Depressed

During the past 4 years I have grown increasingly interested in politics and have played "catch up" to make up for my first 21 years of life in which I had little knowledge of anything beyond my little bubble of prairie prancing and rainbows.

GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN:
I finally took the time to learn what exactly they were debating about that was so damn complex... Planned Parenthood. 
You have to be kidding me!!!! One of the most vital programs offered in our society today was the center of federal government scrutiny. Of all the sick, twisted, unethical political debates I've ever heard, this is by far the most alarming to me.  

MYTH: Republican Senator Jon Kyl stated that over 90% of the services performed by Planned Parenthood were abortions. (more...)
FACT: Only 3% of services are abortion related. (more...)

Planned Parenthood is often the only source of family planning for a large proportion of the women served. 

-More than 90% of care is preventive, primary care.

         *Prevents unintended pregnancies through contraception

         *Reduces the spread of STI/STD's through testing & treatment

         *Screens for cervical & breast cancers

-Education on: Body image, relationships, men's health, sexual orientation & gender

-1 in 5 women in the US use Planned Parenthood at least once in her life. 

-With 535 members in Congress = statistically, at least 107 members of the US Congress or their spouse have used Planned Parenthood. 

To end or reduce funding to Planned Parenthood is counter-productive. 

1. No access to free birth control & pregnancy prevention programs     =   

 Increase in pregnancy for low-income, teenagers, and anyone else who is:

       * too broke to afford birth control

       *too afraid to tell their parents they're sexually active

       * too uneducated to know how to protect themselves.

2. No access to free Pap exams    =    

Increase in STI/STD, cervical cancer, & breast cancer for marginalized populations

I realize we need to start cutting major dollars, but I'm telling you, cutting this program will end up costing our nation more money. Mark. My. Words.

Let's talk: MEDICARE
Medicare paid 50 BILLION in doctor and hospital bills in the last 60 days of patients' life.
Are we afraid to accept death? Yes.
Are we afraid to talk about death? Yes.
Is death avoidable? No.

DING DING DING.

• We have got to stop believe death is a medical failure. 
• We have got to stop keeping our elders on a ventilator for months in the ICU only to preserve our own naive beliefs that our loved ones would want their life to be prolonged as long as possible... regardless of the severity of uncomfort. 
• We have got to START accepting death in this country. There's no other way to explain it. (more...)