What’s Good For The Goose…
Posted by Michelle Moquin on February 22nd, 2012
Good morning!
…
Borrowed from Maddow’s Blog.
Serious satire: ‘It is the purpose of the General Assembly to assert an invasive state interest in the reproductive habits of the men of this state’
The Republican march against adult Americans’ right to make their own decisions about really private matters remains so unbelievable that parody has become a legitimate legislative response. Oklahoma got the “Every Sperm Is Sacred” protest amendment. Virginia got ameasure to require prostate exams for Viagra prescriptions.
And now Georgia State Representative Yasmin Neal has a bill that would ban vasectomies. After a Republican lawmaker introduced a bill taking away women’s reproductive rights, Neal decided that fair is fair. I typed out what she says in her announcement video, because I think it’s worth reading the whole thing:
“Thousands of children are deprived of birth in this state every year because of the lack of state regulation over vasectomies. It is patently unfair that men can avoid unwanted fatherhood by presuming that their judgment over such matters is more valid than the judgment of the General Assembly, while women’s ability to decide is constantly up for debate throughout the United States. Women, our bodies, and what we do with it are always up for debate.
“This bill has been drafted for all women who have the wherewithal to choose. The day has come where men should feel the same pressure and invasion of privacy that women have faced for years. I have introduced this legislation because it is the purpose of the General Assembly to assert an invasive state interest in the reproductive habits of the men of this state and substitute the will of the government over the will of adult men.
“This bill states that vasectomies can be performed to avert the death of a man or to avert serious risk of substantial or irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the man. This bill mimics the abortion bills throughout the nation, and just like the abortion bills interfere with a woman’s right to choose, it’s only fair that the General Assembly debate the men’s right to choose, as well.”
Representative Neal is holding a hearing on her bill this afternoon.
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Readers: Thoughts? Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
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michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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February 22nd, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Michelle the murders go on. Assad’s military targeted the building housing the foreign journalists were in.
I saw the mangled parts of the bodies of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik. Both were reporters.
The tanks are lined up at the head and end of the town and they just loft missiles into the town. There is no way to know when or where they will land.
Add to that the numerous deaths of innocent women and children of Homs. This is so horrible as to be almost impossible to describe.
Hanin
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Where did the Kenyan find all you ignorant “Truth Squad” niggas….in a tree for the shiftless?
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:16 am
PRIVACY FORM DELIVERS PRECIOUS LITTLE PROTECTION TO CITIZENS
You know the drill — you appear for a first visit at a doctor’s office or treatment clinic and among the routine papers for your signature is a Notice of Privacy Practices that explains the federal privacy standards set by HIPAA.
You sign that too and all is well… or is it? In fact, the paper you have just signed notifies you that your right to privacy concerning even your most personal health issues no longer exists.
A common misperception is that the “P” in HIPAA stands for privacy. Actually, though the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” was initially intended to help consumers obtain continual health insurance coverage after leaving a job, despite certain preexisting medical conditions, as well as provide standards for electronic transmission of health-care information.
Protecting the individual right to privacy in passing those records along was a secondary concern — though an important one.
The regulations to protect patient privacy put a burden on health-care providers and insurance companies — particularly as the nation moves toward development of a national health information system.
Addressing those concerns (“administrative simplification” as it was called by Congress) resulted in a complicated and ultimately ineffectual law that, on the one hand, recognizes and protects an individual’s right to privacy with regard to health information —
but, on the other hand, fails to delineate those privacy rights that individuals should have. The original intent of HIPAA was to protect consumer rights.
Obviously doctors and other health-care providers need to be able to disclose information about diagnosis and treatments to insurance companies to the extent it is necessary for reimbursement — that’s not the issue.
Rather, the problem is, the way HIPAA now reads makes it acceptable for doctors and insurance companies to use and disclose personal health information in identifiable form for routine purposes defined as treatment, payment or health-care operations —
terms that are so broadly defined, says that the “least imaginative insurance company can justify nearly any disclosure in any situation, even if the patient wishes to pay privately.”
This right to disclose also extends to all business associates of insurance companies and physicians, with no requirement of an audit trail to keep records of these uses and disclosures.
WHY IT DOESN’T WORK TO JUST SAY NO
Yes, the Notice of Privacy Practices says you can request information not to be released — but it also says that the health-care provider and related businesses may deny your request for any reason or no reason.
You might be thinking, at this point, well I just won’t sign that anymore, but alas, it wouldn’t matter in the least.
Your signature does not mean that you agree to allow the disclosures described in the notice, but only that you have been informed of them.
