Woman to stand trial for pants.

Aren't there, like, international laws against this kind of human rights abuse?

Though, this is not surprising.

I was wrong;

there's not an amendment on the floor yet, but they're working on it.

19 Democrats

...have sent a letter to Pelosi. Here it is:

Dear Honorable Pelosi:

As the debate on health care reform continues and legislation is produced, it is imperative that the issue of abortion not be overlooked. Plans to mandate coverage for abortions, either directly or indirectly is unacceptable.

We believe in a culture that supports and respects the right to life and is dedicated to the protection and preservation of families. Therefore, we cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan. We believe that a government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan, should not be used to fund abortion.

Furthermore, we want to ensure that the Health Benefits Advisory Committee cannot recommend abortion services be included under covered benefits or as part of a benefits package. Without an explicit exclusion, abortion could be included in a government subsidized health care plan under general health care. The health care reform package produced by Congress will be landmark, and with legislation as important as this, abortion must be addressed clearly in the bill text.

Furthermore, funding restrictions save lives by reducing the number of abortions. The Guttmacher Policy Review, a leading pro-choice research organization noted "that about one third of women who would have had an abortion if support were available carried their pregnancies to term when the abortion fund was unavailable."

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request. By ensuring that abortions are not funded through any health care reform package, we will take this controversial issue off the table so that Congress can focus on crafting a broadly-supported health care reform bill.

Respectfully yours,

Reps. Dan Boren (D-OK); Bart Stupak (D-MI); Colin Peterson (D-MN); Tim Holden (D-PA); Travis Childers (D-MS); Lincoln Davis (D-TN); Heath Shuler (D-NC) Solomon Ortiz (D-TX); Mike McIntyre (D-NC); Jerry Costello (D-IL); Gene Taylor (D-MS); James Oberstar (D-MN); Bobby Bright (D-AL); Steve Driehaus (D-OH); Marcy Kaptur (D-OH); Charlie Melancon (D-LA); John Murtha (D-PA); Paul Kanjorski (D-PA); and Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-PA).

Amend it! 2

Actually, I think such an amendment has already been proposed. Does anyone know what it's called or who proposed it?

Example

Here's the email I sent my senators:

I just want to tell you right off the bat that I am a huge proponent of socializzed medicine. Frankly, Obama's plan doesn't go far enough. In addition to rising costs making it an economic imperrative, there is also a signifficant moral component. Without this plan, millions of Americans will die preventable deaths due to corporate greed.

This is where the problem comes. The current health care plan (H.R. 3200) mandates taxpayer funding for abortion. It also strips conceince protection and forces pro-life medical providers to choose between their consciences and their jobs.

If Obama really wants to stay true to his rhetoric, this is not the way to do it. This is not common ground and it is not reducing abortions.

In fact, it has been shown that abortions increase 25% when funded by taxpayer dollars. This increase in the loss of innocent laws is directly counterproductive to the purpose of healthcare.

I'm not asking you to oppose universal healthcare. I'm just saying that you should oppose or ammend this bill. Please. Lives are on the line.

Amend it!

I just wanted to tell you all to contact your representatives in favor of the amendment removing elective abortions from the health care bill.

"People-seeds"

Libertarians for Life have a great article debunking Thomson's violinist argument. I will now tackle her much weaker "People Seeds" argument:

Again, suppose it were like this: people-seeds drift about in the air like pollen, and if you open your windows, one may drift in and take root in your carpets or upholstery. You don’t want children, so you fix up your windows with fine mesh screens, the very best you can buy. As can happen, however, and on very, very rare occasions does happen, one of the screens is defective; and a seed drifts in and takes root.

The analogy is very laughable, but let's consider it at face value. You open the window, well aware of the risk. Then, the "people-seeds" take root.

Here comes the problem. Thomson says you would then have the right to remove them from your home. She made the same mistake in the violinist argument; she confuses negative rights with positive rights. Following this analogy, all that could be done is induced labor. For an argument against induced labor before viability, see the boat analogy.

So, to imporve the analogy, let's say that the people seeds plant, and one comes up to you asking for food. You then proceed to poison her, or dismember her, or burn her, or... you get the point. You would then rightfully be charged with murder.

"Slut-punishing" cont.

I feel I should expand upon Post 59. Pregnancy is not a punishment. It doesn't even happen randomly.

When a woman gets pregnant, just like anyone else in any other situation, she may react the situation in any way that does not violate someone else's rights.

I have been told that banning abortion somehow harms women, banning rape and murder doesn't hurt people, and that it should therefore be legal. But what that basically says is, regardless of its morality, homicide should be permitted if it allows one to excape an inconvenience or a responsibility.

Abolition harmed plantation owners. Does that make slavery okay, regardless of its morality?

Ireland FTL

At first, I was outraged. Europe has shown a lack of testicular fortitude when it comes to religion, such as making polygamy legal (but only for Muslim males!). But, really, you're delusional if you think this makes America better. Our constitution just forces us to pick the installment plan.

At least Ireland just came out and made it illegal to offend religious people.

C-SPAN

Watching Congress on C-SPAN, I realize that they're wasting alot of time. Half of the bills are "Recognizing the __ anniversary of ______", or "Congratulating ______".

Pass some bills that at least do something!

Ow.

My back is killing me, and I can barely type, so I'm offering this spot for free advertizing. First come, first serve. If I determine that your site is in agreement with RotH's goals and values, this post gets edited with an ad for your group/site.

40 Years

40 years since the Moon Landing. Will we ever go back? Will we go further?

Only time will tell...