Less Mammograms, Less Pap Smears, and a Serious Problem with Reading Comprehension

At the beginning of the week, the United States Preventative Task Force issued a set of new guidelines for use of mammography. And the storm hit — OMG, the government will be rationing health care; OMG! the gubmint wants women to die!

“I do believe that women will die” if they’re followed, she said.

Not once in the ensuing storm of criticism, did anyone bother to look at the statement that these new guidelines are NOT for ALL women, and will actually promote doctors to spend some time with their patients and give them some individualized time deciding on the most effective course of prevention for the individual patient. Furthermore, not a single one of the idiots trotted out to oppose the new guidelines (Kathleen Sebelius, Debbie Wasserman, for example) have bothered to recognize that even low doses of radiation from yearly mammography can lead to breast cancer — yes, radiation (which remains in the body) is one of the KNOWN causes of breast cancer. And finally, not once have I heard anyone in the media note that these new guidelines put the US in line with European nations that also use a screening process and which have no higher incidence of breast cancer with less screening.

Today, another group, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, has issued new guidelines for Pap Smears. Again, the guidelines call for less screenings.

The new guidelines say women 30 and older who have three consecutive Pap tests that were normal, and who have no history of seriously abnormal findings, can stretch the interval between screenings to three years.

In addition, women who have a total hysterectomy (which removes the uterus and cervix) for a noncancerous condition, and who had no severe abnormalities on previous Pap tests, can quit having the tests entirely.

The guidelines also say that women can stop having Pap tests between 65 and 70 if they have three or more negative tests in a row and no abnormal test results in the last 10 years.

The changes do not apply to women with certain health problems that could make them more prone to aggressive cervical cancer, including H.I.V. infection or having an organ transplant or other condition that would lead to a suppressed immune system.

These are some pretty specific ifs contained in the new guidelines, just as there were specific ifs in the new guidelines for mammography.

Nevertheless, the idiots with serious reading comprehension problems and a basic understanding of cervical cancer are coming out of the woodwork, including for this NY Times article.

On the other hand, Ms. Jemison said that now that she is over 21, “I would still go every year” for the Pap test.

“One of my cousins had cervical cancer, so that’s in my head too,” she said. “I’d rather get it checked out regularly than have to worry about that.”

There is no evidence that cervical cancer is inherited. However, there can be a familial connection of a suppressed immune system, which, under the new guidelines, means you should continue to get yearly pap smears.

I’m left wondering why the media insists on promoting stupid, which will not further discussion of the cause and effect of over-testing, for both mammograms and pap smears.

Watered-Down Health Care Bill Passes House With a Huge Pricetag on Women

64 Democrats voted for the Stupak amendment — you know, the one that says woman’s uteri are not their own, especially poor women’s uteri.

64 Democrats have completely disregarded one of the core tenets of the Democratic party – guaranteeing personal liberties for all. Women deciding with their doctors whether a pregnancy carried to term would be the best thing for them (whatever the reason) falls under personal liberties. What the hell are these 64 thinking?

If that wasn’t bad enough, the Goopers, during debate of the House Health Insurance Bill, were disgustingly rude, boorish pigs as members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus took the microphone. Egalia has the video.

64 dems join the goopers in throwing women’s rights under the bus, on the Stupak amendment, and 39 of those dems voted against health insurance reform. Because one lone republican had the wherewithal to vote for HR3962, this is being touted as a Bi-Partisan bill. (Yeah, it is technically because of that one republican vote, but if it were TRULY bi-partisan, more republicans would have voted “yes.”)

Now we turn our attention to the Senate, and how badly will health insurance reform will be watered-down from there. I’m sorry to say, I do not have high hopes that women’s rights will survive, and I have absolutely no faith, whatsoever, in Obama stripping regressive language in Conference.

And folks wonder why I have a very serious case of outrage fatigue! This debacle of a bill is just the tip of the iceberg, I’m sorry to say.

More TN Women Infected

The reason for the rise in STD’s in women between 2002 – 2007 is “difficult to pinpoint.” I guess it’s too hard for Dr. Katherine Hartmann to look at the other speed humps in this state regarding women’s reproductive health.

