Yes, Doctor... I am aware of his dysfunction.

     Earlier this month, South Carolina Representative Mia McLeod proposed a bill to the House that would require stricter regulations on Viagra for men. The proposal would require:

• a cardiac stress test, to ensure the patient is healthy enough for sex
• counseling that is based off considering celibacy as a lifestyle choice
• a 24 hour wait period, so that the patient would have time to really consider the side effects 
• consent from their sexual partner, stating that they are aware of their erectile dysfunction.

     McLeod has proposed this new bill in an attempt to make the male and republican dominate house understand why the regulations on women's reproductive issues is so unjust. South Carolina has some of the toughest abortion laws and restrictions in the country. Some of those regulations include:

• state sponsored counseling designed to discourage abortion
• 24 hour wait period to understand side effects of choosing to have an abortion
• parental consent must be presented for any minor 17 and under.

     I get that Viagra and abortion are two very different topics, however what this woman has done is open a door to why our state/federal government should have no say in the reproductive health of men or women. I agree with McLeod's idea. I think it's brilliant. This law isn't something she hopes will pass, it is designed to help men better understand why these laws and regulations are unfair to women. I've always believed women are restricted when it comes to our reproductive health. For example, men will never understand how uncomfortable a pap smear is. As a woman who wants to be responsible and take birth control (so that I don't have to struggle with the decisions of an unwanted pregnancy) I HAVE to have this invasive procedure every three years (which was finally just changed from ONCE a year). There is no true medical need for a pap when one is trying to obtain contraceptive. It became common for doctors to require one once a year so that they may test for cervical cancer. I get that at the end of the day it's in my best interest to have one. However, this is the reason so many women aren't on birth control. They don't want to have to go through hoops to get it. So, why is it so easy for men to receive Viagra?

I applaud Ms. McLeod on her efforts. Though the bill will not pass (and it shouldn't), I believe she has really opened a few closed minds on a very important subject.

Reply to "We the People"s Legalized Marijuana Helps the Economy....

I’m feeling your argument, Miss Gomez. Federal legalization of recreational marijuana could bring about so many great opportunities for this country.  Before I begin, let me clearly state that I am all for this. However, there are several terrible road blocks in why it’s going to be a true struggle for political figures to get their heads out of their asses and make this happen. From 1970 to 2014, the percentage of inmates locked in federal prisons for non-violent drug related charges rose from just 16% to 50.1%. Why such a steady, dramatic increase? Good, ole Nixon and the War on Drugs, that’s why. In 1971, Nixon declared rising drug abuse as “public enemy number one”. This declaration set into motion a series of new regulations in the effort of eradicating drugs from the streets of our nation. These motions included tougher laws and punishments for drug offences. You didn’t have to traffic pot by the pounds to have the book thrown at you. Something as small as a half inch long roach in your car ashtray could get you 2 years. Obviously these drastic measures have never worked. Drug abuse in this country is steadily increasing and until we start treating people as addicts instead of criminals, we are never going to see a decrease in abuse. Our inmate population has risen to outlandish numbers. Federal prisons make millions off these petty drug offenders. Judges have been accused of handing off harsh lengthy prison terms to petty drug offenders that come from underprivileged neighborhoods (the kind of kids who can’t afford real attorneys and get stuck with an over worked and under paid public defender who could really give two shits less) in exchange for under the table pay outs from the companies that run these prisons. The more inmates they have, the more grant money the government provides. Trust me when I say, that money is in no way being spent on inmates. The system is choreographed to benefit these assholes. Let’s say tomorrow marijuana is made recreationally legal on a federal level. Would all of those inmates serving sentences for marijuana be released? They should be. However, certain people running these prisons are never going to allow that. They would not only see a dramatic drop in their current populations, but the lack of sentencing in the future would continue to keep their numbers low. This means less cash flow, and that’s just not an option for these crooks.

The amount of tax’s that could be collected from this could take care of so many issues for this country. We could pay our teachers better competitive wages. We could use it to fund federal rehabilitation clinics, where true addicts could go (instead of prison-maybe this is an opportunity for the prison system to make up some of their potential lost income?) to get the help they need. We could use it to help law enforcement and fire departments (neither get paid nearly what they should). The possibilities are endless and bountiful. We as the people just have to push a little bit harder to get our country there.

They Shall "Not" Pass

In the United States Constitution, there is this little piece we have come to know as the Bill of Rights. This article contains 10 amendments, the first stating the following:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging of the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

This first amendment guarantees our individual rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of association, and freedom of speech. This means as a citizen of this country I may peacefully protest things I don’t like, such as Donald Trump. It also allows me the freedom to say, write or type whatever I want, with some exceptions of course. Furthermore, it gives me the right to join any club, gang, group or congregation I so choose. If I want to gather together with people that share the same ideas and values, I can. Whether that group be the KKK, Comic Con or Westboro Baptist Church, it’s well within my right to do so.

I’m no Trump fan. I am also not a Hillary supporter (unless it’s for her enrollment in federal prison, then count me in). Do I feel the Bern? Not really. Cruz, no. Kasich? Who?

In my opinion, the candidates we’ve been offered for our future 45^th President aren’t necessarily the crème de la crème. Each one has a flaw (or two) that most can’t look pass. However, those who do see these candidates as fit have every right to assemble at their rallies and cheer on their promised hopeful.

On Saturday, March 19^th in the Phoenix suburb of Fountain Hills, two dozen Trump protesters blocked a main highway with themselves and their parked cars. Their intentions were to prevent Trump supporters to be able to attend the rally that was being held a few miles away.

Now, I believe in our right to protest, but preventing others from attending a gathering in which they will express their ideas with other like-minded peoples is unlawful. It’s understandable why so many people despise Trump. He has said and promised some awful and hateful things during his campaign.  However, blocking access to one of his rallies is not right and is deemed unconstitutional. There’s also the whole obstructing a highway thing. Some supporters had to walk nearly 4 miles because of the blockade. How is that fair?

The previous weeks Trump rally was to be held in Chicago. However, it was cancelled due to violence and security concerns. Confrontations amongst protesters, supporters and police has become a common occurrence at Trump rallies.

Preventing Trump and his supporters from gathering only adds negative fuel to the hateful fires. These preventions are not the American way. Breaking the law and impeaching on other citizens’ rights because you don’t like the things a candidate says is not right. In a twisted way, those protesters are just like Trump. They are all bullies in the hallway.