Lawmakers in Colorado decided that the mere $186,500 they will save annually by eliminating state Medicaid coverage of routine circumcisions was still worth it, because, whatever, why not, they aren’t really necessary for medical reasons. Who can resist these kinds of dumb headlines, anyway? Nobody. Probably other, actually devastating things were also cut (there’s that word again! sorry), but we don’t know because this article just talks mostly about some kind of fake debate about the highly divisive “circumcision issue” getting media coverage these days. Oh well, low-income dudes will not be able to get their freebie state circumcisions anymore. They will just have to wait on their circumcisions until they can grow up and pay for them on their own:
The change, which takes effect July 1 and is expected to save the state’s general fund $186,500 annually, was part of a series of budget cuts approved by lawmakers during the recent legislative session.
Halting Medicaid coverage for circumcision is increasingly common across the country and is a relatively easy choice because there is virtually no medical justification for the procedure.
“The medical reasons are not convincing either way,” said Dr. Susan Pharo, director of Medicaid and External Pediatric Care for Kaiser Permanente.
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Enough with the weiner jokes already.
In our case, the mohel didn't take insurance of any sort!
I'll bet he took tips, though.
Hey, somebody had to say it.
How does this effect Jeebus' bris?
No circumcisions, the unkindest cut for the uncut. This is going to suck for the Jewish men. Their wives won't touch anything that isn't at least 20% off.
Needs more "I can get it for you Wholesale".
"Ho sale? Where?"
– Senator David M. Vitter (R-LA)
I can't believe their cutting costs by (not) trimming penii. Dicks! Is this Colorado sharia law?
the ladies protest with the slogan of "I Stand with Planned Parenthood"
so what should us, the Jewish and Muslim men, protest with ? "I Stand with Planned Brishood" ?
I Stand, But It's Still Kinda Sore To Do It.
"I stand with no hood!"
Medicaid recipients can get the procedure done for free by a mohel in Denver. (He works for tips.)
Hey, like the prostitute at the Leper Colony…
This leads me to ask: how many Jews are there in Denver? & do they customize their traditional fare to align with their surroundings, e.g. Rocky Mountain Matzoh?
hah!
We've got 'em in Omaha, so they must be everywhere.
If I ever make it to the College World Series, I'll have to stop at the rabbinical grocery for some of that. Whose testes do they use, though? Turkey should be Kosher — being fowl, & all — but bull's are fine, if not prepared with dairy, right?
As far as the Kosher prep of the mountain OYsters, I think that would be correct. I haven't been to a rabbinical grocery but there is a halal grocery store at 120th & Blondo.
CWS is a lot of fun and the new park is great. We're taking a break and going on the lam to K.C. for the Cubs series. It will be a battle of the BlueMonkeh teams of mediocrity (or worse).
So Colorado cut cuts?
When they outlaw circumcision, only outlaws will be circumcised.
What?
If you convert to Judaism, they'll give you a free, "back alley" circumcision.
I see a business opportunity here for some do-it-yourself kits.
Bris-kits? MG, you'll be in the gravy for sure.
I love it. Can I use the name for a CUT of 10%?
Do consider Product Liability Coverage, MG. K?
And now the practice of circumcision suffers a death by a thousand cuts.
The maternity units of all hospitals will now have prominently displayed signs that state "NO (de)TIPPING".
The legislators seem very circumspect.
About fucking time the little freeloaders have to pay their own goddamn way.
True story: Prominent Denver Mohel's day job is as a Jeweler. He is trusted with the family jewels.
For anyone who is older, how did the whole non-religious circumcision thing become so big in America anyway? There seems to be no real point to it, and I kind of wish my penis had been left alone when I was a baby; but going up to my parents and asking them why they had the tip of my dick cut off seems a little weird.
I think it's a perfectly fair question. They're the ones who should feel weird, the sadists. (I'm sure your folks are lovely and they raised a good boy.)
I guess I qualify as "older" being born in '52, but hey–I didn't have a choice, either. I was born in a socialist US Army hospital (Letterman) and the deed was done before I was sent home.
