Pentagon chief vows to ‘fix’ military’s sexual assault problem | Reuters

The army has relied mostly on brawn for the greater part of its existence.  Its culture has been shaped by a resilient gender segregation that the dependence on male power has perpetuated.  However, today’s army is increasingly computer and technologically driven–gender may be mattering less and less.  Drones are replacing the boys but the boy culture changes much slower than the technology.  The values and psychology of today’s army boys is tethered to the attitudes which their parents have embedded in them.  Those ties cannot be broken.  They can be mediated by rules and incentives (negative and positive), but they cannot be completely eradicated in the average soldier who joins a tradition of male discipline and aggression honored and admired by the women in their lives and expected by their male heroes.

To be sure, today’s army would look like camp scouts compared to the savage herds that define the  history and origins of war itself.   But it is an uncomfortable place for young heroic women who grew up in an age that promises them equality in all areas of their lives.  Ironically, the fight to change the deep male traditions that form our fighting forces may be more difficult than field combat itself where they can pull a trigger or a button and wipe out a dozen men they may not even get to visualize or even hear.  Such is the challenge for today’s army–we have technological power and intellectual power beyond our enemies but the real enemy our army faces today is our inability to get along as fellow patriotic Americans or simply human beings.  Of course, that is also the reason we go to war against other nations in the first place.

“Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered top military chiefs on Friday to redouble their effort to address the problem of sexual assault, saying the frequency and perceived tolerance of the crime was …”

via Pentagon chief vows to ‘fix’ military’s sexual assault problem | Reuters.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Culture Think, Demographic Change, Discrimination, drone attacks, Gender, Gender Policy, Intolerance, News, regulations, Women's rights, Army and gender, gender relations in the Army, Men in the Army, war and men and women, women in the Army

Malden woman attacked by man accusing Muslims of Marathon bombings – Metro – The Boston Globe

No one ever talks about it.  It is taboo.  Or perhaps, it is not important in our mostly Western European culture.

As we have developed a culture of fear, xenophobia, and antipathy towards foreigners, we have begun to kill our American Dream.  We dislike people who look poorly dressed, “dark,” or otherwise not like “us.”  We forget, or perhaps our history books don’t explain and our grandparents did not share, that most people who came through Elis Island came here with few  belongings, lived in very modest quarters and felt as isolated and alienated as today’s monolingual and “lost in America” recent immigrant population.

Mexicans, Haitians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Puerto Ricans, many, many, groups are portrayed as “less than American” and continue to be seen as different from the mainstream ideal.  An ideal that may now be shattered after the savages who attacked innocent people in Boston.  The facts are developing at this time.  But the monsters in the two FBI photos are nothing like the “dark guy” ridiculously and irresponsibly described by CNN’s John King with Wolf Blitzer supporting.

“I want to be very careful about this, because people get very sensitive when you say these things,” King said Wednesday. “I was told by one of these sources who is a law enforcement official that this is a dark-skinned male.”

America is now more diverse than ever.  It’s mainstream leadership is woefully out of touch with the silent growing segment of the population that is destined to inherit our tomorrow.

The Boston Globe reported a story that confirms the damage mainstream media does to our fabric when they echo the fears and phobias suffered by less educated Americans…  By less educated we don’t mean did not go to College–we mean people who were raised and educated by parents and schools that failed.  Some of these people have high degrees and are millionaires who lead our nightly broadcasts…

“Every day, Heba Abolaban of Malden checks on her family in war-strafed Syria, where water, bread and electricity are in short supply. She was far more worried about them than about herself on Wednesday morning when she put her baby daughter in a stroller and headed into the sunshine to a play group with a friend.But as they strolled down Commercial Street, an angry-faced man charged toward the petite woman, his hand balled into a fist. He punched her hard in the shoulder and screamed curses inches from her face. Then he pointed at her and …”

More via Malden woman attacked by man accusing Muslims of Marathon bombings – Metro – The Boston Globe.

Filed under: Africa, Blogosphere, Civic Engagement, Community Tragedy, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Culture Think, Demographic Change, Discrimination, ethnicity in politics, ideology, Immigration, Intolerance, Maternal and Child Health, News, Parenting, Political Violence, propaganda and spin, Pundits, Racism, Religion, Religious freedom, The Western Imagination, WeSeeReason, Women's rights, Islam and the media; muslims on TV; portrayal of Islam in American media;, Muslims, National Identity; voodoo economics; The Republican Play Book; the race card; racism; ethnocentrism; bigotry; cultural competence; haters, racist language; the race card; bigotry; propaganda; the play book; manipulating the masses; race; racism; Barak Obama; national decency; political discourse

Ensuring the Health Care Needs of Women: A Checklist for Health Exchanges – Kaiser Family Foundation