It’s not difficult to extrapolate that the problem lies in abstinence only education; conscience laws denying women the morning after pill and basic birth control. And then we have the more recent study linking religiosity to high teen birth rates, which we find this statement from researcher Joseph Strayhorn:

“We conjecture that religious communities in the U.S. are more successful in discouraging the use of contraception among their teenagers than they are in discouraging sexual intercourse itself.”

If young women and men are actively being encouraged not to use contraception (ie condoms) the rate of STD’s will also rise, along with the teen birth rate.

This, it seems to me, is a logical sequence: lack of education results in higher incidences of STD’s.

hey boys, don’t be silly, cover your willy!

TN a Gun-Crazed State or a NRA Patsy?

One might have thought so, when the legislative session ended earlier this year. The republican-controlled legislature focused on numerous gun laws, at least one of which is showing a backlash the NRA and TN legislators did not expect. That would be the Guns in Parks bill. Interestingly, it is the New York Times that points out how TN’s legislators have not and do not listen to ALL of their constituients, and that lobbists (particularly the NRA’s lobby) carry more weight (and money) than the citizens the legislators are representing.

Safety-minded localities in gun-friendly Tennessee have delivered a blunt and very welcome lesson in gun control to the National Rifle Association. While Tennessee’s ever-obeisant Legislature has enacted a law permitting handguns in all state and local parks, about 70 cities and counties have voted to opt out of this latest lock-and-load obsession from the N.R.A.

This is common-sense evidence that statehouse bullying tactics by the gun lobby do not necessarily translate to the local level, not when people have a chance to disinvite guns into areas designed for adult relaxation and children’s play.

I point this out as Knox County has yet to decide whether to ban guns in parks, or not. One County Commissioner, Amy Broyles, is trying to get this on the agenda, while expressing the same concern of patch-work safety that others have presented. Hopefully, the County Commission will take the advise of the County Parks Advisory Board and opt out of gun-totting in parks.

The County Parks and Recreation’s Citizen Advisory Board voted in July to recommend a ban on guns in county parks. Members expressed concerns that included having guns present where children play and in large crowds where heated confrontations could occur. Many public greenways connect to schools and libraries, and the city, Farragut and 28 county parks routinely host school events.

But, as more and more localities opt out of guns-in-parks, the NRA is not happy. As the NYTimes editorial notes:

The gun lobby is not giving up, of course. It is already marshaling lobbyists and cash to ensure the next Legislature strips localities of their right to just say no.

And herein lies the problem. Exactly who are our legislators working for, the citizens or the lobbyists? I contend that if during the next session of the general assembly a majority of legislators support stripping localities, and thus the citizenry, of their right to safe havens, the legislature is nothing more than a patsy for the NRA.

Obama Wants Kids to Learn: Living in the land of stupid

On Tuesday, Pres. Obama is going to address school children nationwide, urging them to stay in school and get an education. But, as Media Matters has documented, there is a fringe element on the right that feels this is un-amurrukin, starting with the talking heads that are whipping up this frenzy.

So, here in Tennessee, teh stupid are leaking out of the woodwork, calling into school administrators demanding that their children be safe from the un-amurrukin. Teh stupid started in middle Tennessee and has spread to east TN, as we can see from this quote by Loudon County schools instructional supervisor:

“As a school system we believe the president’s speech will probably be positive in nature, but we wanted to make sure it’s useful for educational purposes,” said Jason Vance, Loudon County Schools sixth to 12th grade instructional supervisor.

“will probably be positive?” and “make sure it’s useful for educational purposes?” Sounds to me like Vance is falling for the un-amurrukin-this is all politicized line, but doesn’t want to quite leave that flag hanging out on his front porch.

What is more interesting is reading teh stupid in comments to these articles.

armsbearer writes:

School is for learning, not for listening to Un-American socialist propaganda!

and:

HILANDER writes:

Leave the children alone. Any teacher that forces a child to watch Hussein’s socialist propaganda should be fired. If it were my child they would have more to worry about. That’s why my grandchildren are staying home.

