It does not surprise me that our politically motivated FDA would nix approval of an over-the-counter contraceptive without a lick of research, without so much as a fucking peek at the application; that's no big shock.
The surprise for me is WHY this drug?
I mean, we progressive-type lefty leaners understand the pro-life agenda against termination, both procedural and pharmaceutical. We don't agree with them, but we get their point. Because see--we're not huge fans of abortion either. No, it's true. Grab the first pro-choice person you see, and ask. Not one of them, not a single one will say they are PRO abortion. We simply feel it should be a legal option for women who--for a number of often times grizzly reasons--find themselves faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Which is why lots of smart people think it's a good idea to have safe, effective products readily available so one might NEVER GET PREGNANT IN THE FIRST PLACE! Because contrary to popular belief, we pro-choicers don't want to have abortions just as much as the pro-lifers don't want us to have them. Hard to believe, but true.
So what's their problem with Plan B? It's no more an abortion pill than a condom is a coat hanger; it's an emergency contraceptive that--if taken as soon as possible after intercourse--makes it 89% certain conception will not occur. Furthermore, it won't cause an evacuation of the uterus if you are already pregnant. So you couldn't use it for an at-home abortion even if you wanted to.
Now help me out here...doesn't that sound like a Godsend to the life/choice debate? If their problem with abortion is that it stops a fetus from becoming a viable human life, and the problem with morning after drugs like RU-486 is that it stops the chemical reaction that might eventually become a fetus that could become a human life (since life begins at conception); is the problem with Plan B that it stops an egg from being fertilized? Is the whole fucking PROCESS now sacrosanct? Oh, duh. What am I saying.
I have been stewing over the glut of blatantly Christian agendas all day--as I do whenever I read any of the horseshit coming out of Washington--and I continue to be amazed at their success...all the while evoking the intentions of the Founding Fathers...who came here to get away from religious persecution. My hope is that it'll backfire: if they get rid of pro-active, non-abortive contraception, and get rid of our rights to terminate unwanted pregnancy, it will leave only one option for 100% effective birth control: gay sex. Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it. I hear it's even all the rage with the anti-contraceptive, anti-abortion Christian set.
Posted by Antigeist at November 15, 2005 08:31 PMAmen! Bravo! My sentiments exactly. There are a lot of us (progressive lefty leaners) out there, but not enough of us in key positions in Washington. I also pondered my move to Canada (albeit not due to weather--great post!) if 'W' was elected. Notice I said elected, not re-elected, thank-you-very-much. Alas, we are stuck with the schmuck for a little while longer. Antigeist 2008! (Next time I get up in the tri-state area, dinner and drinks on me!)
Posted by: Kathleen at November 15, 2005 11:56 PMi went to catholic high school, where a number of the girls did a number of truly ...naughty... things because "regular" sex was for procreation purposes, and they didn't want to use birth control because that would go against the church.
i don't pretend to understand the logic. but i think that yes, it does lead to your conclusion.
Posted by: anne at November 16, 2005 06:10 AMRight-wingers claim to be pro-life... In reality they're only pro-birth. They just want more people in the world they can torture.
Posted by: Dennis at November 17, 2005 11:04 AM