The principal groups that supported the amended HIPAA Privacy Rule were the insurance companies and the American Hospital Association (AHA), which makes it easier for them to conduct business. In contrast,
numerous medical associations, practitioners and consumer groups as well as Attorneys General of New York, California and Vermont protested how wrong it is to eliminate right of consent.
WORKING WITH THE WINDS OF CHANGE
An opportunity for improvement presents itself with the movement toward creation of a national registry of electronic health-care records.
This has rightly stirred up considerable concern about HIPAA. In the past three years there have been more than 100 million data breaches in electronic records, so it’s obvious that electronic information systems are not secure. Hacking in can result in instantaneous
disclosure of millions of individuals’ health information (HIPAA, as it now stands, would allow this to be disclosed on insurance company records and among their business associates, as well) and once the information has leaked, it’s impossible to contain it.
Among the intimate secrets that hackers can obtain about you, me and millions of others is genetic information, sexual orientation, prescriptions for mental health conditions, disease and diagnostic history — and the list goes on.
It’s not hard to imagine patients deciding not to tell their medical providers about sensitive issues, such as drug abuse or mental health problems, which will in turn impair the quality of their care.
Once information is out there, it lives forever and electronic information nationwide will create the capacity to violate privacy on a scale we have never dreamed of.
Not surprisingly, a number of politicians have joined the ranks to promote HIPAA reform recognizing, that it is much easier to incorporate rules to protect privacy in the creation of electronic systems than to add them later.
Even though the push is on to revise the HIPAA law, we can’t expect anything to change in the immediate future. So what can health-care consumers do today to protect private information?
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Research your state’s laws regarding privacy of health information. Some states have strong laws that protect privacy and HIPAA does not preempt them.
Unfortunately it is difficult to find out which states these are because the laws are often spread throughout the state code.
You can learn more by calling the State Attorney General’s office to inquire about your state — but even with stringent laws concerning privacy, there is no way for you to know if your information has been revealed inappropriately.
•
• Share your concerns with your doctor. Regarding disclosure of medical information, most doctors will abide by a patient’s request for restrictions, rather than risk loss of your trust —
Pyles suggests reminding your doctor that he or she has an ethical obligation to disclose your identifiable health information only with your consent.You should request and check your medical records to correct any errors.
•
• Hospital patients should make a list of people to receive information.
Put in writing the names of those you want to have access to information about your health status, and make sure doctors and nurses have the information and your permission.
•
• Take a stand. You can also refuse to sign the Notice of Privacy Practices, or cross out the information about inappropriate disclosure, but this might preclude treatment in some places.
Pyles says he modifies the notices before he signs them and has never had a physician’s office refuse to treat him.
•
• Get political. Become an active, involved citizen. Write to your Congresspersons to tell them you are in complete support of basic privacy rights in any national electronic health information system.
It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution, after all, and without it, life, health, job opportunities — everything is at stake.”
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:23 am
Men claim their religious rights are threatened because they can’t force others to do what their interpretation of the bible says how people should live their lives.
How is that different from a sharia government? Both attempt to use religion as a basis for enacting governmental laws.
Monica
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:30 am
I like this President more and more. President Obama has invited A Guam Army National Guard soldier to have dinner with him at the White House.
SPC Janice Flores will be attending the event at the end of this month in honor of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi freedom and operation new dawn.
Major General Benny Paulino states, “This is an enormous privilege and opportunity for SPC. Flores, to be able to sit down, have dinner, and spend some time with the President of the United States, our Commander in Chief.
I want to congratulate SPC Flores and her family on her selection. Being with the President in an event like this is an extremely rare opportunity for many Americans, perhaps even more so for us here on Guam, given our geographical location.”
SPC Flores is from Chalan Pago has deployed to Kuwait and Iraq during her military career. Each state and territory nominated a soldier and an airman from their Guard organizations to attend the dinner.
=========================
Congratulations to you SFC Flores. You have made us all proud.
Hafa Adai
Anna
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:45 am
Social Butterfly :
It is a little after 5:30 so my work day is over. I decided to sit a little longer and email this to you. Have you ever been to Moscow?
I finally got my visa to visit the US. Actually it is to go to Guam which means I don’t need one under some new rules. Have you ever been to Guam?
I would like to visit the states and meet you. So far I have only studied New York(News Square), Los Angeles(Disney Land and Hollywood), and San Francisco(Gay Capital of the US).
I have a very good job, I work in broadcasting. Money isn’t a big problem so I can choose but time is. I have only 15 days to come and go.