Higlander appears to be a follower of several of the extremist-talking heads that have been advocating keeping children out of school on the day of Obama’s address. No sheep there. (/sarcasim)

As the comments to this article are just getting started, lets take a look at the comments to 9/4’s edition when it was reported several middle-Tennessee school districts were not going to air Pres. Obama’s speech to school children.

wilson writes:

The last leader to force a political agenda on the countrys youth was by a German man and many youth wound up being killed in WWII.

another choice:

MB97 writes:

Sounds like Obama has been taking propoganda lessons from his buddy Castro.

and:

98harleyrider#385132 writes:

Time might be better spent studying the Constitution. Appears it will soon be a part of history.

Now, if I were to delve into what might possibly be behind the extremist-right’s thinking on this, I might find a group of people that truly want to keep the younger generation indoctrinated to their own ideology. You know, those that scream the loudest about something are really after the same thing. We can come to this conclusion when there was no up-roar by the same folks when Poppy Bush made a similar address to school children back in 1991.

It is truly sad to read these articles and comments that show so much ignorance and know that these are my neighbors.

RIP Ted: The Lion Roars No More

Sen. Ted Kennedy has passed on.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a son of one of the most storied families in American politics, a man who knew triumph and tragedy in near-equal measure and who will be remembered as one of the most effective lawmakers in the history of the Senate, died late Tuesday night. He was 77.

“Edward M. Kennedy – the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply – died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port,” the statement said. “We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever.”

May he find peace after his battle with brain cancer.

May we each recognize that through his work in the Senate, millions of individual lives were changed for the better through his work on civil rights issues, education, voting rights, occupational safety, and, most importantly,  health care. Without Ted’s passion in working for those less fortunate, each of us, our parents and grandparents would not have had healthcare in their/our golden years, may not be able to vote through fear, may still be segregated in schools.

I am especially saddened as I do not see anyone on the political horizon or already in the senate, that has the strength and passion to follow in his footsteps.

Finally, may his family show pity on the mean-spirited, nasty, disgusting trolls, such as the folks that have commented to Sen. Kennedy’s passing in my local paper. Here is one example (when you read crap like this, one really wishes online papers would do away with comments):

Bear32LB writes:

Another Kennedy down. America is a better place now.

And, yet, idiots like this have benefited from the Senators work and passion. What a shame they can’t recognize that and thank the good Sen.

Sen. Ted Kennedy was the last stalwart in the Senate that truly worked for the working class people.  He will be truly missed.

The Immorality of Health Insurance Companies

If you are one of the folks that honestly thinks that health insurance companies DO NOT ration health care, you are sadly mistaken. If you are one of the folks that believes that the “free market” will correct itself in the health care industry, you are sadly mistaken. Take a look:

This, teabaggers, is what you are fighting for.

It’s time to end the legalized extortion of the health insurance companies. Single-payer now!

Will Skype Shut Down?

This really sucks.

Skype might have to shut down because of a dispute over the core technology used to make the internet telephone system work.

EBay, which paid $2.6 billion (£1.6 billion) for the voice-over-the-internet system in 2005, is facing a court battle with the original founders of the company who retained the rights to the technology at the heart of the system.

I use Skype, and it really isn’t that bad of a service. The video conferencing can be a bit choppy, but the actual calls are quite good. In other words, when I talk to folks I can hear them clearly and they can hear me clearly, and that’s what counts.

But, OMG!, we can’t share the technology. Yeah, this is all about software licensing.

Earlier this year, Skype filed a claim in London against Swedish company Joltid, which is controlled by Skype co-founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis. Skype is seeking resolution on a dispute over a software licensing agreement between the parties that Joltid was seeking to terminate.

“In particular, Joltid has alleged that Skype should not possess, use or modify certain software source code and that, by doing so, and by disclosing such code in certain US patent cases pursuant to orders from US courts, Skype has breached the license agreement,” eBay said in the filing.

Joltid brought a counterclaim, reiterating that it held the rights to the peer-to-peer technology and that Skype was in violation of the original agreement.

I have not been following this case, and I will be now. Based on this, it seems to me that when you sell a company, you sell the company and all the components (if you will) are included. Nitpicking over bits and pieces, like licensing, is detrimental to the hundreds of millions of users. But, who thinks about the users?

