The reasoning behind this is just so tortured:
The US government is cutting its funding for the supply of contraceptives to family planning clinics run by Marie Stopes International in Africa, alleging that it condones forced abortions in China.
MSI has categorically denied that it supports forced abortions or coercive sterilisation in China or anywhere else in the world, and says that the actions of the Bush government will result in more abortions in Africa, as women will be unable to get contraceptives and will end up with unwanted pregnancies.
One of George Bush’s first acts after becoming president was to stop all US funds to foreign organisations that helped women in any way to get an abortion, including providing advice. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) lost $34m that Congress had appropriated for it in 2002.
…”At a time when governments have pledged to increase their commitment to improving the health of women, only the Bush administration could find logic in the idea that they can reduce abortion and promote choice for women in China by causing more abortion,” said [MSI CEO] Hovig.
I think the nation will breathe a collective sigh of relief after we’ve sworn in Obama and Biden. A pity they’ll face the near-impossible task of cleaning up all the crap Bush & Co. will leave behind, like numerous wars, a battered global reputation, a broken economy and a whole lot more. But at least it will put an end to nonsense like this.
1
By gswafford
The Obama Youth? That video is creepier than John McCain’s smile.
October 5, 2008 @ 12:01 am | Comment
2
By Rhys
For anyone who is interested, this is one of the more damning analyses of the US financial system I have read, made all the more interesting that it comes from a right-leaning Murdoch paper. The journo seems to think there is not a lot of sunshine around the corner:
DESPITE all the hand-wringing about the Wall Street bailout, the reality is that a measly $US700billion ($895billion) won’t save Americans from what ails them most: themselves.
The Bush administration’s rescue of Wall Street – which will, temporarily at least, allow crippled banks to keep lending, thereby sustaining the vicious cycle which started this mess – is but a band-aid applied to a gushing wound, decades in the making.
It doesn’t take the Scottish father of modern economics, Adam Smith, to understand how unsustainable the US has become; a nation which buys anything and everything at a manic pace and in turn produces only debt.
It’s a maddening place to raise children and attempt to instill in them the idea that they can have what they can afford, because no one around them can afford anything that they have.
High school students drive new BMWs – purchased on credit, of course – because heaven forbid they have to suffer the social ignominy of arriving at school in a used car.
I have watched this deterioration for 15 years and its extremes never cease to amaze, or depress, me. The mother of my brother-in-law’s infant son may be perpetually broke, yet she is the proud new owner of a marvellous set of breasts.
Her cosmetic surgeon, it turns out, has a finance company at the ready and encouraged her to take advantage of low introductory interest rates. Buy now, pay later is the American mantra.
Pointing the finger is useless because there is enough blame to go round.
Americans can’t restrain themselves from spending money they don’t have – timely considering this week is the 50th anniversary of the first American Express credit card – and financial institutions can’t stop lending them money because new business propels a bank’s stock and fattens those executive bonuses.
So everybody wins (not really) while the country – and the generations to come – lose.
The link:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24442946-7583,00.html
The mortgage crisis, which triggered what is the biggest disaster since the Great Depression, was just the latest symptom of a terminally sick system.
October 5, 2008 @ 1:16 am | Comment
3
By David
Is it really the government’s responsibility to provide birth control to foreign countries? This kind of thing would never pass a referendum, especially during a global financial crisis.
October 5, 2008 @ 1:41 am | Comment
4
By lensovet
David – it’s called providing assistance. And I doubt financial issues would be on top of people’s minds voting against it – “family values” and religious beliefs would probably trumpet all other “reasoning.”
and seriously, what is $30 million when we just passed a $700+ billion bailout package?
October 5, 2008 @ 2:51 am | Comment
5
By Richard
David it’s something we’ve always done, another aspect of humanitarian aid, and one that’s been appreciated and successful. If we should stop foreign aid, that’s one conversation. But to do it because of an ideological opposition to birth control is just more Bush insanity.