As long as I can remember, everyone just had it done routinely. I did learn from a friend in college that is was much less common for black men to be circumsized. Not sure why.
I work in labor and delivery, "urban" and not – seems it is the educated middle to upper class white couples refusing circumcision. Hispanics were all, meh about it. Blacks, though, all want circumcision. And poorer whites. I have no idea why. It's not medically necessary, and men claim their glans is more sensitive with a foreskin. Duh.
I had always thought the procedure cruel, but it might have its origins in a effort to lower sensitivity, thus libido???? (Which ain't workin')
In the Navy, one of my shipmates told us about being circumcized at age 13, he didn't know why. It was incredibly painful, he assured us, and didn't begin to feel better for about 6 weeks.
I will admit, as a parent of a boy kid who got cut for no religious reasons what so ever, we did it cause "everybody does it" around here and it was just normal for what I had ever seen. When I was a younger, unmarried girl who still got to see rando-pee-pees once in a while, my friends all made fun of even the IDEA of a guy with foreskin. I never got to know the difference and now I am actually kind of sad about that.
Same here. Pediatrician advised doing it because dad had it done. I gotta say, though, the first time I had to do a diaper change after that surgery I was freaked the hell out. Had to get a nurse in to walk me through it.
I actually wrote a research paper on the matter. The practice began in Britain during Victorian times as a sign of class status. It was deemed medically sound to do it because it was believed to curb masturbation, but that was just the "official" reason. The real reason was to separate the upper crust from the plebs below. Obviously poor families couldn't pay for a "medical" procedure, and thus boys that were cut could immediately be identified as "civilized" and "of good stock."
Eventually, word spread among the lower classes what the patricians were doing, and the practice spread throughout Britain and all her colonies, including the States (though obviously they weren't a colony at the time). It got to the point that the UK actually had the highest circumcision rate in the world right up until World War II. The practice completely stopped in that country not from some mass self-awareness, but because when the NHS was created during the WWII reconstruction, they deemed the procedure to not be medically necessary, and the rate dropped almost overnight. The only exception is (again) among the upper classes, as it's well known that the royal family still cuts. So really, the Brits just stopped cutting because they're cheap.
So to recap, it started as a sign of class, and eventually just became "something you do." Since humans are loath to abandon a ritual, the practice just stuck.
It's not even that America is strange in its practice of routine infant circumcision: Australia and Anglo-Canada still have high rates. It's just that the practice seems so out of place compared to our neighbors across the pond.
Regards,
-Prof. la Volpe
Who needs Google, when we have you, Ms. la Volpe. xoxoxo
"Curb masturbation"? Nope. Didn't work.
Unless that somehow involves wanking outdoors on street corners and sidewalks, then it didn't work here either.
Or the scarier flip side: My current behavior is considered in fact "curbed."
I suppose in my uncircumcised alternate history, then I would be typing this right now with my ween.
It's now a class thing again but in reverse. That is, liberal elitists know that there's no good reason to cut so they don't, but the working classes still want the baby's ween to look like dad's, so they do.
After my son was born, my wife and I were with the baby in a new-infant class at the hospital and there was only one other newborn/parent group there. Our son isn't circumcised, and theirs was. The nurse said, "Oh, you know, today people don't circumcise as much anymore – I think that studies show that the more educated you are, the less likely you are to want to circumcise."
I wanted to tell the other parents, "I think she just called you uneducated trash," but I just sat there and tried not to make eye contact.
Foreskin is also gluten-free. Ergo, every reason in the world to keep it.
While doing your research, you may have also run across the fact that girls were sometimes "circumcised" to curb masturbation, make them more compliant, &c. Same rationale Saharan countries use to justify FGM and infibulation. Yet at the same time, masturbation of a woman to orgasm by a physician was a "cure" for "hysteria" – while these same women were expected to hate actual sex. This is how vibrators were invented – made the "hysteric cure" easier on the doc.
