Will Dobbs resurrect Jane for the 21st century?

The Dobbs decision of June 24th did more than deal a death blow to nationwide abortion rights.

It also dealt a health, indeed a death blow, to resourceless women in 14 states that have already outlawed abortion that had been legal for nearly 50 years under the Roe v. Wade. Those women will now experience a rise in maternal mortality. A study of 162 countries by the British-German academic publishing company, Springer Nature Group, reveals a disturbing correlation between maternal death and lack of safe, legal access to abortion. They found that maternal mortality increases in countries/areas with restrictive abortion laws that increase illegal, unsafe abortions. Such abortions account for virtually all abortion related maternal deaths. The study concluded that expanding safe, legal abortion is a significant driver in reducing abortion related maternal deaths.

America’s maternal death rate is nothing to celebrate; 53 countries have a lower maternal death rate than the richest, most medically advanced country in the world. With tens of millions in poverty, without recourse to safe, legal abortions, that is not surprising. With abortion outlawed in 14 states; expected to rise to likely 24 or more, the US maternal death rate will sink even lower.

Back in 1969, Heather Booth, a classmate of mine at University of Chicago, co-founded the Abortion Counseling Service of Women’s Liberation in Hyde Park. Known as Jane, from the underground referral notices stating “Need help? Call Jane”, the service did more than counseling. It arranged for over 11,000 abortions for women shut out from the most basic reproductive and heath care that should be an absolute right, At that time, doctors at Cook County Hospital reported that dozens of poor women poured into the hospital weekly, terribly damaged by self-induced abortions. Some died.

Originally using sympathetic doctors, some Jane members learned how to perform the procedure, greatly expanding quick, inexpensive and save abortions during its 4 year existence. In 1972, police raided a Jane apartment, arresting 7 abortion providers. Facing possible life in prison on abortion and conspiracy charges, their attorney delayed the proceeding long enough for the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973 to make their prosecution moot. Jane was soon dissolved as no longer necessary.

Fifty years on poor, desperate women are headed back to the back alley, the emergency room, even the grave. Will Dobbs resurrect Jane for the 21stcentury? It already has.

Former Joint Chief’s Chair tells Biden: ‘Negotiate Ukraine war end now’

Sometimes top military warriors tell US war presidents the painful truth.

That happened yesterday when retired admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, urged President Biden to begin negotiations to end America’s newest endless war.

And a peculiar endless war it is….America squandering its desperately needed treasure so Ukraine can squander its economy, infrastructure and precious blood on a war it can’t win short of America nuking Russia.

President Biden is doing precisely the opposite: funneling endless billions to keep the war going while dismissing negotiations out of hand.

Mullen didn’t mince words, telling Biden to “back off” scaremongering words of nuclear Armageddon and quickly bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table. He called Biden’s remarks as being “at the top of the language scale” and he wasn’t being complementary.

Mullen was channeling those of us in the peace community when he said “As is typical in any war, it’s gotta end and usually there are negotiations associated with that. The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

Biden’s war conduct has been worse than simply poo-pooing negotiations. He directly undermined a potential 15 point peace agreement in March brokered by Turkey that could have ended the war in its first month.

Turkey, bless em, will try again tomorrow when their President Erdogan will meet with Russian President Putin to discuss Turkey brokering a new round of peace talks.

That should be encouraging. But it’s likely to go nowhere when America, in its lust to degrade, weaken, Russia, keeps Ukraine President Zelensky’s hopeless dreams of victory alive.

Biden and the US war party still view perpetual war as the wealth of the state. More likely it’s the death of the state. This time it may include all of us.

New name for Medicare Advantage?

Nearly half of the 65 million seniors on Medicare choose private plans known as Medicare Advantage. Great marketing name. You get an advantage over Medicare at a lower cost.

There’s a catch. Under Medicare, it’s the health care providers that decide when the patient is capable of leaving the facility. With Medicare Advantage it’s the private insurer.

The result? Most such plans send the patient home sooner than the doctors advise. That gives the patient 3 choices: Pay thousands more to stay; appeal the decision; go home.

A Medicare spokesperson advised that the plans have metrics designed to allow the patient “the opportunity to enjoy more time at home.” She omitted the last line…”and to allow the plan the opportunity to enjoy more profits.”

How bout a little truth in advertising?. Time for a new moniker... “Medicare Disadvantage.”

Wrong way to solve US gas shortage

 Wrong way to solve US gas shortage

America produces 11 million barrels of oil daily. But we gobble up 20 million barrels to feed our gas guzzlers. What to do?

Venezuela? Nope, no oil there since were sanctioning Venezuela in effort to depose their president Maduro.

Iran? Nope, no oil there as we’re sanctioning Iran to destroy their imaginary nuclear program.

Russia? Nope, US proxy war to weaken, degrade Russia allows not one drop to feed our rapacious oil appetite.

Saudi Arabia? Nope, the Saudis are cutting oil production to punish America for a bunch of real and imagined offenses.

Syria? Bingo. We’ve got a thousand troops guarding their oil fields to not only keep the oil from their rightly Syrian owners, but to steal it.

We’re learning the US pilfers about 80% of daily Syrian output amounting to over 60,000 barrels a day.

During his bizarre presidency, Trump even bragged about stealing Syrian oil as war booty, to get something out of our failed decade long war there helping terrorists depose hated Syrian president Assad.

President Biden, a bit less crass than the Donald, speaks softly…and carries a big oil wagon out of Syria. Next time you fill up, look for the sign, “Pumped in Syria, stolen by Uncle Sam.”