Do you need an abortion? Did you bring a note?

[Metaphor]

Come to think of it, should a man want to further reduce the likelihood of a child being produced, he could always try the 'withdrawal' method as well

Oh, so people still 'get off at Redfern' then?

(For those not in the know, Redfern is a suburb that is one stop away from Sydney Central station, so instead of going 'all the way' you can 'get off' slightly earlier and 'walk' the rest of the way).

Men can have more say in the birth control than they sometimes realise.

I've found that by only having sex with men, I've really never had a pregnancy scare with a partner.

More guys should try it.

 

[gmbteach]

Oh, so people still 'get off at Redfern' then?

(For those not in the know, Redfern is a suburb that is one stop away from Sydney Central station, so instead of going 'all the way' you can 'get off' slightly earlier and 'walk' the rest of the way).

Men can have more say in the birth control than they sometimes realise.

I've found that by only having sex with men, I've really never had a pregnancy scare with a partner.

More guys should try it.

Well I suppose sex with a same-sex partner would dramatically reduce the chances of getting pregnant.

 

[ZiprHead]

Here is my note:

REPUBLICANS, GO FUCK YOURSELVES AND LEAVE THE REST OF US ALONE

 

[gmbteach]

I think this sums it up:

 

[Toni]

I see a lot of claims to the effect of 'but who will look out for the child if no one man is forced to pay child support?'

An easy and ethical answer is that IF the society wants to allow incapable mothers to carry to term and retain custody, then the society as a whole is responsible for footing that bill. Every child, regardless of whether the father is known, or unknown, whether the MOTHER is known or unknown, deserves to be taken care of. That isn't strictly the responsibility of the parents. That's for the good of all of is, and so all of us are responsible to chip in to that outcome.

So I support a strong stipend for all children, irrespective of parental situation. I support professional daycare services for every child, and want them to be easily accessible to everyone and paid for by the government. This is one of the reasons I pay taxes! I want to see my government pass laws mandating PTO for parents regardless of gender.

The idea that people should have to suffer and be poor for having kids is foolishness. I've already stated how women should not have to suffer to have kids or to not have kids, that the deciding factor should be what risks the mother wishes to take. That neither men nor women have an inherent right to have a child, and that there should be no expectation that a person be 'punished' with being a parent, man or woman. The fact that nature makes it worse for women doesn't justify depriving men.

What, exactly, do you mean by 'incapable mothers?' Who decides whether a woman is 'capable' or not with respect to motherhood?

Do you mean a woman who gives birth but who is unable to provide sole financial support for her child(ren)?

I agree that all children should have adequate financial support (as well as emotional, educational, health care, housing, etc) and that in the absence of parents who are unable to provide such for their children, the state should step up and provide it.

But, except in truly inadequate (and this includes dangerous homes) homes, the state should not be raising children. Because children grow and thrive best in a family setting, where they are given love and support and have good role models. Which is why we have an entire foster care system, however mangled and inadequate it may be.

I am all for my tax dollars helping to subsidize the care and feeding of children, as well as their housing, clothing, education, health care, etc. even if that means that the parent benefits as well. Because kids do better when their parents are doing better.

I agree that day care should be high quality, accessible, affordable, FLEXIBLE (a huge issue for parents of all income levels). I agree that tax dollars should help make sure this happens.

I agree that having children should no be a punishment nor a trap into a life of poverty. For anybody.

Yes to PTO and parental and family leave and flex time for all workers.

 

[Emily Lake]

Heart rate normal. Thanks Emily. I am glad it isn't real. Sorry, but sometimes I think you guys in the states have some weird things going on... *shakes head...

Lol we DO have some weird things going on, that just doesn't happen to be one of them. Sad thing is that some of the republicans have suggested things close enough to it that it got my heart rate up too! I had to go read more carefully to get my own heart rate down!

I would have let the joke run if you weren't so upset about it. It just seemed a little too cruel to leave you upset .

 

[Emily Lake]

I didn't say it was real. If you click the link, you see it is it is obviously a put up job. But the bill granting the employer the right to deny payment for insurance that covers contraception is very real.

