rrrrrr

[owlmoose]

New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

This is so preposterous and frustrating and infuriating, I don't even know where to start.

Fortunately, this blog entry manages to be more coherent about why this is bad and scary.

But this seems to be the mindset of the world now, and I am at a total loss as to what we can do about it.

Comments

[luvmoose.livejournal.com]

The news has never been worse.

- The War on Contraception (look up the article in the NYT if you didn't see it) (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=34042)
- The Hispanics are taking over, whites need to have more babies (scroll down to my comment response on that one) (http://www.thestranger.com/blog/2006/05/bashing_hispanics.php)
- Get married or we destroy your happy family (http://www.thestranger.com/blog/2006/05/get_married_or_get_o.php)

Planned Parenthood got more of my money today. And Dan Savage can use my uterus to make white liberal babies if he ever needs it.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Excellent comment.

I meant to read that NYT article but I waited too long, and now it's gone into the paid archive. We have databases here that might include it; I need to hunt a bit.

Someday the pendulum has got to swing back. Doesn't it?

[luvmoose.livejournal.com]

If you can't put your hands on it, let me know. The household has a subscription and I'll just paste it to text for you.

As for that pendulum...if we get overrun by all the conservative babies, maybe not. Just make sure to waste some sperm tonight. ;)

J

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

"I am at a total loss as to what we can do about it."

Stop snoggling and let the species die out? Maybe cats will evolve to the top the nest time. They would be a huge improvement over the apes.

Re: J

[furitaurus.livejournal.com]

Here here!

Re: J

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Stop snoggling and let the species die out?

That is an idea (ever seen the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement's website?), and I am doing my part (well, with the not reproducing aspect anyway). Unfortunately, all these people who don't believe in me as anything but a baby factory will almost certainly not.

[rustehroll.livejournal.com]

What are we, walking wombs?

This leaves me feeling vaguely irritable.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

What are we, walking wombs?

Apparantly. :P

Seriously, that really seems to be the attitude in certain circles. Really quite crazy-making.

[yuna-flowering.livejournal.com]

Ok, now I'm pissed. five and a half years ago they wouldn't give my mom pain medication for her carpel-tunnel syndrome in her hands (and they wouldn't operate either) because she was *actually* pregnant. But if I needed to get something done and they wouldn't do it just because I *might* get pregnant (which I don't plan on doing for a long while yet!) that's ridiculous. It's completely insulting to women.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

It's completely insulting to women.

That is exactly what it is. Assuming that we can't make our own decisions or be trusted not to get pregnant? It treats us as lesser.

And you *know* that they would never try to create a similar set of guidelines for men....

[coco-keesses.livejournal.com]

Hearing news like this is so surreal for me -- I just don't get it. Some thoughts:

Any evidence that people are looking at the economic strata when going through infant death rates? Birth defects and low birth weight say to me women who don't have access to prenatal care or health care period. Why not get people who need health care period access first? Grumble. I'm staying over here for a while...

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Any evidence that people are looking at the economic strata when going through infant death rates?

Good question. I don't know. You have an excellent point re. poor healthcare in general vs. poor pre-natal care.

Why not get people who need health care period access first?

It's that whole thing about prioritizing the unborn. Never mind the health of the woman involved, or the kid once it's actually born. I don't know whether to be more disgusted or afraid that those things seem to be beside the point.