As an intact-American, I can say that there are women who are totally fascinated by those of us with our own little penis-cozies. But they can be problematic occasionally — the wife really likes rough sex and the foreskin takes a hell of a lot of abuse in certain situations and can end up losing elasticity. There's only so much scarring before balanitis and phimosis become serious risks and you start contemplating life as a slightly lesser man.
Speaking of scarring, have I overshared yet?
Pics or it didn't happen.
Sure, that's how it all started for Anthony Weiner . . .
I'm listening for the sounds of all the men on Wonkette expressing sympathy for you.
Still listening….I'm sure I'll hear something eventually.
I'm pretty sure all you'll hear is a chorus of "Ha-ha!" a-la Nelson Muntz.
TMI
But very good info, the medical, not the rough sex. But congrats on that too.
As a cut American, I'm happy and the ladies seem to like it. It was hard enough to get a bj in high school without being (I think) a little different. That said, it would be nice to have a choice, maybe someone can invent a foreskin toupee or something.
With a little liquid latex from the local sex shop, you could build your own — a little something to slip into when you want to explore the world of the "complete" man. One other minor benefit to being uncircumcised is that you are naturally ribbed for her pleasure when the foreskin slides back during sex.
I thought it was some Public Health campaign against smegma.
Ha! My husband's college roommate had a problem with Richard Fromage.
My dad and his brother were born in the 50's in Alabama and were relatively poor so no cutting for them. When my uncle was in his mid-twenties and boating on the lake he slipped and had a major issue with his manhood. Had to have an emergency circumcision. Yes, YIKES!
A few years ago my grandfather on my mom's side had to have his cut (while in his 70's mind you) because the foreskin wouldn't retract properly for urinating and sexing up my also elderly grandma. Yes, GROSS! The family Easter that year was cancelled because grandpa was still in the hospital getting his junk sorted.
As a female who has been with her share of both the cut and uncut varieties I prefer uncut. Honestly, giving BJ's is much easier when its uncut. But knowing of 2 adult males who needed medical attention because they were uncut makes me wonder if it really is a good idea in the long run. If I ever have a son of my own I will leave the decision to cut or not to cut with the dad.
I bow to your wisdom and since I am an actual ignorant slut here, I gotta know, how does it make blow jobs easier? I am totally pro whatever that is and would have started a campaign for such had I known. (except for the stories about it sagging, getting caught on stuff and/or swelling up over the pee hole. That sounds terrible.)
RE: BJ's on the uncut
The foreskin makes it more slippery. You can handle the extra skin with your hand while playing with the rest of the shaft with your mouth. And since it is normally covered up and not exposed to the world at large his buddy will be more sensitive to every little bit of touch than cut ones that are used to feeling stuff like boxers or briefs.
Try it, it's fun!
Dang. It's like there's a whole other world out there and I missed it! I probably won't get to try it til the old man here dies or runs off, but…good to know…I wonder if that's a thing one can request on eharmony or something.
Jesus. I'm 2 days late to this convo, and I wonder how many wonkette males have fapped to this? Wonkette sex tips. New column!
♪♫ When I was eight days old, my boys, Hurrah, Hurrah,
When I was eight days old, my boys, Hurrah, Hurrah,
The rabbi came with a big sharp knife,
And I surely thought he would take my life,
But all he took was a little bit off the top ♫♪
Starts on July 1st…
You people could save money… hurry up and do it in the womb…
Guess there'll be a lot more anteaters than helmets in the poorer parts of CO in the future.
Here's a compromise: just pay for the circumcision of Alison McHose.
Call today and we'll also snip your umbilical cord.
ABSOLUTELY FREE!!
First they came for the icepick-lobatomists, and I said nothing. Then they came for the circumcisers, and still I did not speak.
Then they came for the furries who are into midget-amputee-porn, and there was no one left to speak up for me.
because you had to leave with the furries?
Wow, I never knew you were Japanese.
At least it's not albino-midget-amputee-porn because, well, that would just be weird.
Well I, for one, think circumcision is WRONG WRONG WRONG. So, if you want one, pay for it yourself.
If I live old enough to be you, everyone will be paying for it once these babies are middle-aged men and women filling in emergency rooms seeking medical treatment for increasingly tangled and infected junk.