I know, it just wasn't obvious to gmbteach.

It's a minor quibble (and reflective of my own neuroses), but it didn't give them the right to den payment. It gave them the right to not cover contraception as part of their insurance. It simply isn't covered, same as transgendered surgeries, same as condoms, same as most over-the-counter drugs. I don't actually have an ethical objection to it. The vast majority of oral contraceptives are inexpensive and easy to acquire (in most parts of the country). I don't see that an employer should be forced by law to cover the cost of something that they have a moral objection to, especially when not paying for it doesn't really affect the woman's ability to access that service.

If I had my say, I'd spend my time campaigning to mandate coverage of termination of pregnancy and implanted contraceptives. Those are both significantly more expensive and less easily accessible than oral contraceptives. I think that would be a much better use of my time and energy, especially when condoms aren't covered.

In fact, I'd say we should be campaigning to make most oral contraceptives OTC.

 

[Playball40]

But female individuals are given much more choice. A man's choice ends at ejaculation, woman's doesn't. Responsibility should be apportioned relative to the choice an individual had in a matter. Therefore, men should be allowed to opt out of parental rights and obligations.

Shouldn't responsibility be apportioned relative to the RESPONSIBILITY each individual had in the matter?

 

[Playball40]

Please provide a link to a list of the physical complications, from mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening, that a man suffers during a pregnancy.

Does wrath of a hormonal wife count?
How about risk of getting in a car accident while buying pickles and ice cream at 2 AM. *putting of flame-retardant suit*

I am familiar with risks and issues associated with pregnancy. In fact, I am listening to the Caustic Soda podcast on this topic. Count your blessings you live in the 21st century or weren't born a hyena is all I have to say.
That doesn't change the fact that there is a huge imbalance between reproductive choices men and women have and the responsibilities they are hobbled with. If no woman should be a parent against her wishes same should go for men. We can't change biology (on a fundamental level) but we can change laws to be more just.

Wrong. "reproductive" choices are the same. You both can take precautions against it. Now "pregnancy" choices are different since, you know, men cannot be pregnant. And sorry, men do not get to 'approve' my pregnancy choices. Men don't 'decide' on an amniocentisis, or my diet, or my delivery options..etc. Certainly the men in my life (my husband, sons and father) all had input, but biologically that's as far as it could go. When I was pregnant with twins, my husband and I 'discussed' whether to have a planned c-section or vaginal delivery; but the ultimate decision was mine and mine alone.

 

[ronburgundy]

I wonder if the Texas tool who proposed this Bill would still support it, if he realized that it would result in an increase in the ratio of non-white to white babies born (and thus of future Dem voters). The % of abortions involving unwed mothers, unknown or out of contact fathers, or just lower SES people who can't afford a notary is much higher among non-whites. They will be the one's most affected by the legislation.

It poses quite the pickle for conservatives. On the one hand the law harms the poor and disproportionately minorities. On the other hand, it creates more of those people.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I wonder if the Texas tool who proposed this Bill would still support it, if he realized that it would result in an increase in the ratio of non-white to white babies born (and thus of future Dem voters). The % of abortions involving unwed mothers, unknown or out of contact fathers, or just lower SES people who can't afford a notary is much higher among non-whites. They will be the one's most affected by the legislation.

It poses quite the pickle for conservatives. On the one hand the law harms the poor and disproportionately minorities. On the other hand, it creates more of those people.

And thereby guaranteeing the profit margins for private prison corporations for generations to come.

 

[gmbteach]

Heart rate normal. Thanks Emily. I am glad it isn't real. Sorry, but sometimes I think you guys in the states have some weird things going on... *shakes head...

Lol we DO have some weird things going on, that just doesn't happen to be one of them. Sad thing is that some of the republicans have suggested things close enough to it that it got my heart rate up too! I had to go read more carefully to get my own heart rate down!

I would have let the joke run if you weren't so upset about it. It just seemed a little too cruel to leave you upset .

Thanks Emily. I am also amazed that your government will subsidise viagra type medications, but not contraceptive ones. *shakes head in wonder at that one.