I speak russian, french and english in that order of proficiency. Would you like to meet and be interviewed by a nice russian girl?
Sacha
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:13 am
It looks like two little racists souther girls learned the hard way that white people can’t get away with their racists rants as easily as they could back in the day.
Racist White Teen Girls Goes On A Rant About Blacks ORIGINAL FOOTAGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CAR2h5aSQO4
When they employ the use of the N word they are so into their glee. Now they are so upset because of the reaction to their rudeness.
The sad part is they are merely saying what most whites believe. They actually think they are better because they have white skin.
Laquita
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:43 am
I used to believe that all the republican talk about getting rid of abortion or birth control was just so much talk. NOT ANYMORE.
REPUBLICANS ARE MY DEADLY ENEMY. They have decided to take away my right as a woman to defend and protect my life and my way of life, something they would not ever do to a man, or to themselves!!!!
I will never ever vote for another republican as long as I live. They have proven themselves to be my real and deadly enemy.
I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR!!!! I will protect my rights and my life from these barbaric religious fanatics at every turn.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:44 am
If John King had been something other than a mediocre moderator, he would have asked some follow up questions rather than letting the candidates stick to their talking points.
King could for instance have asked Romney how his E-verify/self-deportation plan would effect the US economy and immigrant families and whether a mass exodus to Mexico could destabilize our southern neighbor when the remittances from the USA (Mexico’s second largest source of income after oil revenues) would dry up and whether an influx of millions of hungry people could cause social unrest.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:45 am
So we had 20 debates right? 20 chances for these canidates to tell the US public what their plans are for the nation.
Yet I can’t even think of anything close to a plan that any of them have told the us over these last 20 debates?
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:51 am
The Mormons are baptizing Anne Frank again. Mormons have no respect for the dead how can they even respect the living?
Hitting the Mormons where it counts is what people need to do and sue them! They really have zero respect for people who have died when they do this foul practice.
The only word that comes to my mind is evil… Here is a small list of the souls the vile Mormons have robbed. http://realmormontruth.blogspot.com/
Hard to imagine these Mormons just take the liberty to do such a vile practice….I hope they get sued one day….
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:56 am
Who wouldn’t object to “anti-regime” overtones regarding totalitarian rule, a government run by the few at the expense of the people, whether communist, fascist or one party, right?
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:59 am
Ok I have to agree with a lot of what those two teen girls were saying but God they do not make the “white” race seem intelligent!
These 2 girls need to learn how to speak without the word “like” and how to form a full sentence without using curse words.
That just makes you seem as unintelligent as the people you are putting down.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:00 am
Uh oh, a sentiment often heard behind closed doors is made public. These girls are completely entitled to their opinion. Furthermore the principal stated such comments were not welcomed in his school.
They were not making the comments in school. Finally, so much for free speech and free thinking.
If you do not conform to the left leaning orthodoxy that has been preached in our public schools for the last 40 years or so you are to be censored.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:02 am
Let’s see: a family is violently turned into slaves. After generations of being slaves (no education, just subservient slavery), they are ‘freed’ but not given the education, training, and consistency to overcome their past exploitation.
So a poor, uneducated family given very few opportunities usually leads to a continuation of the past. These two dolts don’t know and understand the history of African-Americans are not spouting truth but rather ignorance.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:03 am
What nice examples of young women raised in the great Red State of Florida. Living in Florida can be torture for anyone who isn’t a Republican.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:05 am
As crappy as their rants were it’s still their right to say it as an opinion.
In a few years they’ll move on and no one will recognize them.
Sad to say this is commonplace for the Y generation and just when I hoped the boomers who thought the same way would die off.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:11 am
The Five “Ds” That’ll Help You Quit a Bad Habit
Quitting smoking can be notoriously tough. And epidemiologist Gary Giovino, PhD, who has spent years studying patterns of quitting, should know—he used to be a smoker.
He smoked for eight years before he quit in 1979. But he did manage to quit. In fact, he called it the best accomplishment of his life.
So I called him to find out what worked for him and what other tricks he could share with my readers.
Dr. Giovino and his colleagues at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, came up with a list of techniques that can help anyone quit.
These particular tips pertain to quitting smoking, but personally, I wonder if some might help people break other bad habits, such as overeating or overspending.
There are five tips, and they all start with the letter “D,” so they’re easy to remember. You can do any of them, in any order, anytime. The point, said Dr. Giovino, is to keep all of these quitting tools in your mental toolbox—and use all that you can…
Distract yourself. Focus on anything but a cigarette.