Damn, I just bought a Royal Deluxe II and had planned to get my snippet in the backseat while navigating colonial Williamsburg.
Thumbs up for the vintage (as in when it was still a comedy show) SNL reference.
And Ron Popeil will be out with a Bris o Matic in 3, 2, 1….
I’m actually more than ok with this. I generally like to be consulted anytime someone decides to carve away at my penis.
So instead of guv'mint cheese now it's guv'mint cheese dick?
If they're poor, they get screwed over by society everyday, anyway.
I suspect there is a Representative somewhere, oh, say Colorado, maybe, that thinks there should be more uncut gay porn. But I could be wrong…
Lots of studies back in the day'said it was healthier cut than uncut. Science is a little trickier these days but it's still said to be a bit healthier. Then there's the whole "well, if my Timmy doesn't get cut and all of Timmy's friends are cut, how will he be able to shower with other men without having his feelings hurt?"
This is it in a nutshell.
It's also supposed to make us less sensitive; and I for one managed to avoid group showers, the idea seemed just ugh.
I always wondered how they test what's more sensitive and what's not? The only way of doing it that I can think of is having somebody who isn't cut have sex and then they cut him and he has sex again and then he'll let all the researchers know what he thought
I can just see the volunteers lining up.
This has actually sort of been done, although not (to the best of my knowledge) in a systematic, scientific way. The anecdotal evidence (the best kind of evidence!) is mixed but it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference either way.
See this, for instance: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circu...
I've always wondered about this too, and suspect I am missing a fair amount of feeling.
I guess that we'll all have to go to Canada for our circumcisions now.
Smart move there Denver legislature, way to go piss off my people– the Jews. You know we make the best lawyers, right? You know where this thing is headed, right? You'll probably wind up spending three times the amount of money just having to defend this thing in court than you'd save in cutting cutting.
Now how will someone from Colorado get on the ballot in Arizona?
Udalls are legion.
Yep, she's not out of high school yet. But same sex marriage would set a bad example for the children.
How are we going to make tents for the homeless without all those foreskins? Thanks, Colorado!
Isn't the tent that is the Denver airport made out of foreskins?
Wait for the winter of our discount tents.
you'd think they would make enough in tips to offset the $186k.
Just one more thing the government wants to RAM DOWN OUR THROATS.
If this means that I qualify for a 20-year-old, I'm all for it.
This. I as a single girl don't care what you wanna do (and if I had a son, honestly I'd probably leave it up to the kid's dad). But it removes the choice for people in certain classes – and while it may or may not have medical value (didn't a recent study say it helped cut AIDS transmissions in Africa or something?), it DOES have a very accepted value in some religions. This removes that option for people who belong to those religions (several other than Christianity, shockingly) and who don't make a certain amount of money.
Unnecessary, elective medical procedures performed without consent not covered?
Quick, to the Don't Care mobile!
Good news for Smegma lovers, or they call it in Colorado: "Head Cheese". Of course, the local drugstore cowboys and western dudes with financial resources can still get their special cut: that surgery is performed using Pinking Shears.
Makes it more tingly for the sheep they're "shearing" in the shed out back.
Ahh yes! Colorado! Where men are men and the sheep are glad of it!
1. The unkindest cut of all
2. Reports of my bris have been greatly exaggerated
Have you seen the pics of her?? There is no way she is 16. She looks at least 35, and a hard 35 at that.
you'll have to pay someone to bite/chew your foreskin off now. free markets!
This may be the first and only thing on which I agree with conservatives. Foreskin = more to play with.
GREAT, now you can bet cutting in the privacy of your own bedroom is no longer for teenage girls only. I blame our Governor Dickinpooper.
Once again, conservatives asked, what would Jesus do? and failed.
I also can only laugh about how the entire social and cultural history of this ritual essentially amounts to men having a "grass is always greener" perspective about their dicks.
They've heard that Muslims are also circumcized!
But did you hear about the Rabbi who didn't charge for circumcisions? He took tips!
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