Bumping Uglies

Yeah, I knew you'd look.

Pamela Haag reminds us that this whole war on women isn't completely about health care.  It's also about sex, plain and simple.  We have several good examples of cysts and hormonal conditions that the Pill helps with, but there is also the fact that as adults, women and men alike should be able to conduct their sex lives as they see fit, and enjoy protection from unwanted babies.  Haag reminds us that there are healthy couples in committed relationships who want to enjoy sex without introducing a child into the world.  She's completely right, and while I see the issue as a combination of sexual freedom and medical need, she addresses a valid and relatively quiet point: we enjoy sex and we should be able to enjoy it on our terms.

Sex.

Why that gets those old righteous farts whipped into a frenzy isn't hard to understand.  What is scary is that with a teeny bit of encouragement how far it went, and how fast.  As Zandar pointed out, states are removing choices for women without apology.  This has been going on for a while, but the recent snowball of stupidity is alarming.

It's women who ultimately pay the price for this ego and hypocrisy.  The fathers may or may not have to pay child support, but they won't have to raise a child they never asked for.  They won't have near the social stigma associated with not wanting a child.  They won't have to know what it feels like to have their rights to their body decided by a panel of strangers.  Many women wouldn't put a child up for adoption or have an abortion if they became pregnant, which is why they use birth control in the first place.  Imagine having to give up your child because you know it would likely give them a better life.  How many mothers who couldn't afford simple contraception are going to find themselves in that situation?

The only reason the GOP is giving are their "values" and implying that the "other" people don't deserve equal treatment.  They vote against fair pay for women, but expect women to support babies or live a sexless life to satisfy the moral values of someone they will never meet.  It's not just about discounts on birth control. It's about medical rights, fair treatment and recognition under law, and ending a double standard that women can work as hard as men but are not worthy of the same freedoms and choices.  Just quoting their beliefs and holding us hostage to their ideals isn't enough.  Where is the discussion about the legality and the ethics as applied to all of the citizens?  While we are discussing religion and throwing insults, the real argument is being neglected.  The underlying concept of equality and silly notions like Constitutional checks and balances are ignored while Rush calls women sluts.

What would happen if a female candidate called them on their stupidity?  Can you imagine a woman saying she opposed Viagra, that if God wanted you to have a boner you would have a boner, and that it is offensive for us to see your trouser mouse jump every time there's a breeze?  To have such dirty thoughts that led to an erection is an offense to our religious freedom, and we want you to explain to our satisfaction why you think you should have condoms, otherwise they triple in price.  Any child you had a role in creating will be yours to raise, and how you plan to work full-time and raise a child is your problem, not ours.  We have no plans to help you once you have the child, because you were a slut and brought this on yourself.  Now go make me a sammich.