Today marks a very important day, when the long-awaited health care bill from the House travels to the Senate for a possible vote. Democrats have conceded almost every point imaginable to get votes from the Republicans, and yet, no Republican will vote for such a bill? It’s been said that this is the same bill that was being kicked around in August, so why should people who opposed it then support it now? (Sorry for the lack of links.)
Forget all that. The real sticking point is that clause on abortion, and whether federal dollars should pay for it. OK, I understand that you don’t want to pay for a practice that you find morally reprehensible. That’s why the law states that no federal dollars will go to programs providing abortions. But did you really think you weren’t paying for them? Like it or not, our tax dollars are helping pay for practices associated with abortions and children. The other big issue is that the language doesn’t go far enough, since creative bookkeeping can make public funds look like private funds.
A woman without health care goes to the emergency room because of complications following a “back alley” abortion. Guess who’s paying for that?
An unwanted baby is abandoned to the foster care system. Until that child gets adopted, who do you think pays for that?
And your opposition to that language? If you don’t think companies in general are using public funds as private funds, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.
Unless you’re a psychopath, no one wants more abortions. That’s ridiculous. Of course, a lot of the same people who oppose abortions also oppose sex education, but that’s another can of worms. We need to insure as many people as possible, and insure them fully. Either that means making sure the home life of all is as good as those in Congress (which will make it cost prohibitive,) or including things you don’t particularly like. Otherwise, we as an economic power are going to cease to exist because we’re spending our money in all the wrong places.
11/12/2009
Find your congressman
This would actually be something I would want. And I would pay money for it. It’s an app for the iPhone that lists the office info, in DC and the respective state, of elected officials.
All this info is public knowledge, so that can’t be the problem. It gives the info for everyone, so there can’t be in issue with partisanship. So why isn’t it out?
It’s a drawing.
Yep, MAD Magazine artist Tom Richmond drew caricatures of each congressman to accompany information about his or her office. Everyone looks goofy – that’s what a caricature is. Apparently that could be considered offensive or controversial. Not like any of the other apps available to the iPhone.
Have we become so PC that we can’t make it easier for people to fulfill their civil duty?
11/5/2009
[announcer in hushed voice]
I’m here on an island off the coast of New Jersey called Manhattan, a place the locals call “The City”, in search of Homo bronxbomberii, otherwise known as the New York City Yankees fan. I should be able to find them in quantity here, as according to custom, tonight is when their deity, Alexrodriguez, does combat with a deity from another land; if I’m not mistaken, the other deity is known to the inhabitants of Philadelphia. The followers of Alexrodriguez are easily seen by their bright blue and white plumage. It’s only 6:30 in the evening, so I might not get a look until later, when they gather en masse to honor their god in battle.
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It’s about 7 in the evening now, and I am surrounded by H. bronx, characterized by the blatant disregard for others in the Homo genus. It’s fascinating how these beings will make their way through a group of Homo sapiens going the opposite way and not look back to witness the carnage they leave behind. Standing by one of the subterranean transport stations, it is clear the Yankees fan does not usually use the transportation most of his fellow Manhattanites will use, due to the doubling back and blank look on his face. It looks like the battle will commence soon.
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I’m standing now outside one of Manhattan’s many places of leisure, where alcohol and small pieces of chicken are plentiful and viewing devices are prominently placed in myriad corners. Of the Yankees fans who could not make it to the place of battle on another island, The Bronx, most of them seem to be in these establishments. It is now 8:00 and the excitement is palpable. The Yankees fans are all staring and cheering at the viewing devices. It appears that this battle will take a few hours, so I will find a place among the fans and hunker down to observe as they do.
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It’s now after midnight, and H. bronx is in a fervor! I have never seen such revelry! Even in “the city that never sleeps” most of the inhabitants of this area are asleep, but that doesn’t stop the Yankees fan. Their god emerges victorious from battle and their victory cheers are superior to the vehicles used for emergency that occasionally sound throughout the day and night. They spill out of the leisure establishments, drunk with all the alcohol they have imbibed and the power they now have, and now try to stumble to their domiciles. Taking a quick look around the premises, I notice that some people in the homes above have turned on lights and are yelling at the fans, but to no avail. These proud individuals know no sorrow at this time!
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And so, as homo bronxbomberii leaves the battle arena and the viewing centers, sated with the joy of triumph, I depart as well to rest up for my observation tomorrow of homo exhaustedus, the ones who have to toil the next day after hearing the shout of their fellow Manhattanites.
11/3/2009
I hope all of you voted. I was sick and I still went to vote. Of course, now I have no problem voting, when this will most probably be our last Election Day in this neighborhood. But that’s all right.
Here ends my annual voting post. Blame my cold for having it be so late.