Latina women lead all groups in the number of babies born, yet are disconnected from a regular provider, health insurance and quality continuos care.  The current healthcare reform may leave many families outside the CAC safety net because they may not qualify for services due to their immigrant status.  Learn more about women’s health at the Kaiser Family Foundation website below…

“To inform the development of the state health insurance Exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, this checklist identifies key coverage, affordability and access issues that are important for women. Based on lessons learned from women’s health research and the Massachusetts experience, the checklist considers essential health benefits, implementation of no-cost preventive services including contraception, provider networks and affordability, outreach and enrollment efforts, and the importance of including gender and other demographic characteristics in data collection and reporting standards. It was jointly authored by policy experts at the Kaiser Family Foundation, The Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health at The George Washington University.”

More via Ensuring the Health Care Needs of Women: A Checklist for Health Exchanges – Kaiser Family Foundation.

Filed under: access to education, Behavioral Health Outcomes, Blogosphere, Children and Poverty, consumers, Culture Think, Discrimination, Health Literacy, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, Immigration, Latinos, Women's rights, healthcare for the poor; poverty and health needs;Planned Parenthood; Republican budget cuts; Medicaid and reproductive rights; paying for women's reproductive needs; women's health; feminization of p, healthcare policy, Immigration, immigration reform, women's health

The Policy ThinkShop on Facebook: How do you think Healthcare Reform is working in New Jersey? What about the poorest and most vulnerable in these time of change?

New Jersey is reorganizing its healthcare system, including urban hospital that are vital to New Jersey’s poorest and most vulnerable. What do you think?

MORE via Facebook.

Filed under: Health Literacy, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, Immigration, Latinos, Maternal and Child Health, Medical Research, Minority Males, New American Electorate, News, Parenting, Policy ThinkShop Comments on other media platforms, Public Health, Public Policy, Unemployment, Women's rights

Report Faults India Government Over Child Sex Abuse – NYTimes.com

India’s troubles continue beyond its economic slump into its social fabric.  The immense country is home to a huge portion of the world children and it’s laws do not seem up to the task of nurturing and protecting them.  India is a society of hierarchy and class leaving many poor children at the mercy of those with privilege and power…

“Sexual abuse of children is “disturbingly common” in India, and the government’s response to it has fallen short, both in protecting children and in treating victims, Human Rights Watch said in a report released…”

via Report Faults India Government Over Child Sex Abuse – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Behavioral Health Outcomes, Blogosphere, Child Abuse, Children and Poverty, Community Tragedy, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Culture Think, Gender, Gender Policy, Maternal and Child Health, News, Parenting, political corruption, Political Economy, Women's rights, rape; sexual predators; sexism; child abuse; victimizing children; child porn;

The Cost and Coverage Implications of the ACA Medicaid Expansion: National and State-by-State Analysis – Kaiser Family Foundation

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act promises to change our healthcare system once and for all to solve many of its ongoing malformations and contradictions …  No where is this more true than in its expansion of healthcare services to persons under the Medicaid umbrella.  The Kaiser Foundation web, which always provides data and balanced analysis on the usually controversial health issue and so called “entitlement programs” like Medicaid.  The link below includes an entire report showing estimated impact on each of the 50 states …

“A central goal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to significantly reduce the number of uninsured by providing a continuum of affordable coverage options through Medicaid and new Health Insurance Exchanges.  Following the June 2012 Supreme Court decision, states face a decision about whether to adopt the Medicaid expansion. These decisions will have enormous consequences for health coverage for the low-income population.

This analysis uses the Urban Institute’s Health Insurance Policy Simulation Model (HIPSM) to provide national as well as state-by-state estimates of the impact of ACA on federal and state Medicaid costs, Medicaid enrollment, and the number of uninsured. The analysis shows that the impact of the ACA Medicaid expansion will vary across states based on current coverage levels and the number of uninsured.  This analysis shows that by implementing the Medicaid expansion with other provisions of the ACA, states could significantly reduce the number of uninsured.  Overall state costs of implementing the Medicaid expansion would be modest compared to increases in federal funds, and some states are likely to see small net budget savings.”

More via The Cost and Coverage Implications of the ACA Medicaid Expansion: National and State-by-State Analysis – Kaiser Family Foundation.

