Tag Archives: Health

How Important Is Teen Birth Control?

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lime light

Date:  5/April/2013

Subject:  Over-The-Counter Birth Control Drugs For Teens Without Requirements To Inform Parents Or Obtain Their Permission.

OP-ED by John Liming

To:  Mr. and Mrs. America – Everywhere!

I guess this is a hot button issue for contemporary times so I am wading in with my two cents worth – - – and that is just about what my opinion is worth on this subject – - – two lousy cents!

Do I think that young teens ought to be able to purchase over-the-counter morning after birth control pills without parents or personal physicians knowing anything about it or giving their permission beforehand?  No!  Hell no!  I do not approve of that kind of thing simply because I think the issues involved are far too important.

I think there should be some kind of notification to responsible parties such as parents and/or doctors, but by the same token I also do not think that such preventive measures should be denied because human nature and the involved biological drives are sometimes overwhelmingly intense at a young age – - – I know because I have been there a long time ago and I understand the power of the natural personal chemistry and the associated urges.  I think in some cases that simple “Will Power” is definitely not enough to prevent some pretty unhappy circumstances in some instances.

I am on board with providing things that might play a role in preventing sexually transmitted diseases – - – and in some cases even things designed to prevent unwanted conceptions and I am in favor of allowing these things at the age when a person becomes sexually active.  To me that only makes common sense.

I am hearing a lot of arguments coming from the supposedly Conservative Right – - – especially those who claim to be “Christian” Conservative Rightists – - – about how individual religious belief and moral and family values should play the most important role in controlling early age sexual activity – - – but I also believe that none of that kind of stuff goes much beyond the “mumbo-jumbo” stage in being anywhere near effective as a deterrent to potential disaster.

Because of the intensity of the chemistries involved in these biologic urge situations, I am hard pressed to believe that simple “mind-over-matter” is going to be enough to address the issues properly – - – but if the radical right wants to believe that it is, then who am I to argue with them?  After all – - – wouldn’t that be a matter of choice among those who think that way?

The one principle that seems inviolate to me in these matters however is this one – - – “I do not think the government has any business sticking their noses into the private and/or intimate aspects of human relationships – - – at any age!  Period!

So in my opinion – - – yes!  Let the young people buy their contraceptive devices and medications but get the responsible adults involved so that proper counselling and adequate support might be given too.  I kind of think too much leeway in these kinds of situations might lead to a sort of destabilization of intra-family relationships and I think that support and counselling of children – - – in all situations – - – until they have reached the age of majority – - – is essentially a parental responsibility – - – and one of the highest privileges that the act of living involves.

I think the drugs in question should be available but I also think that the family and the physician cannot be cut out of the picture – - – the family and the physician have been strong and viable support for children since I can remember and these are ties and resources that need to be both maintained, reinforced and emphasized.  I think there is already too much decentralization in the family unit and we do not need to add to it in such important matters as these intimate human interrelationships.

But – - – everybody has their opinion don’t they?

What is yours?

Posted by John Liming at 9:48 pm

What Some Forget To Say About Abortion!

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Date:  April 17, 2013

Subject:  Abortion And Women’s Reproductive Rights

Opinion by John

I think I have heard most of the anti-choice arguments by now.

There are some things that I do not think the anti-choicers are saying much about however.

For example, are any or them mentioning that it is estimated that Planned Parenthood prevents – - – prevents – - prevents – - I guess I have to repeat it if anyone is going to hear it – - – prevents as many as Two Hundred Thousand – - – 200,000 – - – abortions each and every year – - – by providing contraception and that when defunding occurs and the contraceptive services are no longer available, the number of abortions that might have been prevented tend to sky-rocket?

I don’t think anti-choicers mention that too often, do they?

Read More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/27/republican-lies-womens-bodies_n_1374027.html

Posted by John at 3:30 pm

 

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Who needs sex education in schools when HIV is so readily available?

