Another day, another dangerous (proposed) Bush regulation

This really made me sit back and think "where did i get my birth control?" way back before i became the busy mom i am now. We should all ask ourselves that question as access wanes. I got mine from my private college's health clinic for free, because OF COURSE the school's administration made a smart risk assessment and decided a small investment was better than losing a promising student. Now why can't our government think like that?

In the 19th century, it was politicians supported by new industries, and not churches, who introduced eliminating a woman's right to control the size of her family so that a continuing supply of low-wage workers would always be available. It didn't matter to them if unwanted children would starve or be abused or that women would die in childbirth, leaving other children orphaned.

The men who have always controlled all segments of our society, are, also, concerned about losing their power to women, who are in the majority. Denying or limiting the number of women who could attend college, just as others in our society have been restricted, was another way to maintain power.

Now, in the 21st century, women still do not have legal jurisdiction over their own bodies as men have always had. For women to be subjugated to the religious views of those who believe a woman should die to save the life of a fetus is unconscionable.

To be opposed to abortion and, also, opposed to birth control, which prevents abortions, caters to extremist religious views. American women and men have a right to freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion. Lack of birth control has resulted in over-population, which causes most of the world's problems, such as lack of food, pollution, crime, global warming, etc.

The lack of outrage by our male-dominated society to the number of women beaten and killed each day says it all: Laws passed by men that allow them to control the reproductive rights of women is reflected in their perceived right to, also, control them through violence or the threat of violence.

Men would never agree to women deciding their reproductive rights as women have allowed by voting for anti-choice politicians like George Bush and John McCain. For insurance companies to pay for Viagra and not birth control indicates how much regard men have for the rights and well-being of women.

In this upcoming election, it is imperative that women become aware of the views of the potential candidates on reproductive rights.
In the last election, the issue of women's rights were not really brought up at any of the debates, except one. In this debate, Bush was asked if he would use a litnus test to pick a Supreme Court nominee, and he said no (another lie). When Kerry was asked, he gave a short brief answer, stating that everyone knew he was pro-choice. He did not go after Bush for his terrible track record on women's rights during his first term, and he had plenty of information he could have shared with the American people. I followed the news and debates to see how much women's rights were brought up, and basically it was zilch. That's when I learned that the media is really dominated by men who either (1) don't give a damn about this issue and never bring it up, or (2) are against women's rights at all.
Unless McCain's view are brought to light for the general public during these debates, we may have the same problem, with the result that most women will not make an informed choice, since they do not know the facts.
This last comment is directed to all the pro choice organizations out there. Can you bring to light THROUGH THE DEBATES that McCain is against women's rights? Can you let women know through the news media about women's right issues IN DETAIL?
I believe this issue, if brought to light, might have made a difference in the last election.
Hoping someone out there hears me.
C. Hanson

There seems to be no end to Bush's faith based moronicity.
McCain's voting record indicates McCain's position - McSame as Bush's.
This problem is far greater than just the problems arising from the policy of ignorance and stupidity implemented in the United States.
Bush's moronic anti-women mania has adversely impacted US and UN aid programs throughout the world by withholding US funding of any aid programs that provide access to birth control (even condoms in Aids epidemic areas of Africa!) and of course, abortion - even to save the life of the mother.
It seems Bush, McSame and the rest of the far right religious wingnuts would rather see the resulting children die of starvation along with their mothers rather than preventing the pregnancy in the first place or terminating a pregnancy resulting from rape or one that endangers the life of the mother.

For a woman to be told if or when she may have a child is another form of female slavery. Has anyone ever questioned Bu$h as to WHY Bu$h and his wife had had only one pregnancy? Could it be another case of ," Don't do as I do. Just do as I SAY !" We have a woman hating would-be dictator in The White House--- but not for long! Please don't let Bu$h make any more last munute laws against womens' rights before he leaves his office. It's obvious that he will try!
We do have a probable road block for 'Womens' Rights' in Florida.The majority of
our representatives are of a religious bent that opposes birth control measures and/or abortion. That's a tough one for those of us who believe in EQUAL RIGHTS for both men and women!

Senator Clinton is all over this issue. Obama is MIA. Another example of the folly of your ill-timed endorsement of Obama.

I agree 100% about the need for a pro-choice President in the White House....I'm just a little troubled with Obama's dirth of 'promises' being made - and some of the flip-flopping in his assertions. I'll keep watching though....and will vote accordingly. Thanks for this blog-and all of the efforts to keep women's rights in the forefront of worthy topics during this campaign.

Scary how little people know about the women who used their "choice" to kill their children. I am one of those women and wish to God the "choice" had never been an option. It was the biggest mistake and regret of my life. Till this day, my "choice" makes me no different than the mother who drowns her children or the mother who tosses her newborn in the dumpster. There are far more women like me out there than the media will ever choose to admit. While I cannot say that I am pro-life (that would be hypocritical), I wish voters realized the implications these actions have on a woman's mental health instead of spewing talking points about something they know nothing about. My "choice" has caused me to join the "dark side" and work to elect McCain/Palin in 2008.

For any lurkers out there who are not familiar with the actual evidence on this, the American Psychological Association task force on mental health and abortion found no credible evidence that having an abortion causes mental health problems. You can believe the anecdotes of anti-choice, forced-pregnancy internet jokers like "Ruthie"... or, you can look at the actual evidence for yourself.