southron
Southron
This modern technology, for all that it has given us, has not yet reached the point where I could write this blog with the southern intonation that I am blessed to have ;-) Your assumption, or rather wish, that I hail from that terrible yankeeland up north, or even worse that terrible granolaland in the west, is way off. I'm a Georgia gal, through and through. In fact, I only stopped paying taxes there when I went off active duty and had to declare Virginia as my state of residency.
Progressives don't have to invade the south...we are already here!!!
*If you want to look for someone to "blame" though, it wouldn't be education, though it is interesting to note that the more education one has the more likelihood that they will support intiatives for things like social program funding, reproductive healthcare, the environment, etc. And, as I have shown here, you can't rely on region either. What I would look to is the parents. I blame my mom and her side of the family for the way I've turned out. Or rather, I thank God for her positive, grace-filled influence in my life. I'll pass along your compliment of sorts to her for sure - and she'll probably want to write you a
Progressive snugglebuggery?
Please excuse me, Mz Vivian, for going off subject, but given the fascist nature and infamous history of the progressive movement (I'm setting aside the fact you are in all probability from the north or at least California where faddish collectivism has all but replaced culture, and hoping against hope that your extensive education has corrected this regional flaw), I must ask why in the name of all that is sacred are you bragging about being a progressive? Oh, and one other thing: What is a snugglebug?
Southron