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Health

Health (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

Date:  April 14, 2013 – - -

Subject:  Some States Defund Planned Parenthood While Dumping Sex Ed In Schools: – - -

Opinion – - -

Reproductive rights, women’s health, women’s rights  and sex education – - – I guess all of these things are totally unimportant to some geniuses who have somehow gotten themselves elected into some State Houses around this great country of ours.

Barefoot and pregnant seems to be making an ideological comeback in the minds of some whose possession of a mind at all can be suspect according to one’s perspectives – - – or lack of them.

One sure way I think one can tell when an entire group of supposedly responsible adults has taken leave of their senses is when some area of the country is experiencing record numbers of pregnancies – - – particularly teen pregnancies – - – and some government big bugs decide they no longer need clean, sanitary and professional women’s health care facilities or any kind of sex education in the school system.

I guess the idea in some of those places is to let “them” learn all they need to know about the birds and the bees from parents, peers or movies – - – or, perhaps from experimentation – - – trial and error – - – trial and error that can lead to certain unfortunate kinds of transmitted diseases or to potentially deadly afflictions such as AIDS and HIV – - – and which almost certainly will lead to new and higher numbers of those very pregnancies that are so dreaded by some who should know better than to mess with the inevitable.

Now when and where essential health services are screwed over by legislators who have some moral bug up their ass and where critical education is often key to preventing ruined lives and perhaps even some tragedies, I am of a mindset to call that kind of reasoning . . . “Neanderthal.” – - – or, for want of a better term  maybe a little bit of – - – “Radical Nutwad Rightist Idiotic Extremist Conservatism.”

Another way of expressing what I just said might be – - – “Another reason to vote Democrat the next time.”

I have some news for some of the ding-wallies out there who are thinking that defunding essential health care services for women is some kind of moralistic cure-all for some imagined transgression against all that is Holy – - -

The news is that when there is no clean and sanitary place to go for certain medical procedures – - – when all the approved, inspected, certified professionally-staffed places are defunded and their doors closed forever . . . those seeking abortions will turn to other sources – - – amateurs,  filthy back alley clinics that tend to spring up overnight in such places – - – and there will probably be a fairly sudden and large increase in the number of deaths among clientele – - – just because some “saint” in a high and lofty place decided to destroy the safe environments in which to receive such services.

When this happens – - – as I think it surely will – - – because it has happened before in the history of this great nation of ours – - – whose hands will be responsible for the blood that will be spilled?  I do not think for a minute that defunding legal clinics is going to prevent abortions at all – - – I think it will do nothing to prevent them but it sure as hell will make the process of obtaining one a whole lot more dangerous and perhaps even  more life threatening than ever!  What kind of mind thinks up things like that and why does a reasoning Public allow such crap to happen?

Who do some of these moralistic anti-choicers  think they are kidding?  If every legal Women’s Health Center in the entire country were shuttered and every associated procedure totally outlawed, then there is no doubt in my mind that criminals would find a way to set up illegal operations – - – dark, dirty and dangerous operations – - – to pretend to offer the same or similar services and I am sure there would be no lack of people flocking to them and paying the financial price and the price in health and possibly even life itself.

I am almost persuaded to claim – - – and remember that I am speaking nothing but my own opinon now – - – I am almost persuaded to say that those in high places who succceed in outlawing  legal Women’s Health facilities  - – - and the associated medical procedures done in them by professionals in clean surroundings – - – are indirectly guilty of manslaughter or even murder itself whenever some patient of one of the inevitable  illegal facilities dies because of procedures performed in them.

I think the point I am trying to make is this:  ”Law-makers who succeed in defeating legitimate and legal resources for health care must bear the burden of guilt for any harm done to those who are deprived of such health care.”

I know that not too many Righties will agree with me.  But that is their problem.

Read More:

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/04/13/arkansas-gop-votes-to-ax-sex-ed-in-state-with-highest-teen-pregnancy-rate/

Posted by John at 1:03 am

Anti-Abortion Factions Intensify Exploitation Of West Philidelphia Horror Story!

