Health Care and Abortion

So the House just passed the Senate Health Care Reform bill, and the Republicans are attempting to block it by having it recommitted. The sticking point they latched on: Abortion. Anytime abortion comes up, it's a total mess, and the shame of it all is that this country will NEVER see a real solution to it because people see the issue as black and white when there are too many shades of grey in the middle to count. Furthermore, no politician will ever stand up and take a controversial stance that I personally find necessary to any true resolution to the issue.

There needs to be a strict policy on conditional abortions. Abortions are not a contraceptive, and it is reckless and irresponsible to use it as such. When it comes to that part of the argument, I whole-heartedly agree that it shouldn't be allowed. If you're carrying a child for months and just decide you don't want it, simply because you don't want it, I don't think you should be allowed to snuff out a human life just for that. HOWEVER, that alone is not reason to completely ban abortion across the board. That is just as irresponsible. There's a few situations that come to mind in which abortion should at least be the mother's choice, without laws blocking them.

Medical Necessity
Abortion should be legal if there is a legitimate medical reason to terminate the pregnancy due to it putting the mother, or child in danger. I would think that is a simple enough point. I don't see why anyone would want a mother to die, simply because they don't approve of abortion. Congratulations- you just ended two lives because your morals wanted to save one. That's just bad math.

Very early first term, as a last resort, if other measures were taken beforehand
This one I'm personally the least supportive of. If a woman has sex and the condom breaks, and she takes Plan B, and that doesn't work, and she is not in the position to raise a child for a legitimate reason such as young age or monetary reasons, I believe that should be an option at the very beginning of an unwanted pregnancy, and only because there was no hesitation on the decision. This isn't a woman or couple who is flaking out because of cold feet. They knew from the beginning that they didn't want a child, and short of abstinence, they took every other measure to prevent the pregnancy.

Rape
This would be the one I'm strongest about. I don't get how anyone could be against it, and when people try to explain it to me, I just can't see their side, no matter how hard I try. It's bad enough that the woman was sexually assaulted, but to FORCE a woman to have an unwanted child from a sexual assault is unthinkable and inhumane. This is an instance in which a women undoubtedly should have the option to terminate that pregnancy should she conceive a child from it. Why would we force a woman to carry a daily reminder of the horrible events that took place for 9 months? Why would you want to force that on someone?  Now if the woman is strong enough to mentally handle that, and she wants to carry that child because she believes that it is still a blessing and she shouldn't take that away, that is fine. That is her choice! 


So, should abortions be covered by health insurance? OF COURSE!  You don't purchase car insurance because you're planning to get into an accident. You don't purchase home insurance because you plan on a tree falling on your house. You don't purchase life insurance because you plan on getting murdered. Insurance is just want the name says it is: you are insured that if something bad happens, you will be covered to help with the emergency. If you fall into the three categories that I listed above, SOMEONE should have your back there to help you out in that time of need. Otherwise, why purchase that insurance?  What are you paying for, if they aren't going to help you out?


I'm happy to be in a country that is moving towards treating people equally and having health care services available to more Americans. I'm not happy that it was neutered, but something is better than nothing. And I'm happy that abortion coverage was not pulled from it, because banning abortions is MUCH more dangerous than allowing it. The last thing we need are for stairs and wire coat hangers to come back in fashion.

The Second Best (and also almost worst) Time of Year

Finally we dug ourself out of the snow, made it through the craziest Nor'Easter I can remember, and Spring is teasing us with BEAUTIFUL weather.  It's torture. Not only has cabin fever kicked in...but so has COASTER fever. I just need that tingle in my spine back as I get hurled over a hill. And, of course, the roar of testing roller coasters teases me all day at work. I'm staring at water dummies on testing coasters with extreme jealousy, wishing it was me and not that plastic jerk. Spring, hurry up and arrive. I need my thrills!