The Sala-Blog

With a looming shut down of the US Government, I find it difficult to maintain my radio silence about issues of the day, and since that was the original purpose of this blog, I vent.

Pap smears. The government is going to shut down over pap smears. Soldiers fighting will go without pay because of pap smears.

Yes, soldiers will not get paid if the government shuts down. Our loved ones, risking their lives in 3 wars, will do so as volunteers. In fact, the only government workers who will continue to get pay are the President and members of Congress. (and their staffs) Sans Ben Nelson, who did the honorable thing and announced that he would take no pay if the government shuts down.

At the heart of this shut down is Planned Parenthood. The Democrats conceded billions of dollars in spending cuts, several times to the Republicans. The very reason this budget could come down to a government shut down is because the Republicans don't want Planned Parenthood to receive ANY funding. This has nothing to do with abortions, which from what I read is about 3% of the health services people get from Planned Parenthood. It's about pap smears. It's about STD testing. It's about women's health. Sexual health. All of our health.

I'm against religious fundamentalism, be it Christian, Muslim, Jew or Scientologist. I'm also against political fundamentalism. Putting those brave Americans who fight for us in the armed services in danger over political fundamentalism about Planned Parenthood is irresponsible governing. It puts our entire nation in danger in many ways.

In this way, if the Republicans refuse compromise, and shut down the government, they will have failed the American people in a most treasonous way.