We the Sheeple in Just Jane

It always chaps my ass when I think about how we as a country are just a bunch of sheep. We don't question things. We believe everything we're told as truth and we don't do our own research or seek opinions or, God forbid, think for ourselves.

Maybe I am more inclined to question things because I'm an older mom and have more life experience. For better or worse, I've learned that lots of things go on beyond the scenes that we would like to not have to entertain.

As a new mom, I am active on online parenting boards. It always amazes me how people take everything their pediatricians say as gospel. When it comes to their kids, parents want to feel warm and fuzzy about their pediatrician, thinking that they are 100% thinking of the child's welfare. The reality is that it's a business and their bottom line is to make money.

People don't see that there can be connections between what their peds tell them and their own agenda.

A perfect example is circumcision. First off, I am vehemently anti-circumcision. There is absolutely no acceptable reason to cut off a body part (WITH NO PAIN RELIEF) of a helpless baby who has only been in this world for a day or two. What a horrible introduction to the world. Peds and OBs do circumcisions. Circumcisions=money. Still, people turn to their peds for advice on whether or not they should have this procedure performed. Can you see the conflict of interest here? A pediatrician or OB is the last person you should be counting on to help you with this decision. They are the ones perpetuating the lies and myths about circumcision. Every single myth/excuse/justification for the assault on a newborn can be debunked with a small amount of research. But people don't bother. They are lazy and it's easier to let someone else tell them what they should do.

Since the 90's, the APA has been of the opinion that circumcision is not necessary. So now insurance doesnt cover it because it's considered elective and cosmetic in nature. In 2012, a committee was put together to revisit the topic. A small amount of people, all who have a vested interest in circumcision, were assembled and decided to change their (the APA) statement to say that the benefits outweigh the risks. Let's think about why they might have done this. Could it be that:

--Less parents are electing circumcision because insurance doesnt cover it which leads to: --Less circumcisions which leads to: --less money for doctors which leads to: --doctors pushing to have insurance cover it again which will only happen if: --the APA changes their stance.

Too many people don't think past the fact that the APA changed their stance. It doesn't take a lot of work to delve just a little deeper to consider that less innocent factors are at work here.

Sorry, parents, but your pedi doesn't always have your child's best interest in mind. Money talks, often louder than the cries of our most helpless and voiceless victims.