I have more proof that Maine's politicians are the best.

Senator Olympia Snowe is highly respected (as we knew) and politicians should first serve the nation, then the state, then the voters (which my mother and I have known for quite some time).

Maine, I am proud of you.

EDIT: Video does not work, so I took it off. Here's the link.

Healthcare Amendment: Abortion

Senate rejects abortion amendment in health care bill

Quotes pulled:

• "Senate Republicans unanimously oppose the bill"
• "'Why are women being singled out here? It's so unfair,' said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California."
• "there is no medical procedure for men that cannot be purchased with private funds."
• "Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, said the real goal of the amendment is to deny women covered by government-funded health care the right to get an abortion."
• "Maine's two Republican senators -- Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins -- both joined Democrats in voting to table the amendment."

Is anyone else really sick of Healthcare Reform and increasingly all politics becoming "We are Republicans" and "We are Democrats"? That is not the point of politics. The point of politics and government is to provide protection to it's citizens in various ways, shapes, and forms. Democracy is "rule of the people". The thing here is that "rule of the people" tends to turn into "rule of those who scream loudest".

This can be a good thing. We wouldn't have gotten the Civil Rights movement or the Women's Rights movement without people "screaming". The problem is that the people who scream the loudest can be those who we really don't want anything to do with, or that we disagree with, or who are only out for themselves.

Abortion: If they have to keep federally funded abortion coverage out of the amendment to get it to pass, okay. I don't like that, but I can live with it until someone is able to pass another amendment to make federally funded abortion coverage legal. Civil reform doesn't stick until society is ready (read: the majority is ready) for it. There was a Civil Rights bill in the 1800s that said pretty much the exact same things as the one in the 60s, but it was completely ignored because no one wanted to follow it (at least, no one where it mattered). But it shouldn't prevent people from paying for abortion coverage with their own money.

Also, yay for Maine Senators for not being afraid (yet again) to vote how they feel and not just with the Republicans because they're Republicans.

Healthcare Reform

I was watching the national news today and was very dissapointed by what I saw and heard. Congresspeople screaming "baby-killer" at people on the floor, protesters chanting so loud outside the Congress building ("Kill the bill, kill the bill, Nancy, Nancy, kill the bill!")that the Senators and Representatives could hear them inside the building during the vote.

That Congresspeople should show such deplorable, undignified behavior while doing their jobs is disgraceful. Everyone should be able to conduct themselves according to their position in a polite, civilized manner. They represent the country and the American people; and with that in mind, I can't say that I like the state of the country today, or the attitude of the people.

Thank you, Olympia Snowe and few others, for having the good sense to stay out of it.

First Parish Gorham

I found a wonderful blog today, or at least someone I knew did.
Its called First Parish Gorham, and is the blog of Reverend David Butler, who says of himself:
"I am a non-traditional minister with a passion for social justice, the pursuit of truth and peace, and openness to other points of view (as long as they are open views as well). I am also an actor, writer, and playwright."
One post I really liked, Agnostic Christianity. Go read it.
While you're at it, go visit Senator Olympia Snowe's page. I'm writing a report about her and all her work with bipartisan reform.
Also visit Tamora Peirce's blog; especially if you liked the Girls Read Comics links.

Quotes pulled from various sources:

• "Faith is the relationship we have with whatever it is that we consider truly transcendent." -Reverend David Butler
• “Just because we have different views, that doesn't mean that we lack principles.” -Senator Olympia Snowe
• "Thou art God" -Stranger in a Strange Land; Robert Heinlein