I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of the term “women’s health” being applied solely to things like birth control and abortion. I find it demeaning to be considered nothing more than just a living, breathing reproductive system. This is especially true because mine doesn’t work anymore. Does that mean I don’t have anything that qualifies as “health“?
I thought the whole point of the “women’s liberation movement” was to help the world to see women as more than just those who reproduced. And yet, today when you pick up a newspaper or watch television, if “women’s health” is mentioned, it has basically been boiled down to one thing: the prevention of pregnancy.
Have you seen that cartoon slide show put out by the Obama administration called “The Life of Julia”? At one stage in this fictional woman’s life, she is beginning her career. The propaganda piece points out that “Thanks to Obamacare, (Julia’s) health insurance is required to cover birth control and preventative care, letting Julia focus on her work rather than worry about her health.” Wow, I didn’t know that preventing pregnancy would set us free from concerns of things like cancer or heart disease. Or, in my case, rheumatoid arthritis.
What the presentation fails to point out is that pregnancy can actually prevent women from getting breast cancer (the earlier the pregnancy the better!) And, all those birth control pills, not to mention abortion, increase the risk. At the AAA Center for Pregnancy Center, we have seen women with systems that are really messed up as a result of all the chemicals they have dumped into their bodies to prevent having a baby. And, yet, this is the new definition of health.
The state of Arizona recently passed the Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act. This bill focuses upon comprehensive health care for women and does not force taxpayers to pay for abortion. Instead of funding Planned Parenthood, the state will provide taxpayer dollars to centers which provide care for all aspects of their health. One example of this type of center is the 140 federally qualified health care centers (FQHCs) which are located around the state.
These centers provide everything PP does (except abortion.) However, they provide many things that PP does not, including: mammograms, prenatal care, treatment of medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis, depression, etc. In others words, they provide true healthcare for all women. The Arizona plan makes so much sense!
Sadly, it is inevitable that Arizona will go the way of Texas. Since they are defunding Planned Parenthood, it is only a matter of time before the abortion provider will file suit. That is, if Obama doesn’t do it first, threatening to cut off all federal funds. Hopefully, Arizona will stand as strong as Texas on their principles. However, unless the federal courts rule that Texas can stop funding PP, they are going to cut off women’s healthcare altogether.
This is just one more reason, on a very long list, why things need to drastically change in November. The federal government needs to be prevented from bullying the states into funding their “pet project”: Planned Parenthood. There are so many PP employees on staff in Washington, or called in to serve on panels, that it is hard to tell which is which anymore. Cross either one and they strike back like a serpent! It is time for this to stop.
Speaking of November, if you are in Nebraska did you vote today? If not, you need to do so before the day is done. This is a crucial primary and you need to vote your convictions. Our right to vote is an incredible privilege, one which we should not hold lightly.
I would not be over-reacting to say that unborn lives hang in the balance today and in November. If Obamacare goes forward, and Planned Parenthood gets a tighter grip on our nation, not only will the abortion numbers greatly escalate, but you will be paying for them! (Or, like me, you might be in jail for refusing to pay.) This is a serious matter upon which the future of our nation hangs. Please pray and then vote! It is your duty as well as your right.
Keeping it true! Barb
