thatonegirl [dot] net

Senate passes $100 billion agriculture, FDA bill. Averts debate on controversial Plan B pill.

I’m just going to rip this one apart, starting from the top and working my way down. The link at the top is to the full article, but the high points will be quoted/paraphrased in the following. Here goes nothing, might want to hold on to something cuddly because this sure won’t be anything sweet or soft.

“[Sen. Patty Murray] sought to cut millions of dollars from the Food and Drug Administration’s budget because of its refusal to allow over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill called Plan B.”

First off, I understand being upset at not getting your way; I was a child once too. But attempting to sanction important government programs until you do get your way is not the smart choice. Re-evaluate your approach, change it as needed and try again! Don’t give up. Women out there need these new advances in medication.

With the controversy over abortion, the proliferation of STDs and HIV/AIDS and the over sex-ing of my generation, options like these need to be readily available to the general public. Period. Screw politics, lets make life easier for the people out there who don’t consider the consequences of their actions. Or what if they took precautions, but something random went wrong?? Sooooo many variables!! And then there’s always rape to throw into the equation and mix things up a bit.

Article: FDA Official Quits Over Delay on Plan B.

“The FDA is letting politics trump science in the way it approves medicines for the American consumer,” Murray said.

Senators ultimately decided not to offer controversial amendments from Murray and others, sparing colleagues from having to vote on issues that might make their re-elections next year more difficult.”

“[M]ight make their re-elections next year more difficult.” That has got to be my favorite line in the whole article. What the hell. Politicians should be concerned about what is best for the people, for their constituents, not about what will get them re-elected. But wouldn’t you think that if they did the right thing they wouldn’t have to worry about their re-election? Susan F. Wood, former assistant FDA commissioner for women’s health and director of the Office of Women’s Health said the decision was widely seen in the FDA as political (see “FDA Official Quits Over Delay on Plan B” article). Again, like I said earlier, screw politics. Represent and protect your constituents!

But one thing to consider is the abuse of such “morning after pills.” In my opinion, they should be a last resort. Other options like condoms, birth control pills, abstinence should be the first line of defense.

A measure to keep Kobe beef off U.S. menus if Japan won’t buy American beef. Senators want to retaliate against Japan… for refusing to lift a mad cow-related ban [due to] two U.S. cases, compared to 20 in Japan, mean that mad cow disease is statistically nonexistent in this country.

An important part of that chunk that I cut out is that Japan is a $1.5 billion-a-year customer of U.S. beef, and I do understand the whole export/import thing and how it helps our economy, blah blah blah. However, I offer this solution: why don’t we just not export or import any beef period. Sell only American beef on American soil. If the foreigners want American beef, they can come over here and eat it. Notice I said eat it, not buy-it-and-take-it-home-with-them. Its like a 2 for 1 deal. Not only does it boost our tourist industry, but beef sales too! Sounds simple enough, I wish it were.

“[R]etaining a ban on ‘downer’ cattle — those unable to walk — in the food supply.”

This is probably one of the two passed amendments that make sense in the whole piece. I know I don’t want to eat the meat from a cow that wasn’t healthy.

“An amendment… banning the slaughter of wild horses to be sold as meat to foreign countries.”

If they’re procreating to the point of over population which in turn endangers our environment and the health of our wildlife, and foreign countries want to eat them, I say go for it! Does that make me a bad or unethical person? I hope not.