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I don't see how the taxpayers should pay for this. One of the reasons the comments are so negative is because it feels like a smokescreen and/or a last attempt
by nhangen 13y ago
I don't see how the taxpayers should pay for this. One of the reasons the comments are so negative is because it feels like a smokescreen and/or a last attempt at sympathy.
I don't care if he wants to become a girl, but he should wait until his/her time is served.
I wonder if military prisons are monitored/protected any better than civilian prisons when it comes to that 'other' stuff.
- sp332 13y agoManning preferred to be female well before the leaks or the trial. Also, the Army/taxpayers are paying for Manning's housing, food, clothes, and therapy even outside of prison.
- nhangen 13y agoTypically, they would not provide hormone therapy because a) it is not essential for the job (they pull teeth instead of fix them for crying out loud) b) this is typically something that would lead to a medical discharge and in some cases, dishonorable discharge because it wasn't listed in the health questionnaire at time of application.
- sp332 13y agoSorry, I got my articles confused. According to http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/22/convicted-leaker-manning-a-woman/2684009/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/22/convict... Leavenworth provides psychiatric therapy but not hormone therapy. I'm not sure where Manning is hoping to get it, but it's not clear that it's going to be taxpayer-funded.
- ZanyProgrammer 13y agoOoh, the magic words 'taxpayer funded' how about we also refuse to 'taxpayer fund' insulin for diabetic service members, or anti depressants for soldiers suffering from PTSD? Not gonna supply Lexapro on my dime!
- sp332 13y agoI didn't say we shouldn't fund it. I said Leavenworth doesn't provide it. edit: wait, were you replying to nhangen?
- nhangen 13y agoProbably, and in either case, my argument would be that Manning no longer receives benefits provided by the Army (as a result of his sentence) and thus would not qualify for Tricare. My argument against this is that I believe prisons should only be held responsible for keeping people safe, sane, and secure. If it is deemed that HRT is necessary for keeping him sane, then I might change my stance.
- ZanyProgrammer 13y agoAnd yet, the military will pay for off post prescriptions to be filled, via Tricare.
- drakeandrews 13y agos/he/she s/his/her
- ianmcstorm 13y agoSeen your "nickpickiness" leads to no other conclusion: you are homosexual, are you?
- potatolicious 13y agoHomosexuality and gender identity aren't the same thing... I find these (spammy) posts annoying also, but what does his/her orientation have to do with anything?
- mkr-hn 13y agoianmcstorm's two posts scream flamebait to me. I don't think this person wants a discussion.
- ianmcstorm 13y agoIt was, mainly, an observation. To the comment above (to which I can't reply), what is there to discuss on "s/he/she?"
- norswap 13y agoNonsense. His point of view is that a women is not what he wants to become, but what he is. He just wants to be recognized as one. Also, I don't really see where there is spending involved. Even if there were, the amount would be insignificant to even care about. There is much more waste elsewhere in the system. Last but not least, this guy shouldn't even be serving the sentence he is.
- drakeandrews 13y agos/he/she s/guy/girl* *Feel free to replace girl with another appropriate feminine noun, I know some people consider it diminutive but it's probably the closest alternative to guy I can think of right this moment.
- nhangen 13y agoThat's not what I'm arguing against, I'm stating that hormone therapy should not be paid for by the military. That said, if he wants to be recognized as a woman, that means he wants to be placed in prison with other women, which is clearly an issue. IMO the military has no choice but to place him in a male facility and call him whatever he wants to be called.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- ZanyProgrammer 13y agoYou are aware, aren't you, that the military already pays for all sorts of prescription drugs for service members? What difference is there between estradiol/spironolactone on the one hand, and every other prescription drug that is paid for off post with Tricare or filled at an on post hospital? Except your revulsion towards transsexuality of course.
- nhangen 13y agoYou're reading into it and you're overstepping. I have no such revulsion. I was in the military, so I'm quite aware of the programs they offer. My point, if you'll read it, is that Manning no longer qualifies for those benefits, and that said benefits should not be offered by the prison system.
- objclxt 13y ago> I don't see how the taxpayers should pay for this [...] I don't care if he wants to become a girl, but he should wait until his/her time is served. Gender identity disorder / gender dysphoria is a genuine medical condition classified in the DSM (IV and V). For many sufferers it is not a matter of simple "wanting" to change their gender. If you accept that gender dysphoria is a medical condition (as most in the medical and mental health professions have), then the question becomes "should prisoners receive treatment for it?" I would argue that yes, they should. But I live in a country with socialised medicine, where healthcare is provided to all free of charge (including treatment for gender dysphoria). In my mind, being imprisoned deprives you of liberty, but not the right to free healthcare. I imagine many people in America would feel differently - "why", they might say, "should a prisoner get treated for free when I can't afford my own medical bills?". That said, it's not totally clear to me that taxpayers would be paying for Chelsea Manning's treatment? I couldn't find any reference to it in her letter, merely that she hopes to begin hormone treatment shortly.
- nhangen 13y agoTaxpayers pay for the military, so I would assume that by extension, they would pay for this treatment.