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7959565782_4e67130264

Date:  April 13, 2013

Subject:  Political Opinion

By John

The Right Wing Complaint Seems To Be About Lack Of “Liberal” Media Coverage Of Reported Tragedy At A Women’s Health Care Clinic:

I think if it were up to me, I would be more interested in learning more of the details about the story instead of being so ready and willing to jump on the “Media” for not giving what I might consider to be – - – “enough” – - – coverage to a story that appealed to my particular political agenda.  But then it must be remembered that I do not always think in the same vein or pattern as some on the political right – - – thankfully.

It appears to me as though a localized event that occurred at a Medical Clinic on a street corner in Philadelphia, Pa., has attracted the attention of some fairly vocal anti-abortion types and that they are now complaining that the national media has not paid as much attention to the affair as some of them would like and they are all over the Right Wing portions of the Internet with it this morning.  At least it was this morning when I really took a close look after having been informed by another blogger who has published what I feel is quite extensively on the subject.

According to what I understand about it all, the story regards murder charges that are reported to have been brought against the operator of a Women’s Health Clinic in Philly and that the alleged “murders” are said to have been against seven infants who were alleged to have been born alive at the clinic after what is reported to have been “failed abortion attempts.”

The way I am hearing things, the trial in this case is still going on and has reportedly been underway for some three weeks or so now.

I do not intend to go into what I consider to be some rather grisly details that are being reported in connection with what I am thinking of as a truly potentially horrific case – - – I will leave that to some of what I consider to be more “insensitive” – - – or “sensationalist” – - bloggers over on the far right radical political wing and to whichever of the other “Pundits” might want to take this thing up.  It is my opinion that people who really want to read about this story can certainly find it somewhere on the Internet if they want to look for it.  I think that if anyone were to type the words – - – abortion house of horrors – - – into the search window of their computer, they could easily find several articles that go into more detail on this tragic occurrence. – - – I have tried entering those words myself and it works for me.

My thing about all this is that I do not see the need for the world to rush to some knee-jerk response to this tragedy and start the old “Let’s repeal Row Vs Wade” thing again.  I think that old horse has been kicked down the political trail much too many times already and I do not think this one – - –  probably isolated incident in Philadelphia - – - is any reason for the anti-abortion factions to get in a dither again. – - – although from what I am seeing erupting all over the Internet, I am assuming that they are not going to miss this new opportunity to do their thing either.

My opinion is that we do not need to be thinking of new ways to destroy access to needed health care services for Women in The United States.  There are a whole lot of nutwads who want to defund Planned Parenthood and outlaw some legal women’s health care procedures already – - – I don’t think we need any more of these and I think we are over loaded with them already.  Women’s rights to receive adequate, appropriate and affordable health care are under enough attack from what I view as  radical right wing incompetents as it is.

I think if we need anything at all, we need to make sure that the laws concerning accountability for health care providers that are already on the books are strictly enforced – - – and that idea smacks of invoking more “Big Government” intervention into private business so I am thinking the Righties won’t buy that one very easily – - – even though better enforcement is what I think is part of the answer here.

After the terrible tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut where all those innocents lost their lives at Sandy Hook School, much of the Right Wing propaganda machine was screaming that we need more and better enforcement of the laws instead of some kind of gun control.  I remember that old argument very well – - – “do not endanger gun rights with governmental gun control laws, but enforce the gun laws that are already on the books.” – - – that was the argument by many on the right wing about the Newtown Massacre and it is my argument about the tragedy at the medical clinic in Philadelphia!

Yes, many of the gun nuts were literally urinating themselves trying to defend their precious guns after Sandy Hook so I am thinking that the time has now arrived for someone to start defending Women’s Rights to receive needed health care even in spite of an admittedly horrid random occurrence at a medical facility in one American City.

It is my opinion that outlawing medical contraceptive procedures in America is not going to guarantee the elimination of abortions in America.  It is my opinion that whether abortion is legal or illegal or whatever – - – if someone wants an abortion, I think they are going to find a way to obtain one regardless of the risks that may be involved.  I think it is the same argument as some of the right wads were making about gun control when they were saying, “Gun control laws won’t stop some criminal from obtaining a gun if they really want one.”

