Lie All You Want. Facts Fucking Matter.

I just came home from my results appointment from my annual exam (3rd straight appointment with no hint of cancer, yay me). At the doctor's office there was a big old sign saying that my insurance company has stopped covering HPV tests, and that if we want them they are $150. I didn't even blink. This shit happens all the time--why be surprised? It did mean that two weeks ago, before this policy changed, I had inadvertently committed to a $150 expense. It also means that they're not interested in helping women get a test that sheds some light on their risk for certain types of cervical cancer, which I happen to think is kind of scummy. But I was so happy that I don't have any kind of cancer-like symptoms that require the further removal of parts of my cervix that I was willing to overlook all that and have a great evening.

Then, on my drive home, I had the misfortune to catch an episode of "On the Media" that made my blood boil. I can't find any information about the episode, but it featured some southern pastor lying through his teeth about one of the health care reform bills. He didn't know which one--because that would allow someone to fact check his sorry ass. He happily quoted page numbers and lines, all of which I'm sure he made up as he was talking. He was talking about how the bill says health care will be rationed, that there will be a committee talking about his personal health care treatment and deciding that the money would be better spent on a younger person.

The other people on the program tried reasoning with him. They looked for the word "ration" in the bill they thought he was looking at--a word he insisted was in there, until they said they couldn't find it, and then he said it might not use that word, but that was what it was. They asked if insurance companies were not, in effect, already limiting the procedures and options available to the nation's insured, and he said, "I can get any treatment I want." Which I guess is true, as long as you don't want someone else to pay for it. (He probably doesn't need an HPV test.)

It was freaking insane, and I am tired of all the fucking lies. There are plenty of opponents of health care reform who are rational beings capable of meaningful and valuable debate. And that debate is good and it is the soul of our country, even if I don't care for all the points those rational people make. But the lying? Just fucking crawl back under your rocks, people. Stop saying that there are clauses where senior citizens are going to be put to death in camps. Stop saying that Obama's not a U.S. Citizen.

Stop calling the current administration socialist while you happily dip into public funds for your social security or unemployment coverage or medicare. Stop calling it a fascist state when the only people acting like fascists are you, with your hate-mongering and your lying to make senior citizens afraid that someone's going to come along and kill them in their sleep.

You know what you fuckers are always telling me? "We live in the greatest country on earth. If you don't like it, move the fuck out." Well, guess what? I agree with you. Start packing.