Posted by nathan on Aug 31, 2008 in
Eckenrode This here is a family blog, and as such on the occasion must address issues which will directly impact our family’s future. Lately, I am certain, you have realized that we are planning to vote for Barack Obama for President, what with the video’s and news articles I have been linking. Which means we do not want to vote for his opponent, John McCain; this is further emphasized by McCain’s choice in running mate.
During the Democratic primary, it was pretty touchy around here. TheDaddy has been pretty much for Obama the entire run, based upon the approach towards technology and innovation which is much more open and knowledgeable than any other candidate, while TheMommy has been an avid Hillary Clinton supporter, due to nearly identical views on issues that are decidedly feminist. The selection of Joe Biden, has gone a long ways towards encouraging TheMommy that Obama is going to continue to fight for the advancement of women’s rights.
Right now, I would like to redefine some terminology, Pro-Life does not in fact mean that you support the right to life at all costs, especially when the same individual also holds the view that capital punishment is a good thing. Nor is an anti-abortion stance a position that is pro-life, particularly when the effect it will have on the life of the mother of an unwanted child or the life of that unwanted child who has a much greater probability of growing up to become the very sort of criminal who is put to death in prison.
Now, I understand all the moral hand-wringing which goes into consideration of the legality of abortion. I understand the religious implications which are thrust into the socio-economic equations that shape this argument. These same implications are also thrown into the Creationism vs Evolution debate. Essentially, this shapes up into a Science vs Religion debate, and the way the Religious Right has shaped this debate there is no latitude for nuance or complexity.
Abortion is a medical procedure which while not necessary in all cases, and is rarely easily decided; ultimately is an exercise in free will for an individual. Free will has consequences and effects; do I eat this fruit or do I not; but this decision is the individual’s. There are cases where, it is easily to suggest that abortion would be the preferable route. The horrifying thought of a brother raping his sister and impregnating her, springs to mind as an opportunity where abortion would be a pro-life decision, pro-her life. Do you really think that that child will grow up wanted and loved? I know its a harsh thing to think about, but this is an important decision. The political decision in our country about abortion is not about whether or not a specific case has the right to make this decision or not, but whether or not the government has the ability to deny that individual the opportunity to make that selection.Sarah Palin is against abortion even up to the point where the pregnancy will kill the mother.
God gives us the Free Will to chose his way or not. God does not force us to believe in Him/Her/It, rather God prefers that we actually make this choice even when the competition is so fierce. “Be not as luke-warm water in my mouth…” If this issues is really about religion and the spiritual practices which it is based upon, then the political choice is to allow abortion to be a legal medical procedure, even as it may allow numbers of people to make what you say is a wrong choice, that is their right as a human being, they are allowed to be wrong and so are you.
This election is about so many things. We are voting for Obama/Biden so that abortion may continue to be a practicable procedure. This way when anyone in the future decides to have an abortion, it is performed by a skilled medical professional who has the proper tools and training, rather than by some hack who is killing young mothers in hotel rooms as it used to occur pre-Roe v Wade.
While I applaud, Sarah Palin’s personal choice to not abort her fifth child who was born with Down’s syndrome, I must insist that that was a personal choice. I would prefer that my daughter never have to get an abortion or ever be in a situation where she needs to even consider having one- however if she were to ever find herself in that predicament, I do want her to have the opportunity to make a rational decision that provides for her health on both sides of the choice.
Posted by nathan on Aug 28, 2008 in
Eckenrode ….go to the Emergency Room.
CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - McCain adviser: Everyone in U.S. has some health coverage « - Blogs from CNN.com
“So I have a solution [to the health care crisis]. And it will cost not one thin dime,” John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, told the Dallas Morning News in an interview published Thursday.
“The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American – even illegal aliens – as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care. So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved.”
Posted by steph on Aug 26, 2008 in
Mother After a very stressful, busy month, I think we are on a downhill slope for a little while. Nathan passed his 3 classes, my class is over (still waiting for my grade), EJ is over her cold, and we are joining the rest of my co-workers for a getaway this weekend to Cape Cod that my agency is treating us too. Yay! That means I get 4 and a half days off. Woohoo.
Posted by steph on Aug 14, 2008 in
Daughter,
Mother 1. McCain voted against securing equal pay for women: The Lily Ledbetter Bill was named after Ms Ledbetter, who worked for Goodyear Tires. She worked there for 19 years, and by the time she left, she made $9,500 dollars less then the lowest-paid male supervisor. The Supreme Court threw out her complaint, saying she had waited too long to sue. The bill seeks to counteract the time limit.
2. MCain voted in favor of legislation to amend the definition of those eligible for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to include the unborn — while voting against legislation to expand SCHIP’s coverage to low-income children and pregnant women at least six times.
3. He opposed legislation requiring that abstinence-only programs be medically accurate and based in science.
4. He voted to abolish funding for birth control and gynecological care for low-income women.
5. He said “I have stated time after time after time that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision.” But then, In the 2000 primary, he was asked what he would do if his daughter Meghan, then 15, became pregnant. McCain said it would be a “family decision.”
“The final decision would be made by Meghan with our advice and counsel,” McCain said, referring to himself and his wife, Cindy. When reporters suggested that this view made him, in fact, pro-choice, McCain became irritated. “I don’t think it is the pro-choice position to say that my daughter and my wife and I will discuss something that is a family matter that we have to decide.”
Hmm, hypocritical or just stupid? Let’s see…
6. In March 2007, the New York Times’ Adam Nagourney asked McCain whether grants for sex education in the United States include instructions about using contraceptives, or if they should abide by Bush’s abstinence-only policy.
After a pause, McCain responded, “Ahhh. I think I support the president’s policy.”
Nagourney followed up: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception? Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”
After another pause, McCain replied, “You’ve stumped me.”
How is it acceptable for the leader of the free world to prevent women from taking good care of their own health and helping take care of their families?
And it’s not just a ‘party line’- In his 1992 Senate bid, McCain was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, as well as campaign aide Doug Cole and consultant Wes Gullett. At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain’s hair and said, “You’re getting a little thin up there.” McCain’s face reddened, and he responded, “At least I don’t plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt.” McCain’s excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days.
And recently he volunteered his wife for a beauty pageant that often features contestants topless — and, occasionally, without any decency — at the Sturgis, South Dakota, motorcycle rally.
I don’t want a man like that leading my daughter into her future.
Posted by nathan on Aug 13, 2008 in
Eckenrode Apparently, it’s okay for old guys who need a little, um, assistance to get their prescriptions covered by the health insurance companies, but its not okay for young women to receive the same benefits. Interesting when the double standards are reinforced, dontcha think?
plus this guy’s ideas for solving our problems are “Bomb bomb bomb” or “drill drill drill” let’s elect someone with more intelligence and capacity for critical thought and constructive action.
But hey, it’s really up to you- a candidate who listens to the electorate and that demonstrates a capacity to guide the country into the new world as it reshuffles the stack or a candidate with a long standing grudge and quite a bit of a temper that refuses to budge from taking his own counsel on all matters; gosh after the last eight years you’d think that this would be an easy choice.
