Saturday, May 26, 2012

The GOP War On Women And The Amish Lifestyle

The GOP War On Women And The Amish Lifestyle

Cross posting something that my alter ego Butterose wrote on another site I contribute to. I know, I'm lazy, but it's a holiday weekend and I'm planning on having fun.

6 comments:

  1. Sherry,
    The Amish are a very private and God loving community and they have gresat food. Their ideas on matters of health care and crimminal justice often run afoul of Imdiana law. I personally know of the incident where a Amish buggy was broad-sided by a pick-up and a small Amish girl was seriously injured. The Amish were ready to load her into the back of a buggy when the EMTs, Daviess County Sheriff, and the State Police arrived. She was taked by ambulance to Davieess Co Hospital and then Life-Flighted to St Mary's Medical Center here in Evansville (I met a EMT on Life Flight). The Amish were furious! The child recovered and they paid the bill in cash.
    Today, we are seeing young people leave the Amish community- Especially girls.

    I wonder, do they even vote? I doubt that.Ron

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    1. Sarge,

      Many of the women who stay and become Amish after their 2 year Rumspringa adventure don't see their lives as drudgery. It's a dedication they make to God. Those that leave amount to about 20% of the total of Rumspringa kids.

      The communities each have a fund which is contributed to by all members of the community. That's what they pay hospital and doctor bills out of. They would have taken the child home for observation and they would have sought medical attention for her if she didn't improve. Unfortunately sometimes that method proves fatal.

      They came here and purchased 10 properties in my area. Paid cash and we're talking over 2 million bucks. I know when Larry sold, he was the first, he made $350,000 for his 2 farms. They gutted his houses and rebuilt, including outhouses within 1 week. Fine work too.

      Yes they do vote. Not all the time. Usually when an issue being considered could possibly affect their lifestyle. They pay all taxes except school tax unless they use the public schools. They pay income taxes when they work for outsiders, they don't pay social security, nor medicare because they don't accept it. They sign a special government exemption when they're baptized.

      How they live depends on whether they're New Order or Old Order. New is somewhat more relaxed about some things, but essentially their lives are lived as dedication to God first and family second.

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  2. Jumped over and read the article, and it great writing. I'm pretty much shutting down on my watching the news. I am fully liberal and while for the longest time I did my best to listen to the right in an attempt to keep and open mind their insanity is increasingly falling into dangerous levels. There is just no reason to listen to them anymore.

    Their attacks on basic and long settled women's issues is at a minimum bizarre but I am actually beginning to believe we will have politically inspired homegrown terrorism in a few election cycles. If you cruise right-wing websites people regularly leave comments talking about Second Amendment type remedies whenever they lose some sort of fight whether in government, the media, or an election.

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    1. Beach,

      I think that's because online all we're hearing from are the vocal and rather nasty wingnuts. They don't expose themselves to the truth, just to what FOX calls news.

      The GOP is becoming increasingly wingnut, and if I listened to them I'd be rolled up in a ball quivering under my bed. As it is, I'm relying on print media for my news. Local newspaper and local evening news followed by the nat'l half hour. I don't need 24/7 overexposure to hate and nonsense.

      Do you realize how much money the Amish have? They sell their produce and baked goods, or carpentry skills and they don't spend it on electricity, telephone, internet connections or leisure pursuits of any kind. With the exception of propane, cloth for making clothes, socks, stockings, flour, sugar and eggs because they don't have enough chickens here yet, they spend nothing.

      My only problem with them is that those buggies don't come with side view mirrors. The drivers aren't aware we're there and tend to make turns that can be pretty scary to me. I'd rather not be the driver of a car that hits a buggy.

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  3. Sherry,
    I had several dealings with Amish over the years. When my late father reached the point where his physical health precluded doing home repairs, the Amish were the only men he trusted to perform repairs that would measure up to his standards. That was in the Southern Tier of New York State where they have had a presence for years. In Pennsylvania, when I worked for an oil and gas leasing outfit, we knew them as hard=nosed and canny businessmen. And down around Springfield, Kentucky, they used to hold weekly auctions/sales (maybe still do) where we outsiders could go to purchase their goods. The one thing I remember most clearly about that was that you could start your sales day with an Amish breakfast, buffet-style. Haven't had a meal that comes close to comparing since - and the price was most reasonable. In those and other dealings, I always found them polite but reserved, and I have never forgotten their reactions when that guy killed several children at one of their schools a few years back. They attended the shooter's funeral and offered support to his widow and children.

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    1. Mr. O,

      The Amish are an admirable people, I just couldn't handle living like that. I have a decent work ethic, but nothing compared to theirs. They are the only Christians I know that actually practice what they preach, and they practice it much more than they preach it. Something other religious organizations might take a cue from.

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