Happy Independence Day to everyone….
This week in the “War on Women,” the fireworks are already exploding when, in a 5-4 decision, all five conservative, male SCOTUS Justices ruled (#SCROTUMSRULED) in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga, in the now infamous, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case, and their right to opt out of covering female birth control based on “sincere religious belief.” Which means, they, or any for-profit corporation, can deny coverage of female birth control, IUD’s, or any other form of FEMALE birth control based on the religious beliefs of the owner(s) of that corporation. Men, however get to keep their Viagra, Cialis and penis pumps. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg wrote, as a concern, in her blistering dissent, "’The court, I fear, has ventured into a minefield.’" In simpler terms: “You all majorly screwed this one up!”
It was a limited ruling, confined to only being able to opt out of birth control based on (Christian) religious reasons, apparently as a way to keep society full of virgins and mothers. However, Justice Alito and the gang made extra sure that no other religion could exercise their belief systems and deny any other access to coverage, such as blood transfusions or medical procedures, JUST FEMALE BIRTH CONTROL. Which is a problem, just not to Christian zealots like the five male justices of the Supreme Court. Justice Bader also thinks selective coverage based on religious fervor is an issue: “’The exemption sought by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga would…deny legions of women who do not hold their employers' beliefs access to contraceptive coverage’”
This ruling represents what has grown from the rooted belief that corporations are (Christian) people and (Christian) people are vehemently able to practice their (Christian) faith. Because we have religious freedom (and The Religious Freedom and Restoration Act) in the United States of America, however, not all people hold the same belief and therefore could challenge the right to practice their belief systems in their corporations in court using this case as precedence. This is what Justice Ginsberg is afraid will happen. Also, remember there is a tax benefit to ACA and companies who opt in get that benefit. If they are now not legally obligated to include birth control, then they are receiving full tax benefits without providing full coverage!
What really galls me, aside from the ruling rooted in religion, and the fact that Hobby Lobby invested in birth control and gets much of its merchandise from the very pro-abortion country of China who treat human workers like garbage (very “Pro-life” of you, Hobby Lobby) is that is all a bunch of malarkey. The GOP complains about “welfare queens” having babies they cannot afford (this euphemism is so far from the truth). But if that is REALLY the case, then provide them access to affordable birth control and abortion care. While you’re at it, give it to all women. Then they say, “Well I’m not paying for your birth control, go and earn it!” Well which is it?? This only emphasizes to me that it is really about keeping women from having sex until they are able to have children, if not “keep your legs closed!” This also has a eugenic quality because the sect of women most affected are women of color. This is who they are speaking of when they say, “Don’t have babies when you can’t afford them!” Women of color earn the least amount to every dollar of a white man. It disproportionately affects that population. So then it becomes about boxing in a definition of which women should procreate and which women should not procreate. Use the southern strategy of, “Welfare queens having babies they cannot afford” to create laws which don’t expand Medicaid and do not pay for birth control or abortion services so they literally starve a disproportionate amount of families of color, discouraging them from “breeding,” then use the “Pro-life” argument against the White women to justify removing access to birth control they probably can afford and limit abortion rights in order to force the birth of more White children. Either way you slice it, the only other choice, according to the heteropatriarchy is simply to not have sex and if you do it better not be consequence free! By the way, aside from the birth control aspect of, well, birth control, there are many other medicinal benefits: help with perimenopausal symptoms, irregular periods, easing of cramping and migraines, clears the skin by reducing levels of testosterone-producing oils, reduces your risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers up to 70%, as well as relief of actual endometrial symptoms (a condition I have), which is essentially a rotting of the uterus and is very painful. Still, idiots will only argue the “virgin and mother” aspect of their beliefs about birth control. I mean, what the hell do penis pumps relieve except penile limpness? NOTHING…not a single damn thing! And Viagra? According to WebMD, “Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension or high blood pressure of the lungs” to which there isn’t a cure and “Erectile dysfunction.” But hey, we all know who buys it for the most part and why it is used…hell that is why it was invented!
So what to do now? Well first of all, do not argue about on Facebook. Those nitwits who believe they shouldn’t “pay for us to have sex” do not care about facts, only fiction. Their brains will literally explode if they did get convinced and therefore they keep residing in “lala land!” I actually had a man against the decision of SCOTUS say it was because he is opposed to paying for birth control and Viagra. The problem is the Supreme Court didn’t argue against Viagra and he was complaining about the paying of birth control to a bunch of women, instead of talking to his guy friends. In other words, instead of saying to guys, “I am opposed to the paying for birth control and Viagra, and these ladies got the shaft, we need to rally to get rid of Viagra or include birth control again, ” he instead wondered what the hell we women were complaining about and proceeded to go on about not paying for our sex, oblivious to its other uses, the fact we are paying for men to have sex, and also ignored the fact that IT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE! So ignore those idiots too! You waste time that way. No, what we need to do is boycott Hobby Lobby and the businesses who also wanted to get in with this decision. Then we need get rid of the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Next, we need to get a new precedent established in order for the Court to hear it. Supreme Court cases cannot be overturned once decided, therefore a new case will have to be established. Another alternative, is for Congress (a heavily Democratic one) to tweak ACA or somehow create a new law which will incorporate birth control as part of the plan. I think there is a loophole, especially when there is a tax credit involved for corporations to offer ENTIRE benefits of ACA! Finally, we need to fight back with our vote. Stop electing Presidents who appoint these fools. There isn’t any quick fixes, but it can be undone.
In other news....
Michelle Howard is the Navy’s first female four star admiral!
Oscar Pistorius claims PTSD to somehow get him out of the trail for killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.
In Pakistan, A newlywed couple had their throats slit by the bride’s family in an “honor killing” because they dare dream to marry for love.
Pope Francis avoids reforming Catholicism to be more women-friendly by joking “women was from a rib.”
July 1, 2014 marked one year since 10,000 people rallied at the Texas State Capitol to support Wendy Davis after her epic filibuster!
Senator Barbara Boxer is shining a light on CEDAW and I-VAWA in hopes of passing united international legislation!