As Charlie Brown Would Say, "AAUGH!"

By Amy Phillips Bursch, Media Relations Manager

Yesterday was World Population Day. ( It was also Free Slurpee Day, but that’s the subject for another post on another blog.)

Maybe it should also be called Opposites Day. Or Smacking My Forehead in Frustration Day.

On one side of the Atlantic, we had awesome news. At the London Summit on Family Planning, an amazing $2.6 BILLION was pledged to help expand contraception access to 120 million women and girls in the world’s poorest countries who want to end or delay childbearing. “It will be a breakthrough that will transform lives,” said Andrew Mitchell, UK international development secretary. We agree! Snoopy Dance!

Snoopy ain’t dancing on this side of the Atlantic.

Charlie and Snoopy chilling in a St. Paul Park. (Deadly Tedly/Flickr)

Once again – for the 30^th or so time – the House voted to repeal the despised “Obamacare.” You know, the historic health care reform law that has come under fire in part for – THE HORROR! – requiring that insurers cover contraception. Covering birth control is one way that the Affordable Care Act is taking steps to ensure women don’t pay more for basic health care than men do.

So on one side of the Pond, we took a huge step forward in ensuring that women have access to the family planning resources they want. On our side of the Pond, we took a huge symbolic step backward.

How discouraging. Where’s Lucy Van Pelt when you need her?