Health Care Law Will Permit Sex Offenders to Get Viagra

[teamnelson]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/06/gop-senator-health-care-law-permit-sex-offenders-viagra/

"Congressional Research Service confirmed that sex offenders not in prison could get Viagra and other drugs treating erectile dysfunction under health plans subsidized by taxpayer dollars."

wow

[45-70.gov]

if they  said  free viagra for every one

it would have   passed  a year  ago

[Oldshooter]

Why does this not surprise me?  Of course you gotta buy em viagra! To not buy viagra for them would destroy their self esteem! 

[The Hermit]

Good grief. Society has changed so much since 1935, I can't hardly believe it anymore. We've lost our way and our morals along the way. Donna went to heaven in 2005 and I wished she took me with her.
World's not fit to live in. God only knows what else is in that stupid bill. To make matters worse, few seem to care what the government does. The older I get, the dumber I feel. Nothing makes sense anymore. Sorry for the rant folks.

   The Hermit

[MGMorden]

I seriously doubt there's a specific provision for this.  More likely, it's simply the case that erectile dysfunction is considered a covered condition, Viagra is the prescribed medication, and so anyone prescribed it is covered.  Probably simply a case of there being no wording to specifically exclude sex offenders from this coverage that everyone would get, rather than wording specifically granting it to them.

It'd be much the same if the government announced a tax break on firearms to the whole country and CNN posted:

"Congress approves tax break to put guns into the hands of gang members and sexual offenders!"

Well yeah, they COULD take advantage of the tax break, along with everyone else, but that doesn't mean it's the intent of the legislation.  That doesn't bother a news outlet though.  They'll put their spin on it, because their job isn't to report the news - it's to draw in viewers.  CNN, MSNBC, and yes, even Fox, all do it.  Remember - you the viewer are not the customer.  You are the product, and their advertisers are the true customer.

[dukkillr]

I seriously doubt there's a specific provision for this.  More likely, it's simply the case that erectile dysfunction is considered a covered condition, Viagra is the prescribed medication, and so anyone prescribed it is covered.  Probably simply a case of there being no wording to specifically exclude sex offenders from this coverage that everyone would get, rather than wording specifically granting it to them.

It'd be much the same if the government announced a tax break on firearms to the whole country and CNN posted:

"Congress approves tax break to put guns into the hands of gang members and sexual offenders!"

Well yeah, they COULD take advantage of the tax break, along with everyone else, but that doesn't mean it's the intent of the legislation.  That doesn't bother a news outlet though.  They'll put their spin on it, because their job isn't to report the news - it's to draw in viewers.  CNN, MSNBC, and yes, even Fox, all do it.  Remember - you the viewer are not the customer.  You are the product, and their advertisers are the true customer.

One of the best posts I've seen around here in a while.  It's refreshing when someone takes a deep breath and thinks for themself.

[Old Fart]

Our local Senator Tom Coburn pointed this out during the reconcile period before they crammed it down our throats.
Made national news. Mostly because he was trying to slow or stop the bill. Not because it was wrong.

[teamnelson]

MGM, sure, no one is claiming there is a specific provision, or implying an agenda. Simply reminding, as the Senator said before it was passed, the bill expands things beyond the stated simple agenda of helping those (alleged and dwindling in number) folks with no other access to HC.

What remains:
- SHOULD ED be covered by a federally funded HC plan that you and I subsidize? Is self-esteem a fundamental human right?
- SHOULD we care if a registered sex offender has ED? A felon loses his constitutional right to own a firearm, but keeps his fundamental right to self-esteem?
- SHOULD we cover ED treatment for someone with an established history as a sexual predator? Does the government now become an accessory, equipping a known predator to prey again?

The example is not the issue, its what it represents. And what it represents is reprehensible. The moral argument given for this HC bill was that basic HC is a fundamental Human Right. But the scale of the bill, the cost of the bill, and the coverage of the bill far exceeds the dictates of the moral argument. And I disagree with the fundamental moral premise, nevermind its implementation.

This example also demonstrates the necessary expansion of the legal profession. Lawyers all over America are gearing up for some real new opportunities in litigation. Somebody has to profit from that $2.3 trillion.

[SHOOTALL]

Maybe they will set up a panel to hear the cases on ED . If you don't have traits worth passing on maybe you won't get the meds ? 

[Oldshooter]

MGM, sure, no one is claiming there is a specific provision, or implying an agenda. Simply reminding, as the Senator said before it was passed, the bill expands things beyond the stated simple agenda of helping those (alleged and dwindling in number) folks with no other access to HC.

What remains:
- SHOULD ED be covered by a federally funded HC plan that you and I subsidize? Is self-esteem a fundamental human right?
- SHOULD we care if a registered sex offender has ED? A felon loses his constitutional right to own a firearm, but keeps his fundamental right to self-esteem?
- SHOULD we cover ED treatment for someone with an established history as a sexual predator? Does the government now become an accessory, equipping a known predator to prey again?

The example is not the issue, its what it represents. And what it represents is reprehensible. The moral argument given for this HC bill was that basic HC is a fundamental Human Right. But the scale of the bill, the cost of the bill, and the coverage of the bill far exceeds the dictates of the moral argument. And I disagree with the fundamental moral premise, nevermind its implementation.

This example also demonstrates the necessary expansion of the legal profession. Lawyers all over America are gearing up for some real new opportunities in litigation. Somebody has to profit from that $2.3 trillion.

There you go again! sit back take a breath and think for yourself! For Gods sake Man! 

[teamnelson]

You know me OS. Sometimes I just can't help myself. Most times probably

[no guns here]

great... now they can commit perversion and rape even longer before they murder their victims!