I am thinking that some of the right-tards who specialize in propaganda shouldn’t be exploiting the Philadelphia tragedy to some political advantage but I fear they are already very much engaged in doing exactly that. Yes, the whack jobs are already on the job on this one, folks.

It never ceases to amaze me how the Right Wing is always preaching about how they dislike “Big Government” but then whenever it suits their purpose to use the power that big government affords, they are more than happy to jump on the “Big Government” bandwagon to try to sell whatever it is they want to push off on The American People.  I have seen this at work time and again with that bunch and I think it is more than hypocritical.

Posted by John at 9:40 am

Picture Credit:  Picture is from:

Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Picture License is a Creative Commons License.

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What’s wrong with a Jesus picture on a school room wall?

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John’s Opinion

What would be wrong with putting a picture of all the known major religious leaders and politicians on school room walls?

I don’t think there is anything wrong with putting up a picture of Jesus in a school as long as there is also room for all the rest of the icons of the world’s religions.  I mean after all, America does believe in Freedom and Equality for everyone does She not?

I think it would be perfectly alright to put up a picture of Jesus and of Bhudda and George Washington and Abe Lincoln and the kindly old mayor of our local community – - and maybe the fire chief – -  and the school superintendent – -  and some outstanding student – -  and some of the cooks or janitors and bus drivers – -  and cartoon characters – -  whatever!  What the Hell difference is a picture on a school-house wall going to make anyway?  We had all kinds of pictures on the walls where I went to school – - – some good and some graffiti that I would not care to talk about in any detail.  None of those images seemed to have done much to guide me to where I am today.  Why do some people get so upset about whose picture might be on a school room wall?

I heard someone say recently that if a picture on a wall is going to be offensive to someone, then the offended person has the freedom to choose not to look at the picture.  That makes sense to me.

I remember a few years back when I was a chain smoker and it was perfectly alright to light up almost anywhere in America – -  on the street, in restaurants – on buses, trains and planes – - you name it!  Smoking was “In” and smoking was “cool” and then came – - – the reformers and the anti-smoking campaigns.

Someone said to me once, “If the non-smoking ass holes don’t like smoke in a restaurant, then let them go to some other restaurant where smoking is not permitted.”

To my way of thinking that is something like the argument, “If someone is offended by a picture on a wall they don’t have to look at it.”

The argument didn’t work for smoking and the non-smokers got their laws passed and now it doesn’t seem to be cool to smoke anywhere at all – - – but I don’t care because I quit smoking three years ago and haven’t smoked since.

I guess this “You don’t have to look at it” thing might be a matter of individual perspective.  For my part, I kind of think it belongs in the same nonsensical category as, “If you are locked in a room with a hundred people who are all passing gas, you have the right to choose not to smell it.”

It is all BS to me.

Posted by John at 8:08

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Can healthcare costs skyrocket for some under “Obama Care?”

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English: President Barack Obama, Vice Presiden...

English: President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and senior staff, react in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, as the House passes the health care reform bill. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is being reported that some people may be helped and many others may be priced completely out of the market for heath care under The Affordable Health Care Act because of what has been called a “glitch” in the way the law was written – - and  some are saying that thanks to some obstructionist Right Wingers in congress who despise the Obama Care Law anyway, there is reported to be little likelihood that the glitch can be fixed all that quickly or easily.

My Opinion

By John R. Liming

Who ever said that anything was “Perfect?”

It looks to me like when the new Affordable Health Care Law – - – A.K.A. “Obamacare – - – goes into full effect not too long from now, millions of people will be entering the health care market who were never in it before and this is predicted by some “experts” to be going to cause insurers who will be bearing the extra burden of insuring these millions of new clients to have to increase their costs – - – or as they say – - – to “pass the increased costs along to consumers” – - – and there are some who are reportedly afraid that the price spiral will cause some to be unable to afford health care insurance at all.

Bummer!  Something unforseen and unexpected!

There is also news that something like this happened in the State of Massachusetts back in 2006 when they enacted their own version of an affordable health care act and insurance premiums in that state are reported to have risen by as much as 18 percent because of it.

