I was inspired to write this diary by one of our resident progressive stalwarts, LaFeminista.
We live with a lot of glaring inequities and injustices. Rich vs. poor. White vs. minority. Straight vs. gay. Male vs. female. And so on. While slow progress continues to be made, thanks to the relentless efforts of progressives unwilling to give ground much less give in, we are nevertheless constantly threatened by set-backs and roll-backs. And we continually face shocking, shameful conditions of injustice existing in virtual silence. For example:
In the United States, in 2010, we find it appropriate to fully financially insure a man's right to four-hour erections, but not every woman's right to make her own reproductive choices.
If this situation weren't tragically lamentable it would be absurdly comical. It is unconscionable.
We, the Democratic Party rank & file who provide our time, our skills, our money, our passion to elect and re-elect Democratic leaders and to champion and support a world of progressive causes by numerous other means as well, thank you, our elected Party officials, for your efforts in constructing, championing and passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act ("HCR/HIR"). It is an important first step in our march toward universal healthcare coverage.
Because we have not fully achieved universal healthcare, many leaders and members of the party rank & file assure that the limitations of the recently enacted HCR/HIR legislation can and will be addressed in ongoing efforts to build upon the foundation this law has established.
I urge and call upon you now to immediately address a glaring problem with HCR/HIR embodied in the Nelson Amendment. As LaFeminista compellingly argued:
Financial constraints can be nearly as effective as banning abortion via legislation. The Hyde amendment went part of the way down this road, the Nelson amendment seems to be taking it the rest of the way.
There are many ways to address these unjust amendments. The most direct, visceral means I can imagine is to focus on the startling inequity of current healthcare law:
In order to estalish greater equity among all who receive medical services, insurers who deny coverage to products and procedures ensuring a women's right to reproductive choice may not insure male enhancement products and procedures; conversely, insurers who do cover male enhancement products and procedures must also cover products and procedures ensuring a women's right to reproductive choice.
I believe this approach puts a spotlight on the absurdity and injustice of these two facts:
unrestrained coverage of a man's right to enhanced sexual pleasure,
restrained coverage of a woman's right to reproductive choice, as established in settled law.
This progressive cause, hard fought over many decades and finally won in the historic Roe v. Wade decision, has always faced assaults from which it may well never have respite. The Nelson Amendment being a recent, extremely troubling case in point. It is perhaps most troubling not only because it happened in 2010 but because it happened at a time when the Democratic Party enjoys one of the most powerful majorities ever. How it came to debate, much less law, is unfathomable.
Controversial as it is, Roe v. Wade is law, and it is a key to supporting the Democratic Party's belief in principle and policy in a woman's right to choose. It should not be eroded or crippled by Congress, especially not a Democratic Congress.
While I direct this to all Democratic leaders in all public and private spheres of activity who can influence this debate and related healthcare legislation, I additionally direct my plea here specifically to:
Representative Nancy Pelosi, a champion of choice in the House
Representative Alan Grayson, a champion of all progressive causes
Senator Barbara Boxer, a champion of choice in the Senate
Senator Al Frank, a principled workhorse for progressive fundamentals
While we have hundreds of Democratic representative, there are relatively few with the courage, interest and ability to lead the cause and introduce legislation to repeal or effectively disable the Nelson and Hyde amendments and restore the full power of Roe v. Wade. I count you, Representatives Pelosi and Grayson and Senators Boxer and Franken, among these few.
For the sake of the women around the world who depend on you to bear the standard of choice in the war for this among all basic human rights, and the men who respect women and cherish justice enough to support this cause and engage the opposition, I urge you to take up immediate action to address this inequity in healthcare coverage legislation.