NGH

[45-70.gov]

just allow the victim or the victims family to kill  the sex offender

and it will be a mute  point

[SHOOTALL]

That should add new meaning to prison life

[MGMorden]

just allow the victim or the victims family to kill  the sex offender

and it will be a mute  point

"Moot" point, not mute, but I hope you're aware that not every person on the sex offender list is a rapist.  Many have been arrested for things like indecent exposure (took a leak in a park while drunk) or an 18 year old sleeping with his then 15 year old girlfriend.  In a number of cases of the latter the "victim" is later married to the "offender", but he still doesn't get off the list.

Things are never black and white, despite how much we might want them to be.

[45-70.gov]

just allow the victim or the victims family to kill  the sex offender

and it will be a mute  point

"Moot" point, not mute, but I hope you're aware that not every person on the sex offender list is a rapist.  Many have been arrested for things like indecent exposure (took a leak in a park while drunk) or an 18 year old sleeping with his then 15 year old girlfriend.  In a number of cases of the latter the "victim" is later married to the "offender", but he still doesn't get off the list.

that  is true and needs  correction.....it is  too  big of a net

Things are never black and white, despite how much we might want them to be.

[Squib]

it's scary how easy it is to become a felon of any sort anymore.  strangely it doesn't keep most off the streets (is it to get them away or just strip their rights as citizens?).  think about that with holder as the attorney general.

[45-70.gov]

it's scary how easy it is to become a felon of any sort anymore.  strangely it doesn't keep most off the streets (is it to get them away or just strip their rights as citizens?).  think about that with holder as the attorney general.

its all about the number of people  under their control

[Heather]

I hate every aspect of the HC bill, but the uproar about sex offenders getting ED medication is just crazy.  I think no one group of people should be labeled.  The term sex offender often is placed on people whose crimes range from brutal rape  to more milder cases of statutory rape cases.  Think of this...if you are an 18 year old boy caught having sex with your 17 year old girlfriend and charges are pressed you are a Sex offender for the rest of your life.  Now this 18 year old kid grows up to be an old man with ED.  He has never been in trouble for sex crimes since and the majority of the world is in an uproar because he might need some help getting it up for his wife.

This whole crazy mess is just a breeding ground for more laws, rules, and regulations.  I for one don't think the Government has the RIGHT to pay for anyone's medical bills, but if they choose to pay for some then they should pay for the little old man to get it up.  As for serious sex offenders then I think ED meds shouldn't even be an issue as they should have been castrated or executed the minute their guilt was proven in a court of law.  I guess it is a good thing that I don't rule the world. 

Heather

[Squib]

yeah, most people think 18 is the magic number, but that's not actually how it works in most states.  there is usually a chart for the age of the "victim" relative to the "offender".  18 and 17 can be an issue in some places, some places they have to be under 16 with the older person 21 or older, then there is the issue of pictures online, through text and such, being 18 and up only (the issue lately is teens "sexting" and getting nailed for a sex crime when they took pictures of themselves and ARE the age of consent in their state BUT they aren't 18 so can't send racy pics???).  brutal tackle them out of the bushes or home invasion rapists, and child molesters (kids under the age of puberty- any sexual contact) should be killed outright if they fail to get aquitted or ruled not guilty on the first appeal.  give them a fair trial, a chance to cry about losing, and then kill them.  simple and quick, less victims too.

there I go being a RWEx again....

[Squib]

speaking of perverts:

I recently (about a month ago, maybe less) saw a guy from my grade walking to a gas station I was pulling up to.  his name was James.  James had a baby stroller with a baby in it, and a buddy that looked like a creep walking with him.  they went into the gas station and bought some soda and cigarettes I think, all the while talking about movie night or something.  they then left and walked back to wherever they came from.  the problem is that james is a sex offender and according to missouri law to be classified as an actual CHILD-MOLESTER a monster must be above the age of consent (17 here) and the child must be below fourteen.  so a young but full grown man with a barely hit puberty child.  probably sexually functional but probably not interested or motivated in sex.  did I mention that he had a baby with him, and he wasn't walking funny like he was castrated, or in prison, or dead, or set on fire and in the process of dying???  hey for all I know he grabbed some vaseline at the gas station too.  doesn't matter though- because he's out and about to go molest kids while the law does nothing to stop it.  of course I reported it to the police, tape recorded (to my knowledge), and was extremely specific with the BOLO information to describe the perp... but I saw him at the same gas station about a week ago so even if he has some grief from the cops, he's still out.

I think that viagra is the least of our worries.  we need to be worrying about the death penalty and it's fervent application to heinous freaks.

[teamnelson]

Heard a story about a drifter that came through a small town in SE Colorado and raped a 13 yo. You know those inept small town LEOs, they just let him go the next day. But the poor guy had no luck ... he got hit by a stray hunting bullet walking out of town and died. Nobody can seem to remember which season that was.

For what its worth, if Alabama needs a new judge, I'd suggest Heather.

[beerbelly]

We put far to many kids in prison, right here in Alabama as sex offenders! For the most part teen aged boys, that are having sex with their teenaged girlfriends. she gets pregnant and her parents go nuts and have the boy arrested. He goes to prison his life ruined, she is sleeping with a new boy with in a week or two!
   She is just as guilty as he is, but receives no punishment! Nature sets the time for people to start having sex! Then some dam religious nut, makes a law to punish them for doing what comes naturally! But only the boys not the little slut he is having sex with!
                                                        Beerbelly

[magooch]

Heather, you really are a jewel.  And Matt, you're a very lucky man.