From The Daily Share...Moveon.org
 

Very important news we all need to know,
about Social Security


http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/02/...6pLid%3D136039

I guess it always puzzles me when they say stuff like this. How can they not have our social security? We already paid it. It's not like other people who are working when we retire are going to pay our social security. We already put the money in there.

Social Security Isn't in Crisis We Already Paid For It

LOL. Truer words were never spoken.

What concerns me about Social Security has to do with the payroll tax cuts that have been passed and are up for renewal right now. I hope folks realize that little tax break being given to folks working really is a reduction in the amount the individual is paying into their social security. You are paying less money in and that will affect how much you get when you reach 62 or 65 (at least those are the ages now) and start collecting your SS.

I'm in favor of middle/working class tax breaks but not at our own expense. Raise taxes on the top 1-2% and give us a straight up tax break instead of the 'tax break' scam being played out now.

Personally, I think that it is all going to work out in the end. I am not sure how, but I believe it will.

However, with that said, I believe that this article speaks to how important it is that people should not plan on it being there. Work your ass off to put as much money away as you possibly can.

Stats are showing that people are saving more than they have in the very recent past, but certainly not even as much as they saved historically.

Since social security was put in place there has been a steady decline of how much people save for retirement. This, of course, is not surprising.

I"m speechless

Virginia House, Senate and Governor are all Republican. They are passing a law that requires a transvaginal ultrasound be done on every woman seeking an abortion. And her consent is not required. No exceptions. There is no medical reason to require that procedure be done. They would not even allow an amendment that asks the woman whether or not she consents to the medical procedure.

legally required rape by a health care provider......

It's completely unacceptable on every level. Women are not human or worthy of control over their bodies to these people. It's disgusting and offensive. I hate living in this (Virginia) state. I cannot wait to get out.

Rachel Maddow did a segment on her show tonight

I guess now we can add Virginia to the list.
 

state laws on ultrasound and abortion

BACKGROUND: Since the mid-1990s, several states have moved to make ultrasound part of abortion service provision. Some laws and policies require that a woman seeking an abortion receive information on accessing ultrasound services, while others require that a woman undergo an ultrasound before an abortion. Since routine ultrasound is not considered medically necessary as a component of first-trimester abortion, the requirements appear to be a veiled attempt to personify the fetus and dissuade a woman from obtaining an abortion. Moreover, an ultrasound can add significantly to the cost of the procedure.

HIGHLIGHTS:
11 states require verbal counseling or written materials to include information on accessing ultrasound services.

20 states regulate the provision of ultrasound by abortion providers.

7 states mandate that an abortion provider perform an ultrasound on each woman seeking an abortion, and require the provider to offer the woman the opportunity to view the image.

9 states require that a woman be provided with the opportunity to view an ultrasound image if her provider performs the procedure as part of the preparation for an abortion.

5 states require that a woman be provided with the opportunity to view an ultrasound image.

All these states have some ultrasound requirements for abortion according to this document from the Guttmacher Institute:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Yes, it seems to me like there has been an increase lately in states requiring the viewing of images and also one recently (can't remember which one), requires the provider to describe the image.

Vaginal ultrasounds in Virginia...

(Requires non-medically-necessary penetration with a phallic-shaped device))

There are 2 kinds of ultrasound. One requires vaginal penetration with a probe and the other is what most people think of with ultrasound....some gel on your belly and there is no vaginal penetration.

I'm not sure which kind of ultrasound all those other states require.....a non-invasive ultrasound is bad enough, but invasive is just unacceptable.

Virginia Mandates ‘Unwanted Vaginal Penetration’ For The Abortion-Curious

Virginia is actually talking about the kind of ultrasound that involves a dildo-type sonic boom-generator penetrating the vagina, in a sort of, well, completely non-optional fashion

It's not the easiest information to obtain, but at the very least Texas and Oklahoma require transvaginal ultrasounds if it will supply a clearer picture and of course it always will. That is the rub. Up to 12 weeks, when most abortions occur, it always will provide a clearer image.