Filed under: Behavioral Health Outcomes, Blogosphere, Children and Poverty, Feminization of Poverty, Health Literacy, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, Maternal and Child Health, News, Public Health, Public Policy, Public Sector, Public Service, Women's rights, healthcare for the poor; poverty and health needs;Planned Parenthood; Republican budget cuts; Medicaid and reproductive rights; paying for women's reproductive needs; women's health and people's polit, Medicaid

President Obama’s Success – NYTimes.com

NYTs weighs in on how the Country has spoken demanding

• jobs, spreading the tax burden and rejecting politics of deceit

“President Obama’s dramatic re-election victory was not a sign that a fractured nation had finally come together on Election Day. But it was a strong endorsement of …”

via President Obama’s Success – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: access to education, Blogosphere, Civic Engagement, consumers, Culture Think, Demographic Change, Economic Recovery, Election 2012, Gender, Government Works?, Immigration, Latinos, Minority Males, News, Political Economy, political plots, Public Health, Public Policy, Public Service, Pundits, Social Media, symbolic uses of politics, symbols as swords, Tax Policy, Teacher Power, The 47%!, Unemployment, Vote, waging war, WeSeeReason, Women's rights, Election 2012;, Obama win, President Obama, Romney blunders, Vice President Joe Biden

Obama Wins New Term as Electoral Advantage Holds – NYTimes.com

America’s has chosen to stay on the path to fairness, embracing diversity and the working person … The 47% wins!

The New York Times reports Obama victory as “Mr. Etch a Sketch” goes down hard and for ever!

Mitt Catches Bad Loss … America’s 47% wins big!

Name(required)

Email(required)

Website

Comment(required)

“Barack Hussein Obama was re-elected president of the United States on Tuesday, overcoming powerful economic headwinds, a lock-step resistance to his agenda by Republicans in Congress and an unprecedented torrent of advertising as the nation voted to give him a second …”

More via Obama Wins New Term as Electoral Advantage Holds – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: News, Latinos, Public Policy, Discrimination, Education Policy, Election 2012, Economic Recession, Unemployment, Blogosphere, Demographic Change, waging war, WeSeeReason, Middle East Freedom, Using Social Media, access to education, Women's rights, symbolic uses of politics, symbols as swords, African American, ethnicity in politics, Culture Think, Vote, The Western Imagination, Tax Policy, Education Reform, Teacher Power, Medicare, The 47%!, Arab Spring, Minority Males, Etch A Sketch, Romney blunders

Mourdock’s Comments Pose Dilemma for Romney – NYTimes.com

NYTs reports on Romney’s friends in the new more right wing Republican party and their outlandish remarks regarding rape and a women’s dignity and rights…

“The charged anti-abortion comments made this week by Richard Mourdock, a Republican Senate candidate in Indiana, pose …”

via Mourdock’s Comments Pose Dilemma for Romney – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Abortion, Blogosphere, Election 2012, News, Vote, Women's rights, rape; sexual predators; sexism;, Romney blunders, sexism; heterosexism; gender politics; feminism; old boy network; patriarchy;, women's health, Women's sexuality, Women's vote

A Widow’s Victory, and a Defeat for DOMA : The New Yorker

In a closely watched constitutional challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan struck down, on Thursday, the part of the law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages in states where they are legal, such as New York. The broad ruling is closely aligned with the arguments made by the Obama Justice Department, which early last year joined with gay-rights advocates and urged federal courts to strike …

More via A Widow’s Victory, and a Defeat for DOMA : The New Yorker.

Filed under: Blogosphere, consumers, Culture Think, Death and Dying, Election 2012, Family Policy, Gender, Gender Policy, Health Literacy, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, News, Public Health, Public Policy, WeSeeReason, Women's rights, civil rights; equal rights; justice; American values; diversity; one nation; come together; progressives; social issues; social discourse; public debate; leadership; social justice; equality; egalitar, Gay movement, Gay; marriage; gay marriage; legal battles; politics of marriage, President Obama on gay marriage; President Obama social policy;

Obama and Romney Focus on Efforts to Woo Women – NYTimes.com

President Obama charged that Mitt Romney’s policies are economically threatening to women, as the candidates in their second presidential debate on Tuesday night clashed repeatedly over who would best serve the …

More via Obama and Romney Focus on Efforts to Woo Women – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Blogosphere, consumers, Culture Think, Election 2012, Feminization of Poverty, Gender, Gender Policy, News, The 47%!, Vote, WeSeeReason, Women's rights, Binders full of women, Mitt's Binder Blunder, Mitt's Blunders, Romney blunders, Women and the 2012 Election, Women's vote

Ovarian Cancer Screenings Are Not Effective, Panel Says – NYTimes.com

Tests commonly recommended to screen healthy women for ovarian cancer do more harm than good and should not be performed, a …

More via Ovarian Cancer Screenings Are Not Effective, Panel Says – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: Blogosphere, Cancer Treatment & Success, consumers, Death and Dying, Gender, Gender Policy, Health Literacy, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, Medical Research, News, Women's rights, Cancer Research, women's health