Shock Pastor: Girl Scout Cookies Promote Lesbianism

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

You’ve heard of shock jocks, like the drive-time radio hosts who throw chickens out the radio station's second-story window? If a shock jock is a right-wing pastor, then you’ve got a shock pastor, like Colorado Springs’ Kevin Swanson, who recently cited “decadent homosexual activity” as the cause of Colorado’s floods.

Swanson’s latest shocker: his campaign against Girl Scout cookies. Swanson’s anti-cookie crusade was first reported by Right Wing Watch, which spotlights (and promotes) this kind of stuff. It quoted Swanson on his weekly radio show saying that “the individualism of feminism has been devastating to this country.”

Swanson: “I’d say you ought to say no the Girl Scout cookies too. I don’t want to support lesbianism, I don’t want to support Planned Parenthood, and I don’t want to support abortion, and if that be the case I’m not buying Girl Scout cookies…”

“The vision of the Girl Scouts of America is antithetical to a biblical vision for womanhood, it's antithetical to it… Guys just check it out at the Girl Scouts’ websites and you’re going to find that the people showing up are lesbians, lots and lots of lesbians. Dave, I didn’t realize there were this many lesbians leading this country but they certainly show up in Girl Scout conventions across America…

"In fact, if you want a communist in the White House in the year 2020 you have got to get more daughters raised with the worldview, the independent mindset, the worldview that is presented by the Girl Scouts of America."

As Westword pointed out today, Swanson didn’t change his tune in a Channel 7 interview last night.

Channel 7 asked Swanson to back up his assertion that the Girl Scouts promotes Planned Parenthood, abortion, and lesbianism.

Channel 7 reporter Marc Stewart: How can you make those statements?

Swanson: I just take the data I see on the Internet. I take the associations I see on the Internet. I see the promotion of feminism and lesbianism.

Unfortunately, Channel 7 didn’t show us Swanson’s alleged internet proof—or state as a factual matter, that none exists.

Still, the TV station did report a denial from the Girl Scouts, as well as a counter view from a parent.

Girl Scout parent Susan Sabol: “The meetings have nothing to do with sexuality or reproduction, or reproductive rights. They’re really leaning to be good members of society and the community. It’s very much about being a good person.”

You can argue that, at some point, reporters should ignore shock pastors, who repeatedly blast out outrages on little-known internet radio shows.

But there's actually a lot to be gained from seeing bigots being bigots, and asking them about it, as long as their misinformation is corrected and the facts are clear.

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Mythbusters: Rate Shock

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

The myth of rate shock continues to be just that…a myth.
?Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

On Friday, the Division of Insurance released the final rates for health insurance plans in 2014, and Coloradans will have a robust marketplace with strong competition that should combat increases in premiums going forward. Some had raised fears of increased rates, or “rate shock” in 2014, but we’re just not seeing that here in Colorado. While these are new plans with new coverages, these finalized rates confirm that Colorado consumers will have more access to affordable coverage—and financial assistance will help Coloradans get covered and see their doctor without unpredictable costs.

The new rates vary quite a bit based on a person’s age and geographic location, but all Coloradans will be able to choose from at least several insurance carriers and different levels of coverage. For example, in Fort Collins rates for silver level plans for 40-year-olds ranges from $232.91 to $500.62 dollars a month.

There are more affordable options too. Bronze level plans offer cheaper premiums in exchange for slightly less robust coverage and start at just $176.89 a month in Fort Collins. Plus, Coloradans purchasing these plans still qualify for financial assistance.

Coloradans under 30 have the option to purchase catastrophic plans to protect them from enormous medical bills. These plans are available starting at $135.57 for a 27-year-old. 

Before Obamacare, going the bare-bones routes on health insurance could still leave you very exposed to astronomical medical bills. Health insurance isn’t very helpful if you still go bankrupt is it? With new plans with better coverage, all Coloradans have access to better plans at a more affordable cost. 

But these are not the rates that the majority of Coloradans will pay. Many consumers who purchase plans in Connect for Health Colorado will be eligible for upfront financial assistance to help purchase health insurance. Here is a breakdown of how the subsidies might work.

Projected tax credits for lowest cost silver level plan for a 40-year-old in Ft. Collins:

Projected tax credits for highest cost silver level plan for a 40-year-old in Ft. Collins:

The plans sold in Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’ new marketplace, will provide better coverage to Colorado consumers and small businesses than plans that are available today. And, with financial assistance available to help make plans more affordable, consumer will be able to find plans that best fit their needs instead of only worrying about costs. 

Safe to say that thy myth of rate shock:

You can see the complete summaries from Colorado’s Division of Insurance for yourself here:

For more on Colorado Health Policy topics: www.cohealthinitiative.org/blog

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