Oklahoma

"April 21, 2010 |

The Oklahoma Senate passed five abortion bills Monday night, which opponents have said will severely limit a woman's ability to get an abortion and would entail some of the strictest anti-abortion measures in the country.

One of the bills would force a woman to get an ultrasound at least one hour prior to an abortion and be shown the image and given a detailed explanation of it, even if she wishes otherwise. A vaginal probe would be used if it would provide a clearer image of the fetus"

Texas
May 2011
Not only is this law an insult to women in Texas, a close reading of the Texas Penal Code, Section 22.011, suggests that the new law may also constitute a sexual assault upon women, which is a second-degree felony. Since 88 percent of abortions occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy transvaginal probes are necessary. Because the fetus is so small at this stage, traditional ultrasounds performed through the abdominal wall, "jelly on the belly," often cannot produce a clear image. Therefore, a transvaginal probe is most often necessary, especially up to 10 weeks to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The probe is inserted into the vagina, sending sound waves to reflect off body structures to produce an image of the fetus. Under this new law, a woman's vagina will be penetrated without an opportunity for her to refuse due to coercion from the so-called "public servants" who passed and signed this bill into law.

Senate Wants to Force the Unemployed to Work For Free

Along with efforts to drug-test the unemployed and deny benefits to those without high school diplomas, Republicans now want to make "volunteer" work a requirement.

20 hours looking for work and then 20 hours volunteering for free...

A law requiring them to spend 20 hours a week looking for work is nothing but an insult to people who are already searching desperately; making it a requirement would likely add a reporting burden that would either detract from their search or force them to spend time beyond their active job searching.

Forcing them to spend 20 hours a week "volunteering" additionally takes time people need for the very hard work of keeping their heads above water on limited means. And of course, creating an involuntary volunteer workforce is no kind of incentive to job-creation—why would any organization being provided free labor by the government ever create a job?

The are basically two reasons for measures like this. First,

"This proposal is very much about 'welfarizing' federal unemployment insurance benefits," said George Wentworth, a senior staff attorney with the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group. Wentworth noted that the bill borrows language from the 1996 welfare law.

That is, it reframes unemployment insurance as something other than an insurance program that exists for all of us and that we work for.

Second, such measures simply punish and stigmatize people for being jobless at a time when there simply are not jobs in the economy for them. Because Republicans are mean-spirited like that.

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2012/02/15-0

A Whole Lotta Crazy: Sacred Sperm, Guns at Work, Public Hangings and Other News of the Weird and Awful

by Abby Zimet

We dunno: Is there more crazy out there than ever? Maybe it's just that the latest - a Maine law letting you bring your gun to work and an Iowa bishop calling on believers to "violently oppose" contraception as "the devil" - were the proverbial straws. Forthwith, a look at a bunch of bizarro news in no particular order of awfulness. Spilled sperm to no lunch to public hangings to many fetuses: It's A Wonderful Life.

In New Hampshire, GOP legislators want to save the economy by eliminating lunch breaks for (very likely) dawdling workers.

In North Carolina, Republican Rep. Larry Pittman wants to deter crime by reinstating public hangings, especially for “abortionists, rapists, and kidnappers.”

In Missouri, GOP Rep. Vicky Hartzler, "a big believer in visuals," wants anti-choice activists to post pictures of aborted fetuses in college dorms.

Then again, Oklahoma GOP State Sen. Ralph Shortey wants a law to ensure that aborted human fetuses are NOT used for "enhancing flavor" in manufacturing food.

In New York, meanwhile, Fox News is worried about another "nightmare" - overpaid hotel maids. And Rick Santorum is worried the famously-anti-religion Obama administration is "on the path" to guillotining Christians.

In Arizona, GOP legislators want to ban swearing by teachers in classrooms or anywhere else on school property, and ban any profanity in any book or other material used in the classroom, which means good-bye to a whole mess of great literature from Catcher in the Rye to pretty much all of Shakespeare.

In Mississippi, patriots want to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America just to make sure who it belongs to.