Bummer again!

I guess there were a lot of folks who were hoping and expecting their insurance premiums to drop a little once The Affordable Health Care Act was fully implemented – - – but I also guess that there are a lot of folks who are supposed to know what they are talking about who are saying something that more or less translates to the opposite of those expectations – - – and rises in premiums are being predicted in some quarters.

Wow!  Who would have thought it?

So now I would assume that it becomes incumbent upon all Americans to weigh the costs and to make the decision as to whether or not The Affordable Health Care Act is actually going to make health care affordable for everybody after all – - – and then America is probably going to have to come up with a solution to whatever problems there are with the new law and get it fixed.

Whoops!  Sorry about that!

If all this “Revelation” is actually going to become all that problematic for all that many people, then my guess is that it is time for some of those obstructionist Righties in congress to get off their duffs and come up with something that actually works to lower costs and to make sure everybody can be covered by heath care.

It is my belief that nothing can be had both ways!  Either the president’s plan goes forward with some tweaks to make it work the way it was first envisioned to have worked or those who stand so firmly opposed to it should come up with something to replace it – - or some way to fix the glitches in it – - – but whatever they come up with, let it be something that everybody can live with and something that actually helps those who will be using it.  Is that too much to ask?  America’s governors can certainly do something as simple as that, can’t they?  Isn’t that what we are paying them for?

Read More Here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/health-insurance-ruling-supreme-court-costs_n_1634555.html

Posted by John Liming on 3/16/2013

Cabbages And Kings And All Kinds Of Things!

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Rant For The Day:

Sometimes I am tempted to talk about something other than politics. This is one of those times.  My apologies if I bore you.

I’m sitting here weighing 230 pounds ( overweight but my body composition is 12% body fat to 88% lean mass so that is alright) – - but still wishing I could get back down to the 202 I was last summer. Maybe when I get out and start riding my bicycle again, I can knock the extra pounds off.  Maybe not!  I am 74-years-old for crying out loud!

The green coffee bean extract diet thing didn’t work for me and neither did the raspberry ketones, the conjugated linoleic acid or the pine nuts. Those damned pine nuts cost something like $5 for a 6-ounce package and are supposed to be an appetite suppressant and don’t do a darned thing for me except make my bank account shrink.  And with the Republican sequester coming on, I do not need to be shrinking my bank account on trivials like weight loss supplements.

It is good to be alive however because even though I am . . .old . . .(ancient) . . .my cognitive processes seem to be working for the most part (unless you ask a right-winger and then you might get a different perspective… I think a lot of righties must think I am totally bonkers.  But that is alright because I think the exact same thing about a lot of them.

I can still pedal my bike for 12 miles on any good morning and I do it almost every day it doesn’t rain during the spring, summer and fall months.

We have this really nice paved bike trail that runs for 76 miles along the side of a river here and it is a hoot!

Things definitely change with age, I guess.

When I was a teenager, I didn’t have floaters in my field of vision, I could smoke all the cigarettes I desired and could eat as much of virtually everything I wanted and never worry about gaining weight.  I kept my 165-pound physique until after I reached my 41st birthday and then it all started going to the bad place in a hand basket.  I did manage to stop smoking altogether almost three years ago now.  I just put them down, used a nicotine patch under constant supervision of a registered nurse at the local VA hospital and kicked the habit – - – and almost immediately started packing on the weight.

My friend and I will be shoving off for Kentucky in a few weeks to put flowers on the graves of loved ones and to visit the last of our living relatives.  This is a yearly occurrence and I have to pack my expensive computer ( 23-inch screen all-in-one) in a special shock-proof case I had made for it and, of course, we have to put my friend’s two bird cages in the back seat because he does not like to leave his australian finches at home alone.

I know none of this is interesting and I do not know why I am writing it but I thought, “Heck, why not take a break from politics for a minute or two?”

So, it was two boiled eggs, some green beans and a steamed potato for breakfast and fish for lunch today – - – ugh!

O.K., I guess that’s about enough of this stuff for now.

See ya!

Posted by John at 7:35 AM