Watch a thriller, read a book, play a computer game or exercise. Many quitters have told Dr. Giovino that they’ve never had a cleaner house! By delaying having a cigarette, you will find that the craving often passes.
Eating certain foods might even help. Dr. Giovino’s research-in-progress shows a relationship between high fruit-and-vegetable consumption and increased success at quitting smoking.
These foods might reduce the appeal of cigarettes or help by regulating the bowels (since they’re fiber-rich), something smokers often depend on cigarettes for.
If you’re missing the feeling of something in your mouth, said Dr. Giovino, chew on a baby carrot or suck on a piece of sugar-free hard candy.
Drink water.
Since smoking and drinking are both mouth-oriented behaviors, drinking six to eight glasses of water each day may sometimes satisfy that oral need for you.
With water, of course, there’s no risk of consuming too many calories.
Discuss.
Talking with a friend who will support you (and not offer you a cigarette!) can provide you with an emotional connection when you’re feeling alone in your struggle.
He or she may provide you with encouraging affirmation to keep going. If your friends are too busy to chat, or if you could use some extra help, try calling a smoking quit line.
These telephone-based services are available in all 50 states, and they’re staffed by trained health-care professionals.
They offer free and confidential coaching, and some can provide you with free starter kits of nicotine-replacement products. Try the National Cancer Institute’s national smoking quit line (877-448-7848).
Deep breathe.
Dr. Giovino told me that deep breathing helps many people quit smoking. Whenever a cigarette craving hits (or even when you anticipate one),
inhale gently, slowly and deeply for four seconds, hold it in for one second, and then exhale slowly through pursed lips for six to eight seconds.
Deep breathing can relieve tension and physical pain, help you focus and resolve emotional strains, so you’ll be less likely to turn to a cigarette for relief. Repeat the breathing cycle two or three times if need be.
Don’t debate.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because you quit for one week, you can have “just one” cigarette and not desperately want another.
Hold yourself accountable—and if you need more support, tell the members of your virtual world that you’re quitting via Facebook, Twitter, text or e-mail.
Those are Dr. Giovino’s “Ds” of quitting smoking, and together they can be powerful allies for you.
But there’s one more ally he mentioned, and this one starts with a “P”—patience. Statistics show that it’s unusual for smokers to successfully quit the first time that they try.
“It’s like learning to ride a bike,” said Dr. Giovino, who certainly knows from experience—he tried five times. “You try, and if you fall, then try again until you succeed.”
Source: Gary A. Giovino, PhD, professor and chair, department of community health and health behavior, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:14 am
Those teen girls can say and feel whatever they want, but people are also free to respond.
You go out and bash entire groups of people, then when they respond you cry because you believe that you’re the victim.
Very typical of some people. Very typical indeed.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:18 am
House Republicans are so desperate to shut women out of the conversation about women’s health and contraception that they’ve resorted to censorship, and we have only hours to fight back!
Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke was blocked from the all-male panel on birth control last week. She’s set to testify on television tomorrow. But now, Republicans have brazenly decided to ban television coverage to prevent her voice from being heard outside the committee room. Unbelievable.
As an American, this disgusts me. And as a woman, this makes me livid. If you feel the same way, I need you to act now. Please add your name to our petition and demand that House Republicans allow Sandra Fluke’s testimony to be televised. If enough of us speak up, maybe we can get this abhorrent decision overturned.
What are these Republicans so afraid of? Are they afraid that Americans will see just how radicalized they’ve become? Well, it’s too late for that. We’re onto you, and we’re calling you out.
Fight for Sandra Fluke’s right to be heard. It’s about damn time women’s voices were part of this discussion.
Crystal King
DSCC Political Director
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:02 am
Laquita, thanks for posting the link, I thought it’d been removed so I didn’t go searching for it.
I do believe in the right to free speech and these girls did exactly that, it doesn’t reflect what everyone thinks, hardly. And as lacking in intellect as they are in their opinions, they are in high school and have not much background from which to speak. Some of their commenters, black/white/other ethnicities are just as bad, did you hear the hatred of Mexicans in there bc they thought the girl was latino? Interesting…
I guess the best we can ask for is tolerance bc apparently acceptance is just too much to ask of any group or minority from us crackers : ). Next time someone doesn’t act or speak just like you, think twice before you decide what they’re intellect holds, much learning in life is not in books, it is experiential and often difficult to describe/share, it is to be lived. & that’s what I’m going to go do now, live it…catch up with you all later…
Luv, Zen Lill
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 am
sorry, that would be *their* intellect. – ZL