Make No Mistake in the War on Women's Health

I return to the use of the word I prefer when standing back and looking at all the laws and suggested laws that make up what the press is calling "The War on Women's Health". This isn't a war....yet. But it will be, if this stuff continues. Right now, it's ...tyranny. Because a number of state legislatures and governors are, sort of in an obsessive fashion, trying to pass all kinds of laws that restrict the power of women in this country. What drives this behavior? I'm not quite certain.

And, if it continues, it will only be for a time. And then women, and the men who support women as equals will strike back. Believe me, it's coming. You don't see it yet because it is unorganized around various state capitols and the heroes of this "war"... Sam Brownback, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Nathan Deal, Jan Brewer, Bob McDonnell, Rush Limbaugh, Mitch Daniels... the list is endless. Right now, none of them have experienced the backlash of women at the ballot box...save Limbaugh who felt the lash as his sponsorships die.

Here are two of today's absurdities:

#1 Arizona

A bill is still alive in the senate that would allow ANY employer (churches now have the right) to refuse to provide birth control coverage.

Under the bill, employers with religious or moral objections could decline to provide employees with coverage for birth control drugs being used to avoid pregnancy. Only religious entities such as churches now have that right in Arizona.
Coverage to use the drugs for medical purposes other than avoiding pregnancy, such as treatment for acne, still would be provided through a reimbursement process, but employers could require that workers provide evidence that the drugs aren't being sought for avoiding pregnancy.

So, you can use the pill for acne. Or excessive menstrual bleeding. But not for birth control. Nyah, nyah, ne nyah nyah.

#2 Georgia


This week the Georgia State Legislature debated a bill in the House, that would make it necessary for some women to carry stillborn or dying fetuses until they 'naturally' go into labor. In arguing for this bill Representative Terry England described his empathy for pregnant cows and pigs in the same situation.

State Rep. Terry England was speaking in favor of HB 954, which makes it illegal to obtain an abortion after 20 weeks even if the woman is known to be carrying a stillborn fetus or the baby is otherwise not expected to live to term.
He then recalled his time working on a farm:

“Life gives us many experiences…I’ve had the experience of delivering calves, dead and alive. Delivering pigs, dead or alive. It breaks our hearts to see those animals not make it.”


Suggesting that if a cow or pig can give birth to a dead baby, then a woman should too was not enough for Rep. England though. He then delivered an anecdote to the chamber in which a young man who was apparently opposed to legislation outlawing chicken fighting said he would give up all of his chickens if the legislature simply took away women’s right to an abortion.

This is Mr. England:


Take a good look. He's happy isn't he? As we speak, he is being hounded by people near and far for these remarks. I'm sure he is and will continue to be popular among women voters. Not.

I am a woman and I have these human rights:

The right to life.

The right to privacy.

The right to freedom.

The right to bodily integrity.

The right to decide when and how I reproduce.

We had evolved into a society that supports family planning and birth control with laws intended to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and the state costs that go with them – through obstetrical care, pediatric care and welfare. In one state, a free birth control law for low income women was estimated to cost the state $1.36 million and save it $8.1 million. By driving down these medical costs, we also incent better financial circumstances for low income women and families.

Suddenly, mostly male legislatures all around this country are trying to take away these laws and our rights by passing new, absurd laws that truly speak to "big government" . Why?

Don't kid yourself. It's all about power.