Ain’t capitalism grand? /sarcasm

The Next Installment of the Southern Strategy: Stupidity

The good ole southern strategy worked once, and the GOP and southern lawmakers are hoping to make it work again, as their inane stances are being dismissed by the people. This time, the racist Birthers are leading the southern strategy. Why am I lumping the Birther movement in with the Southern Strategy? Well, it seems that those that do not believe that Pres. Obama was born in the US predominately live in southern states. But first, lets look at the overall results:

A new Research 2000 poll conducted for Daily Kos asked respondents a rather straightforward question: “Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of America or not?” Since the president was born in the U.S., ideally, the results would be around 100%.

Or so one would think. Except, this poll found that 58% of republicans thought Pres. Obama was not born in the US.

Now, what is really important to look at is the regional breakdown.

But I was especially surprised by the regional breakdowns. In the Northeast, West, and Midwest, the overwhelming majorities realize the president is a native-born American. But notice the South — only 47% got it right and 30% are unsure.

That leaves about 23% of southerners that believe Pres. Obama is not a US citizen.

Which is pretty damn sad, and it’s extremely discouraging that my neighbors (being that I live in the south) cannot logically figure out Obama’s citizenship themselves, but instead rely on the the rantings of racist, intellectually impotent idiots.

Because, when this faux Birther movement first started, based on their claims that Obama’s “short form” birth certificate was not good enough for proof of citizenship, I thought of my own birth certificate, which would not be proof enough that I too was born in the US. See, being adopted, you will never get an original birth certificate, ever. It is a second birth certificate filed with the state.

Now, should my birth certificate actually be accepted by the Birthers as sufficient proof of being born in the US, as I am a white woman, then this movement is not about being legally born in the US, but about race. (That, of course, is what actual thinking people have realized from the beginning of the Birther movement, that it is completely and totally racist in their outrage of having a black president.)

So, the Southern Strategy has continued to fuel racaism hiding behind this ridiculous birth certificate outrage, and some 53% of southerners have actually fallen for this. Doesn’t say much for southerners at all.

Racism Wins for Republicans

Via Blue Virginia, we find that racist Audra Shay won the race to become the Young Republican’s leader.

Audra Shay, the Young Republican leader who became the subject of a national controversy after The Daily Beast uncovered racist comments she wrote on Facebook and other social networking sites, won the race to become head of the Young Republicans by approximately 50 votes (out of about 950 voting delegates) at their national convention this afternoon in Indianapolis.

Shay faced calls to remove herself from the election after appearing to laugh at a racial slur about President Barack Obama, The Daily Beast’s John Avlon exclusively reported. The comments, in which Shay responded to a comment calling blacks “coons,” were quickly deleted, but prompted fellow Young Republicans to urge her to take her hat out of the ring for the national election. And though Shay issued a statement that neither she, nor her Young Republican slate, “condones the use of racial slurs on my wall,” Avlon reports that Shay has a history of racial comments, encouraging extremism and partisan hate online.

Before the election, Meghan McCain urged the group not to choose hate by electing Shay: “What exactly do the Young Republicans expect to achieve by electing a 38-year-old woman who thinks racial epithets are acceptable?”

Here’s my answer to Meghan McCain…perhaps Audra is following in the footsteps of the TNGOP, which has a long history of using racism. Here are some examples that received national attention:

• The republican staffer that sends out a racist email of our President, claiming she sent it to the “wrong” list (is there a right list to send this shit to?), and has kept her job.
• The RNC-supported ad for Corker depicting a white woman telling Harold Ford Jr to call her. The overtones in this ad were just as heinous as the 1988 Willie Horton ad.
• The Bill Hobbs press-release smearing Obama, by attempting to link Obama with anti-semites and terrorists, and which the then TNGOP chair, Robin Smith, defended. (As a caveat, Robin Smith is running for Zach Wamp’s House seat)
• Then there was the “Barack the Magic Negro” tune on a CD sent to RNC Committee members by former TNGOP chair, Chip Satlzman during his bid to head the RNC. Not so amazingly, there were quite a number of highly visibile GOP’ers that supported Saltzman.

Of course, the list is much longer, let me reiterate this list is just a few of the more recent racist incidents that attracted national attention.

So, yeah, the Southern Strategy is still working for the GOP and has even been rachetted up. The real question is how can progressives combat the overt racism in the south?