And in Oklahoma, where proponents of the “personhood” movement are trying to ban abortion, contraception and in vitro fertilization to protect "all the rights, privileges, and immunities (of) the unborn child," State Sen. Constance Johnson tacked on a provision ruling that "any action in which a man ejaculates or otherwise deposits semen anywhere but in a woman's vagina shall be interpreted and construed as an action against an unborn child" - thus outlawing oral sex, anal sex, masturbation and pulling out.

Tricky footnote: Two of these pieces of legislation were in fact offered as a joke. For now, there's still a Gulf of Mexico and you can still do whatever you want to do in the privacy of your home. For now. Most alarming part of the footnote: It's nigh-on impossible to discern them from the rest.

Now Trending In Canuckistan: Tell Vic Everything re. Bill C-30
 

So our Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews (also one of those Tories in favour of scrapping the long-gun registry) tabled Bill C-30 earlier this week. Essentially it would give government agencies and law enforcement to tap people's internet and telecommunications without a warrant, which would maybe catch 1% of the bad guys and annoy 99% of everyone else.

What say you? Wouldn't that just... ugh, annoy you?

#TellVicEverything is taking flight on Twitter, and because I don't have Twitter, I e-mailed Mr Toews all about my day, what I plan to do with the rest of it and what sites I visited online.

http://www.globalnews.ca/tell+vic+toews/6442582391/story.html

A little bit of navel-gazing is fun now and then, and I flatter myself to think that some things I said may quirk that snowy-white 'stache of his into a little smile. My day has been good. I hope his is, as well, and that his inbox doesn't fill up too fast.

Well, yes, I see what you are saying. As of yet, the law does not require that a woman be tied down and vaginally probed. So it is not rape. But saying she has a choice is somewhat illusionary. To me the lack of a real option makes it an emotionally violent act of power against a woman by her government.

Realistically speaking the choice has been removed. Yes, a woman can opt out but it is not as simple as saying a woman really has a choice. It’s not like making a decision to have an abortion is something so frivolous and inconsequential that a woman will just decide against it because the law has made it too emotionally traumatic to go through with. It’s not like she’s going to say “oh well if I have to have a vaginal ultrasound accompanied by a visual and verbal description of the fetus forget it. The reasons I chose to go through with this procedure are so trivial that I’ll just give birth instead.” That is a highly unlikely scenario. So really there is no choice. Just more emotional pain during an already difficult time. Not to mention the extra financial burden.

That said I really do agree that we need to keep a level head and focus on the constant and repetitive attacks against individual freedoms that are being consistently perpetrated. A woman’s right to control her own body has been under heavy attack for several years now. The passing of the law in Virginia did not happen in a vacuum. The climate has been carefully cultivated as state after state has passed laws restricting abortion. The ultimate goal is clear.

What is WRONG with teachers nowadays?
 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...6pLid%3D136368

I am starting to think that colleges and universities should start requiring psychological testing for all students applying for admission to an education program.

I take offense to you generalizing all teachers with your headline

What's WRONG with Teachers nowadays.

My partner is a teacher and a damn fine one. I personally think you owe teachers an apology.

Dapper, did you mean to say teachers? Or, maybe you did mean students, and teachers? I personally don't think you were attempting to disparage all teachers by suggessting psychological testing. I think any profession that works with children, under 18 should be psychologically evaluated every few years.

This would not be exclusive to teachers. It could also include counselors, coaches, childcare. Maybe I am putting to much stock in psychological evaluation. It does seem that with the advent of the internet and supporting technology the public in general is made aware of so many of the crimes committed against kids.

I am starting to think that colleges and universities should start requiring psychological testing for all students applying for admission to an education program.
__________________
-Dapper

No it's about educators.

I'm going to make one final statement and then I'm leaving this thread.

I am totally pissed off that anyone would suggest there needs to be any psychological testing for teachers or any other profession.

Do you all not recall how horrible it was for our community when we were considered to be crazy my the medical profession.

I'm done. I'm pissed and I am totally hurt that anyone in this community would dare to suggest something of this nature.

