Will be away till August 1st. In the meantime enjoy my latest foray into the political editorial:
One of President Bushs recent judicial nominees, James Leon Holmes, once said "concern for rape victims is a red herring because conceptions from rape occur with approximately the same frequency as snowfall in Miami." This is one reason we progressives have such confidence in Mr. Bushs upcoming Supreme Court nominee. Mr. Holmes had one thing right though: there is a red herring in the abortion debate. But it isnt rape, its the fetus.
The main reason most Christian conservatives oppose abortion has nothing to do with protecting fetuses. The reason abortion is so reprehensible is that it allows women control of their own reproductive systems thus allowing them to avoid a lifetime of child birth and rearing (if thats their choice). But this is clearly a choice that should be made by the womans father or husband, but absent that the government can step in.
Access to abortion gives women the ability to have sex and enjoy it without fear of harm to their careers. Women can freely have sex without marriage if there is no fear of a financially unmanageable or socially unacceptable pregnancy. Fear of these things, not concern for fetuses, is what drives the right-wing of the Republican Party to fight against reproductive freedom.
Evidence of this is all too clear. After a child is born, do the Republicans want him or her to have guaranteed access to healthcare? Do they want to protect the child from mercury and other harmful emissions? Do they want the future generations skies and forests protected from destruction? Do they want to protect todays childrens social security benefits from the greedy hands of Wall Street? Do they care that hundreds of children die every day from AIDS and malnutrition?
Any examination of current Republican policies shows the answer to all of these questions is no. So forgive me when I have a hard time believing Republicans are deeply concerned for fetuses, but dont care about them at all the second theyre born. Their true agenda is guided by their pseudo-morality that abhors women, free of the burden of constant pregnancies, having an equal status in our society.
One of President Bushs recent judicial nominees, James Leon Holmes, once said "concern for rape victims is a red herring because conceptions from rape occur with approximately the same frequency as snowfall in Miami." This is one reason we progressives have such confidence in Mr. Bushs upcoming Supreme Court nominee. Mr. Holmes had one thing right though: there is a red herring in the abortion debate. But it isnt rape, its the fetus.
The main reason most Christian conservatives oppose abortion has nothing to do with protecting fetuses. The reason abortion is so reprehensible is that it allows women control of their own reproductive systems thus allowing them to avoid a lifetime of child birth and rearing (if thats their choice). But this is clearly a choice that should be made by the womans father or husband, but absent that the government can step in.
Access to abortion gives women the ability to have sex and enjoy it without fear of harm to their careers. Women can freely have sex without marriage if there is no fear of a financially unmanageable or socially unacceptable pregnancy. Fear of these things, not concern for fetuses, is what drives the right-wing of the Republican Party to fight against reproductive freedom.
Evidence of this is all too clear. After a child is born, do the Republicans want him or her to have guaranteed access to healthcare? Do they want to protect the child from mercury and other harmful emissions? Do they want the future generations skies and forests protected from destruction? Do they want to protect todays childrens social security benefits from the greedy hands of Wall Street? Do they care that hundreds of children die every day from AIDS and malnutrition?
Any examination of current Republican policies shows the answer to all of these questions is no. So forgive me when I have a hard time believing Republicans are deeply concerned for fetuses, but dont care about them at all the second theyre born. Their true agenda is guided by their pseudo-morality that abhors women, free of the burden of constant pregnancies, having an equal status in our society.
And more proof to that is that the Oregon Health Plan doesn't pay for dental anymore. One cavity filled is half my monthly income... that is a problem. It should only take me about 15 years or so to pay off all me & my son's dental bills from the last few years. Good times.
Maybe I will be dead by then anyway... then ha ha on them, huh?