weepier tones

Todd Akin thinks doctors perform abortions on women who aren’t actually pregnant

abaldwin360:

In a 2008 Speech, Todd Akin Said Doctors Give Abortions to Women ‘Who Are Not Actually Pregnant’.

It turns out that Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment might not be the most inaccurate and stupid statement of the Missouri Representative’s career. In a 2008 speech on the House floor, Rep. Akin said (emphasis mine):

“You find that along with the culture of death go all kinds of other law-breaking: Not following good sanitary procedure, giving abortions to women who are not actually pregnant, cheating on taxes, all these kinds of things.”

“All of these things are common practice,” Akin continued, “but all of that information is available for America.”

Just think about that for a second. “Abortions to women who are not actually pregnant.” Absolutely mindboggling.

He also compared abortion to slavery.

“There will be a day - just as there is today, where people say, ‘Who would ever support slavery?’” Akin said. “In the future, there will be a day when men will say, ‘Who would have ever supported something so un-American as abortion?”

Really makes his “ladylike” comment seem not so bad, huh? Just a reminder, Todd Akin is the Republican Senate candidate in Missouri, a candidate that “mainstream” Republicans are supporting.

source

(via rabbleprochoice)

Who Doesn’t Pay Taxes And Why

fishingboatproceeds:

Mitt Romney is in a bit of hot water for comments he made during a closed-door fundraiser about the 47% of Americans who don’t pay federal income taxes.

I’m generally pretty sympathetic to people saying stupid things in closed-door fundraisers, but the whole flap raises an interesting question: Is it really true that 47% of Americans pay no federal income tax? And who are these people? And do they believe that they are victims entitled to health care and housing?

So:

How many people don’t pay federal income tax in the US?

Lots of people. The 47% stat is accurate, as long as you only count federal income taxes. (More than 85% of Americans under 65 pay either income tax, federal payroll tax, or both—and almost all Americans who own land or buy things pay state and local taxes.)

Who are these people?

Many elderly people who live off social security pay no income tax (social security benefits are only taxable if your total income is over $25,000 a year). Only about 25% of Americans over the age of 75 pay federal income tax, but it’s important to remember that most of them did pay federal income tax when they were working.

Also, many young adults pay no income taxes, because they are full-time students or have very low incomes. You can see a chart here that shows that about 30% of 18-year-olds pay federal income tax, while over 65% of people in their 40s do.

People living in poverty are also unlikely to pay federal income taxes. A married couple filing jointly making under $18,700 annually pays no income taxes. But it’s worth noting that in 1996, 99.5% of all nontaxable returns came from people making less than $30,000 a year. Today, that number is closer to 76%.

The fastest growing segment of Americans who pay no tax are those who earn between $75,000 and $100,000 each year. As explained here, there’s been a 12,000% increase in nontaxable returns in this income category thanks to middle income tax cuts and tax credits introduced by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Romney’s central mistake is imagining the data as static. In 2000, for instance, I paid no federal income tax. This doesn’t mean that I am a drain on the system: In fact, I have paid lots of federal income tax in other years. 2000 just happened to be a weird year, because I had a lot of health care expenses and not very much income.

This is the case for most Americans: Romney’s comments implied that the same 47% of Americans pay no federal income taxes every year. In fact, the members of that 47% are constantly changing as people age into and out of the work force. 

Do these people believe that they are victims entitled to health care and housing?

The most incendiary remark Governor Romney made was, “There are 47% who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care of them, who believe that they are entitled to healthcare, to food, to housing, to you-name-it.”

In fact, the number of Americans who feel the government should provide health care and food to those in need is much higher than 47%. 76% of Americans (including a majority of Republicans) favor medicaid, the program that offers health care to the poor. A majority of Americans also believe medicare, the program that offers health care to the elderly, is worth its cost. And more than three quarters of Americans support the federal food stamp program that provides food to low-income and elderly people.

(via feminismisprettycool)

Rape Victim Denied Emergency Contraceptives. Doctor Cites Religious Objection As Reason

witchsistah:

abaldwin360:

Remember when doctors did what was in the best interest of the patient? Remember when refusing to provide care could get you fired or even arrested? Well, those days are coming to a close as doctors and nurses have been freed by the GOP from any ethical or moral restraints. These days, a medical practitioner can simply ignore a patient because treating them goes against their “religious beliefs.”

read more

I’m gonna be sick.

(via takealookatyourlife)

juliatopaz:

“ One could make the case that the American healthcare system is the best in the world if:

1.  You have full, comprehensive, in-depth health insurance coverage with low deductibles and copayments, and no exclusions for pre-existing conditions;

2.  You live in a major metropolitan area;

3.  You have a long-term relationship with a physician who serves your primary care needs, seeks specialist attention when needed, and finds the right specialist;

4.  You speak and understand good English and so does your doctor, and you are neither sight- nor hearing-impaired;

5.  You are well educated;

6.  You have money and transportation capability;

7.  You are white;

8.  You are naturally skeptical and questioning;

9.  You personally access the internet to help you take charge of your life; and, until recently

10. You are male.

Well, maybe those characteristics describe many of those politicians and explain why they may actually feel the way they do. But, woe unto all those other folks. “

     - George Lundberg, 2004.  This should be the intro to US Healthcare 101.