WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND THE 2012 ELECTION

Oh my gosh!   I don't know where to start on this subject because there are so many issues.   

Let's start at the beginning.   The matter of women's rights is being moved around like a pawn on the 2012 election chessboard.   Sanctimonious right wing politicians are using the controversy which surrounds religion vs abortion and contraception to garner votes.   The right to contraception or abortion is a deeply personal matter and as far as I am concerned, has absolutely nothing to do with politics, politicians or elections.    I must ask the question again.   Why are candidates not focusing on social, economic, security, international and environmental issues?   The very fact that they are focusing on women's rights, at the expense of these much more important things makes me think that just maybe they don't have enough to say about them. 

I want to bring the whole issue of "women's rights" into perspective.    It occurred to me today that there's something fundamentally inaccurate here.   Matters of abortion and contraception are definitely rights we could all exercise at some time of our lives.   But - why only women?   Surely those same issues face men as well.   OK, obviously not the physical act of having an abortion - but certainly there must be men out there who have made decisions regarding whether or not to procreate.      By association, it's entirely possible that men have had to make a joint decision with their partners.    What we do also know is that for heaven only knows how long, men have used contraception.   I am sure that I would be rich, rich, rich if I had a nickel for every time a man exercised his right to contraception, in spite of his religious beliefs or what was prescribed by his church.

So.................... this is how I see it.   We have potential leaders of an extremely powerful nation focusing on something as fundamental as women's rights to deeply personal issues of contraception and abortion thereby making these issues political.    And guess what?   These leaders just happen to be members of the opposite sex.   Men use contraception.   Why don't those same leaders focus on men practicing contraception.   I think there is more to take away from this than what is being said.  We should all listen to what is not being said.  

I hear that these leaders are saying it's perfectly OK for men to exercise their rights to contraception - irrespective of their religious beliefs.   That's wrong on every level.   

I grew up in South Africa during the apartheid years.    Once we transitioned as a nation, I became acutely aware of the privileged life we all enjoyed as white South Africans prior to the transition.   What I am trying to say here is that we enjoyed that privileged life even though we did not recognize it to be so at the time.  

Well I think that our aspiring right wing leaders are suffering from a similar condition.   They've had it so good for so long and they don't ACT like they see things have evolved.     It's not rocket science to see that these politicians are discriminating.    They are still lording it over the opposite sex and THAT does not auger well for the future of this country!

METHODIST HOSPITAL SUGARLAND TEXAS - DON'T GO THERE!!!

Earlier in February this year I went to the Methodist Hospital Radiology Department in Sugarland Texas to have xrays taken of my hands.   If they took six xrays, it was a lot.   The time taken to perform this service was nothing more than five to seven minutes.  

Today I received a bill for $399.31 which amounts to my portion of the total bill of $891.50 which was sent to my health insurance.   THEY paid $135.59, a discount was given and I am left holding the $399.31 baby! 

I know when I phone them they will tell me that I have a deductible which still needs to be met.   Well.......  my question is "Since when did it become OK to charge almost $900 for a service which took 5 - 7 minutes?"

One would think that an organization with the name "METHODIST" in it would operate within the realms of what us reasonable thinking people would regard to be fair.   This is clearly not the case and I have to conclude that in their mission to be profitable, these hospitals are charging fees which have spiralled into orbit and out of control.   Another cliche they will come back with is that these fees are agreed with health insurances.   Well this SUCKS!    And I'm the SUCKER!

I know that blogging about this will make absolutely no difference unless just per chance someone who can make a difference stumbles on it.   That would be nice!  

The most effective way of fighting this extortion is simply to vote with your feet.   Consider this done!

FOR THOSE WOMEN WHO STRONG ARM THEIR WAY THROUGH EACH DAY