 

[Toni]

Lol we DO have some weird things going on, that just doesn't happen to be one of them. Sad thing is that some of the republicans have suggested things close enough to it that it got my heart rate up too! I had to go read more carefully to get my own heart rate down!

I would have let the joke run if you weren't so upset about it. It just seemed a little too cruel to leave you upset .

Thanks Emily. I am also amazed that your government will subsidise viagra type medications, but not contraceptive ones. *shakes head in wonder at that one.

Take a look at who is making the laws: very little to be surprised about there.

 

[ZiprHead]

Pay for the sproing but not for the boing. Makes perfect sense.

 

[Emily Lake]

Lol we DO have some weird things going on, that just doesn't happen to be one of them. Sad thing is that some of the republicans have suggested things close enough to it that it got my heart rate up too! I had to go read more carefully to get my own heart rate down!

I would have let the joke run if you weren't so upset about it. It just seemed a little too cruel to leave you upset .

Thanks Emily. I am also amazed that your government will subsidise viagra type medications, but not contraceptive ones. *shakes head in wonder at that one.

Ancient christian men in office without term limits will do that, unfortunately. And it's illegal to set congress on fire, so there's not much to be done except keep trying to oust them and get really angry when they continue to do mind-bogglingly stupid things.

- - - Updated - - -

Pay for the sproing but not for the boing. Makes perfect sense.

The measure of a man is the measure of his penis. The measure of a woman is... well, it doesn't matter, because women don't matter.

That seems to be the mindset

 

[Arctish]

Oh, so people still 'get off at Redfern' then?

(For those not in the know, Redfern is a suburb that is one stop away from Sydney Central station, so instead of going 'all the way' you can 'get off' slightly earlier and 'walk' the rest of the way).

Men can have more say in the birth control than they sometimes realise.

I've found that by only having sex with men, I've really never had a pregnancy scare with a partner.

More guys should try it.

How come if a woman has sex with 5 different men, everybody calls her a slut, but if a man does it

Show

everybody thinks he's gay?

 

[EricK]

Thanks Emily. I am also amazed that your government will subsidise viagra type medications, but not contraceptive ones. *shakes head in wonder at that one.

Take a look at who is making the laws: very little to be surprised about there.

That's why you need to vote for stand-up guys.

 

[Underseer]

What behavior is supposed to justify rape to make it legitimate? And wouldn't it make more sense to permit abortion when there wasn't a legitimate reason for the rape in the first place??

An unfortunate turn of phrase as it is commonly misunderstood. It means what Whoopi Goldberg calls "rape rape" and excludes things like so-called statutory "rape" or regretted hookups.

The majority of rapes don't get prosecuted. I know it is part of your Jihad On Women to deny that rape exists or to claim that it is exceedingly rare, but it does and it isn't, and you and your fellow Jihadists are effectively demanding that many women get permission from their rapists to abort.

You're OK with that, but you want us to believe that there is no War On Women.

 

[Derec]

The majority of rapes don't get prosecuted.

Prosecution needs evidence. People should not be prosecuted based solely on an accusation without a probable cause.

I know it is part of your Jihad On Women to deny that rape exists or to claim that it is exceedingly rare,

I never said anything like that. You and RavenSky are in a competition for the biggest straw man I see.
Actually the opposite is true. Your side tends to claim that false accusation are exceedingly rare and that it's ok to ignore them.

but it does and it isn't, and you and your fellow Jihadists are effectively demanding that many women get permission from their rapists to abort.

When did I say anything of the sort?

You're OK with that, but you want us to believe that there is no War On Women.

No there isn't. Look at the "Dear colleague" letter that demands male students be expelled using the lowest possible standard of evidence and while curtailing many of their due process rights resulting in wrongful expulsions like UND, Vassar or UGA.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

Do mothers have the option to give their baby up to the state for adoption or foster care, if they do not want to raise him/her and be financially responsible for him/her? Do fathers have this option? If not, why not?

Are babies not a benefit to all of society? So shouldn't we all equally pay to support them? Are they any special benefit to their biological parents if their biological parents have given up all custody? If not, then why should they be especially financially responsible? Why should any parent who has given up full custody be financially responsible for the children?