Image from Mediaite

A few days ago, the Internet went crazy (including USDemocrazy) with a picture of an all-male panel testifying to the House Government Oversight Committee on women’s health.  But this latest picture doesn’t seem to be getting nearly as much buzz.

Three guesses what this all-male panel is talking about!  Did you guess the lack of women’s representation in policy discussions about women’s health?  (Probably because the picture kind of gives it away.)

Really, Morning Joe, REALLY?  In response to outrage over a picture of all-men testifying on birth control, you put together a panel of all men to respond?  Something must not be connecting.

Women make up just over 50 percent of the population in the United States, and yet only 16.8 percent of Congress, a minority of Fortune 500 CEOs, 22 percent of state legislatures…I could go on.

Of course, women should be a part of conversations about birth control and their health.  They should also be a part of conversations about the conversations about their birth control and their health.  But, as a majority of the population, they should also be a part of conversations about all policy issues.  And about the conversations about the policy conversations.

Check out this great speech by Senator (and lady human) Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-D), explaining last week’s oversight as well as why incorporating more women’s voices into political discussions of all sorts is a good thing.

Isaiah 40:1-11

1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

Reflection
This is the passage that spoke of John the Baptist’s calling to go and declare God’s good news to all. In the same way, after encountering God, we too are left with this same feeling of “What do I do next?” and “What should I cry out?” However, God has already given it to us. We are to go out and declare that our God is here, right now, with power, and He has come to comfort and rescue His people. He has seen what we have gone through, and knows each of the things we have done, yet He has come in forgiveness and grace to set us free from it all. This is the message that we have received through passages like this, through teachings in the church, and even in our own prayer times. Now let’s go out and share it with others!

Response
Let’s respond by asking God to fill us again with the heart to go out and share this good news with those that are wandering in the wilderness of this life. Let’s pray that our words and prayers would be effective and that many would come to know this God who has rescued us.

As frequent Internet users, we here at USDemocrazy are curious to hear your opinions on online piracy.

To get the discussion started here’s a statistic from a recent Columbia University study:

70 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said they had bought, copied or downloaded unauthorized music TV shows, or movies, compared with 46 percent of all adults who’d done the same

A new statistic for an old debate has people unsure if they should blame the youth, the strict copyright laws, or the easy access to free content online.

So here’s the question of the day or maybe the 21st century: What should we do about online piracy?

Courtesy of henrypayne.com

Is there a new crop of Santorum supporter’s showing up in this Great Lake state?

Residents of open primary and caucus states like Michigan, North Dakota, Vermont and Tennessee may have an opportunity to take part in Operation Hilarity.

Operations have been executed from both political parties during political contests in the past. However, this operation is specifically designed for citizens who live in open or semi-closed primary states to vote for Rick Santorum.

On February 28^th , voters simply go to the polls and ask for a Republican ballot even if they are registered to another party. Thus, giving Santorum more votes and possibly the state’s 30 delegates.

Only time will tell  if Operation Hilarity is a party pastiche or not
Check out the discussion on Fox New at the 5:00 mark :
Fox News Chris Stirewalt, discussing Operation Hilarity

Image from http://news.mibba.com/Politics/3528/Where-the-Heart-Lies-Love-doth-Follow

USDemocrazy has a few updates on Maryland’s Civil Marriage Protection Act of 2012, most notably: it passed in the General Assembly–and presumably with the curious blessing of former Vice President Dick Cheney!

But probably without the well-wishes of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

The legislation went through with an incredibly close 72-67 vote on Friday. It’s now on its way to the state Senate, where it is expected to proceed to Governor O’Malley’s desk without much conflict.

Remember the undecided Sam Arora of Montgomery County? If not, see The “Marry”land Before Time, but if so, then you may or may not be surprised (his uncertainty certainly got to us) to learn that he voted against the bill.

Arora and many other delegates who did not vote in favor the bill want to put it ton referendum in this November’s ballot, leaving it up to the public to decide the ultimate fate of same sex marriage in Maryland.

Our advice to the lawmakers who voted nay: politely decline any invitations from Cheney to go quail hunting.