Slightly newsy. But not really.

[dzuunmod]

When I mentioned that Maclean's cover story a few weeks back - 'The Case Against Having Children' - one of you mentioned that it seemed kinda dumb, like people wouldn't really be shocked to discover that some people don't want kids. And I read dismissive things about the piece in one or two of your journals

Comments

[eclips1st]

Whatever happened to live and let live? *sigh*

[obskura]

it seems more like "live and create life".

Funny, the article was just mentioned in childfree

[fuzzyila]

man, you need to join Twitter to get all the latest newsy stuff

[fuzzyila]

oh and I'll also add to the healthcare debate that I don't think shit like that would even fly in Canada because I believe we have laws about spreading falsehoods, like being a Holocaust denier is illegal. I don't think all that stuff being said about Obama being Hitler would be legal to do in Canada. I can't believe they allow it in the States.

And just what are they being so protective about anyways? The right to pay exorbitant amounts of money for medication and doctor visits? I don't get it. And it's not like they have shorter wait times. I was watching The Doctors yesterday and the average wait at emergency rooms in LA were 4-5 hours, with people sitting in the halls. Um, not much different for the price they're paying. I might as well sit in the emerg for free, thanks!

[mariness]

Because they keep hearing that under "socialized medicine" they won't be able to choose their doctors and various health things will be rationed - my mother, who believes all of this, was trying to tell me that women in England can only have one mammogram every three or five years and can't get breast sonograms, which I've never heard from any actual British woman

[fuzzyila]

My insurance (which is ending in December anyway) won't cover a neurologist that specializes in my disorder. And my insurance flat out refused to pay for medical tests ordered by the Mayo Clinic on the grounds that I'd already had them within a specific calendar period and I couldn't have another, even if ordered by a qualified doctor.See, I don't get that even with these situations, people think it's better than having public healthcare. I have an American friend with Lupus who had to go to the emerg, but evidently, her insurance company did not agree and would not reimburse her

[wildcherrygal]

“Why worry about nuclear waste, global warming and extinction of species, if you and your offspring won’t be affected?” asked one reader.

So I spent all those years of activism and worry for nothing? I mean I'm not going to breed so I shouldn't care? Have these people every talked to any activists? I know my work in feminism is not going to get results for me in my lifetime, but one day someone's daughters' daughters will be affected by it. Guess I should give that shit up right the fuck now.

And be mad about healthcare in the states. I am. Obama's plan sucks, but it's better then nothing. HR 676, the single payer bill in the House, is what *really* needs to get passed, but whatever those poor people just need to work harder.

[dzuunmod]

That's the bit that really reminds me of the anti-atheists threads out there. I once read an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail by Lorna Dueck, a fairly prominent Canadian Christian where she said, to prove her thesis that Canada is a Christian nation, something like, "Canadians donated XX billion dollars to charity last year - don't tell me this isn't a Christian nation!"

As though Christians (or people of faith more broadly) have a monopoly on charity and good works. Like, if we're not worried about going to hell ourselves (or if we're not directly worried about our own children), we have no reason to live good lives and be good people. Ugh.

Oh I just thought of another thing....

[wildcherrygal]

This was a quote that was on the BEST RADIO SHOW EVER Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me (NPR's weekly news quiz) that I have been quoting at people b/c I've been having fruitless debates with idiots about the horrid state of our (lack of) healthcare in the US. (I'm going to include the full quote, I usually just use the 2nd sentence. Also if you don't listen to WWDTM you should really subscribe to the podcast (it's what I've done since I learned of this delicious program a year ago) b/c it's one of the weeks highlights for me, anyway.)

"Republicans were decrying the plan saying that if this passes our current healthcare system will be destroyed. Of course our currently healthcare system for most people in America is watching Gray's Anatomy while applying Head-On to their tumour."

Re: Oh I just thought of another thing....

[wildcherrygal]

That should read "our current healthcare" not currently

Re: Oh I just thought of another thing....

[dzuunmod]

I do listen to WWDTM, and I've heard the episode in question! My favourite guests are Mo Rocca and Paula Poundstone! Who're yours? :p

Re: Oh I just thought of another thing....

[wildcherrygal]

CHARLIE PIERCE! He gets really excited about things and has a really loud laugh. Basically we can relate. ;)

Mo and Paula are awesome too, but Charlie's the best.

[bee_york]

Holy crap. Sometimes, Josh, you and I see things *SO* eye-to-eye it's almost creepy. I would add to what you've already written on these 2 subjects except you took the very words out of my mouth, and written it way better than I could have.

Soooo...I have nothing to say right now really, except "this this this!" to this entire post! Maybe I'll have something more interesting to say when I'm not so tired. ;)

[bee_york]

Whoops, forgot to clarify--the 2 subjects in question being childfree and Mr. Vick.
(Though I too am getting really pissed about the healthcare debate in the US, it wasn't the focus of my comment. ^^)

[dzuunmod]

Gotcha! :)