I am sorry you took it personally. I am open to suggesstions as to how we start weeding out the people in any profession that may not be fit, safe to work with or around children. I do know I can read daily about children being abused physcially, mentally, emotionally by clergy, teachers, parents, other kids the list seems endless.

As for the LGBTQ marked as crazy by the medical profession, I remember, yes. I don't think being LGBTQ makes one crazy. You may be crazy but it is not a given because you are LGBTQ.

From MoveOn.org

Today, an all male ‘witness’ panel was allowed to speak at the GOP’s hearing examining the Obama administration’s new regulation requiring employers and insurers to provide contraception coverage to employees. When Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke was presented to testify on behalf of the Minority, she was shown the door. She would have been the only female voice speaking on behalf of the millions of women who support access to birth control. Here is the basis of her testimony, had she been allowed to speak.

Okie,

I am sorry if you found it offensive. I guess you really thought I was serious, rather than it just me throwing out some frustration of the seemingly constant poor choices teachers have been making lately?

I actually don't think that all students should have to do psychological testing prior to admission to an education major. Plus, most education majors come into freshman year already in the major, so it would be at their own expense as high school seniors to get tested. Obviously, we would have a much lower rate of students applying, which would not be a good thing.

I personally am a therapist (licensed clinical social worker), and I would welcome any kind of testing for admission to a graduate program. However, I do think that the professors do a pretty good job at weeding out the people with obvious personality disorders and such. They just discharge them from the program.

Also, I support the idea of all social workers (and all other therapists) having to pay for psychological testing after graduation in order to receive their license. That is actually an excellent idea (thanks, Greyson)! I would put out some money to ensure that there are only good, mentally healthy therapists working with both children and adults.

All you really need is one psychological evaluation to see if someone fits the characteristics of someone who would not be the best influence on children. Repetition wouldn't make a difference.

Since I am not a psychologist (only psychologists can do psychological testing), I can not say this with authority, but I do not think that there is any psychological testing that would weed out pedophilia.

I am not a psychologist either. Not even close. Urban Planner does not make me an expert in this field. As far as repetition, I thought every few years may help because sometimes it does seem like people can become troubled a few years later. I don't think blanced mental health is a given for a life time.

I do appreciate your participation in the threads Dapper. For the most part, I have found you to be fair minded and informed. I also can understand the reaction of OkieBug and I also know too many childrend are being harmed daily in "plain sight." Anyway, I have said my thoughts on this one.

Absolutely. I wasn't referring to shifting mental health disorders (like mood disorders, for example), I was referring specifically to what I highlighted above. I am referring to people who would have extremely poor judgement, antisocial traits, etc., that could effect them making good choices for children. For example, the person in the article has the children write to her boyfriend who is an inmate in prison who had child porn and weapons charges on him. That shows very poor judgement. I would suggest that if she continued as a teacher, she would continue to make poor choices such as the above. This is about "who" she is as a person.

I am not referring to things like depression, for example, which could change year to year. Having a teacher who is depressed isn't harmful to children.

Make sense?

Corkey, brought up a good example of a profession that does psychological testing for this purpose. Police officers. They test for things like antisocial traits. People who are mildly-severely socialpathic apply to become police officers. They like to feel they have power over others (not such a good trait for a police officer who already is handed a lot of power). Police officers also need to be able to control their anger and have good judgement. They screen for these things and then recommend whether or not the police department should consider hiring the person. If the person had depression, for example, the psychologist may recommend treatment to the person, but it wouldn't preclude them from being a good police officer.

EXCUSE ME................

inserting any object in the vagina or anus of a women without her consent IS RAPE. PERIOD.

inserting any object in a vagina under coercion (which is what requiring it to get an abortion) IS RAPE

to suggest otherwise is utter bullshit and smacks of the patriarchy.....

and I'm outta here or I will get timed out again.......

I agree. I had to have one of these ultrasounds back in 2004 and felt incredibly violated by the process, even though I knew it was medically necessary. For a government to force/coerce women to be vaginally probed with a phallic ultrasound wand for no reasonable medical purpose is government-mandated sexual assault.

http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/143/0...038143_732.JPG