We need to watch King George...

[sleigh]

Even though the lame duck is nearly roasted, we still need to keep an eye on him. Here's the latest: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=5421109 -- a Department of Health & Human Services proposal now circulating would do two things: it would change the definition of abortion, and it would require hospitals receiving federal funds to certify that, in their hiring, they do not discriminate against people who refuse to provide forms of contraception, such as birth control pills, due to personal religious beliefs.

Here's how the proposal defines abortion:

"Abortion: An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. There are two commonly held views on the question of when a pregnancy begins. Some consider a pregnancy to begin at conception (that is, the fertilization of the egg by the sperm), while others consider it to begin with implantation (when the embryo implants in the lining of the uterus). A 2001 Zogby International American Values poll revealed that 49% of Americans believe that human life begins at conception. Presumably many who hold this belief think that any action that destroys human life after conception is the termination of a pregnancy, and so would be included in their definition of the term "abortion." Those who believe pregnancy begins at implantation believe the term "abortion" only includes the destruction of a human being after it has implanted in the lining of the uterus."

So by the DHHS's loose new definition, nearly any form of contraception = abortion.

There's already a howl of protest (as, in my opinion, there damned well should be). Over 100 members of Congress have sent Bush a letter of protest, asking him to halt all action on this.

Considering how well Bush generally listens to people who hold differing opinions, I don't have a lot of hope. The damage this presidency has done to the constitution, to civil freedoms, to the judicial system, and so on is going to take DECADES to reverse.

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Ironically, the people who most shout about their own patriotism have done far more damage to the American way of life than any outside terrorists have done; and the activists who are fighting the hardest to preserve what our ancestors fought a revolution to create are now being spied upon, harassed, and jailed.

[maiac.livejournal.com]

The timing is interesting. Assuming the voters will remain as fed up with Republicans as they seem to be, the regulation will be in effect for about six months. If King George has the authority to impose such a rule, President Obama will have the authority to rescind it. And then what? [Bad Thought: And then we have lawsuits out the wazoo when all the "conscientious objectors" are suddenly required to do the job they were hired to do.]

I'm not sure...

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

You can go back from empire.

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

I've already been howling quite a bit about this, writing to various people, etc. It's simply ridiculous, as you well know. The idea of something that can't even be called an embryo being more important than the health of a woman--a tax-paying woman (that should get them) is simply infuriating. And even if it's not health reasons, hello? No proof it's life! Religion isn't a basis for laws. Still not a theocracy. no matter how hard he tries.

(Happier note: I'm gonna be proofing the paperback of A Magic of Twilight!)

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

"Happier note: I'm gonna be proofing the paperback of A Magic of Twilight!"

That's excellent! If you have any questions as you go through the manuscript, give me a shout...

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

*sigh* *nod*

They base this in part on polling that indicates people believe life starts at conception. Which is of course not necessarily a relevant question. Does life start when a seed (or egg) is germinated? sure! Does pregnancy start then? Er, no, actually.