October 5, 2008 @ 8:32 am | Comment
6
By Richard
Gordon, leave it to you to post that Obama link – as though Obama were the one personally indoctrinating and brainwashing children.
Fasten your seat-belts everyone – we are abut to see an avalanche of highly personal attacks on Obama associating him with “terrorists,” Nazism, Communism, Islamism and worse. With the economic trainwreck this is now the only hope McCain possibly has. Watch Michelle Malkin and the Pajamas gang and NRO (led by Stanley Kurtz) to keep the Wurlitzer pumping at peak volume.
October 5, 2008 @ 8:40 am | Comment
7
By gswafford
Richard, I wasn’t insinuating that Obama was personally indoctrinating children. Although, I suppose it could have been taken that way given the way that I phrased it. I just find it a bit creepy and as you might have noticed after following the link, there are several other clips under “related videos” showing the children of Nazi Germany and North Korea dancing and singing to their “Dear Leader”.
Personally, I don’t think children should be singing songs of ideological praise to any political figure in this country.
You’re right though, things are about to get mighty ugly.
October 5, 2008 @ 9:18 am | Comment
8
By Richard
It looked like their parent were the ones responsible. By calling them the “Obama Youth” you make a direct correlation with the Hitler Youth, unknowingly or not, and the Hitler Youth were directly and intentionally indoctrinated by Hitler. They can’t be compared with the kids whose parents have encouraged them to sing songs about Obama. I’ve read stories about Evangelicals praying and singing about Bush. Quite distasteful – any kind of cult worship of any leader, including these Obama kids.
October 5, 2008 @ 9:26 am | Comment
9
By Sam_S
That’s not the first time I’ve seen parents who deserve a good slapping, just the first time I’ve seen it in a professionally produced public video!
Obama will no doubt provide the parents with counseling, just after he heals the planet, brings peace on earth, and gives all the rubbers back to Marie Stopes.
October 5, 2008 @ 11:59 pm | Comment
10
By Hong Xiuquan
“I’ve read stories about Evangelicals praying and singing about Bush. Quite distasteful”
You’ve read about it. Now see the film!
http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=fxdt_f0hwUg
This video needs to pop up everytime someone tries to drop the Obama-supporters-as-cultists meme.
October 6, 2008 @ 1:57 am | Comment
11
By Tree Sitter
seriously, sex is fun, but for this planet’s sake, stop making stupid babies.. I’m talking to you, indians. Learn to use a fricking condom
October 6, 2008 @ 7:37 am | Comment
12
By LoveChinaLongTime
Oh stop wringing your hands! All those evangelical christian groups all over the U.S. will step in to provide birth-to-18 assistance to any kid not aborted as well as offer financial assistance to young pre-teen mothers out there. God would have, right??
October 6, 2008 @ 7:31 pm | Comment
13
By Raj
Comment in the Times today.
http://tinyurl.com/3nwys2
Disclaimer is that I haven’t read it yet, but the title sounds optimistic.
October 6, 2008 @ 9:32 pm | Comment
14
By Matt
Both the singing Obama children and the Bush children were unsettling. I am with Gordon — no child should be indoctrinated one way or the other in terms of supporting a political figure. In some ways though, I found the Obama supporter children more unsettling though. The message of hope is wonderful and could stand on it own. But as it is, it’s political propaganda. The Jesus Camp thing is carried on throughout the U.S. every Sunday, but not as direct. In man (most?) churches, church members typically pray God’s guidance of elected political leaders, from the president to Congress to local leaders. Happens every Sunday folks, no matter what party is in office.
October 6, 2008 @ 9:57 pm | Comment
15
By Richard
Matt, I am totaly with Gordon on that point as well. I never said otherwise. I am glad we agree. Watching those kids singing was revolting. But make sure it’s clear that Obama was not asking them to do that.
October 6, 2008 @ 10:09 pm | Comment
16
By gswafford
I’m certain that Obama wasn’t behind this either. And I don’t mean that sarcastically. Unfortunately for him, some of his gung-ho believers might not be the best thing for his campaign.
October 7, 2008 @ 10:06 am | Comment