You know, I’ve got to admit, I think this is the first time — for quite some time — that I’ve not actually included a photo.
But …
Well …
I know some of my readers may find this contentious.
Adding a photo would be …
Well …
Definitely over-egging the pudding.
You see, I’ve just been chatting — via Twitter — with @kaijuisme, and found myself broadly in agreement with him on something.
We got nattering about a Republic Congressman — Bobby Franklin, if I’ve got the name and the House correct — who is trying to frame a law in Georgiaº to make miscarriage punishable with a death penalty.
Miscarriage, note.
I had to ask Kaiju if he was joking.
He wasn’t.
Which is when I got looking up news services … !
»»•««
Now, I know that the pro-choice/pro-life debate is one that causes a lot of arguments, over in the US.
It certainly has it’s share of yelling people, over here.
Personally … ?
Personally speaking, I’ve got to admit I’m reluctantly in favour of abortions*, however distasteful you or I may find them.
And believe me, I do.
But I’ve know many women over the years who’ve had at least one.
And however painful they’ve found them — from what I’m told, it’s not the easiest procedure to go through, emotionally — they’ve been able to explain exactly why they’ve felt it necessary to have it done.
For the most part, they’ve also gone onto to have families, happily, as and when the time has been right.
OK, they’ve felt regret over what happened. But also feel they’ve done the right thing.
I know I’ve been occasionally accused of incredible arrogance, sometimes.
But I’m not arrogant enough to tell someone facing THAT decision what to do.
Now, there’s a reason I’ve mentioned that.
Because the politician in question has tied that clause into a bill that calls for the death penalty for women who have medical or elective terminations.
And — as I think I mentioned — for spontaneous terminations. Miscarriages, in other words.
I have to ask one thing …
Has Bobby Franklin ever met a woman who’s had a miscarriage … ?
I don’t think he has, to be frank.
The ones I have … ?
Are on the wrong end of a natural process: one they neither desired or asked for.
And as far as I can tell, one they haven’t faked.
To even suggest that they who’ve already suffered what many women see as one of the worst things that can happen to anyone female … ?
Well …
I can only hope this chap gets kicked out of office.
Women don’t need a twit like him in office …
* I really don’t like the word, preferring instead, termination. Whatever one calls it, I’m still not a fan. HOWEVER, I am still — still — behind someone’s right to choose. It’s complicated, but ultimately boils down to this: there are always times it’s going to be needed, for whatever reason. I’m also aware that clinicians in the US have been murdered for carrying out abortions. Carrying out murder to back up your arguments … ? As far as I’m concerned, if the pro-life — AHEM — lobby feels the need to commit murder, then it has already lost.
º There’s something similar going on in Utah, it seems.
6 comments:
OMG, I had no idea. Equating miscarriage with murder is insane.
Glad to hear you're pro-choice. I'm also glad I've never had to make that choice. Even so, the option should be legal.
Also, if you're interested, I'm on Twitter: @debbimack
Good job,Paul!
Fortunately for the United States, the Republican Congressman's bill will never see the light of day. Or even if it does, it will never pass Supreme Court muster. See, abortion is legal in the United States, despite the earnest efforts of the Republicans to abolish it. They cannot pass a law to undo it, they cannot muster enough votes to establish a Constitutional amendment to abolish abortion, and frankly, the majority of American voters support the right to abortions.
Republicans pursue the anti-abortion effort because they only win elections when they can tie the election to the culture war. Their fav, of course, is abortion. They've played that hand so often on this tack that it is no longer effective. So they attempted to make it a religious argument, but that was short-lived. Their current effort is tied to funding. The Republicans have the majority in the House of Representatives, so they control the purse strings to some extent. The more pragmatic Democrats, however, control the Senate, so the Republicans attempt to undo the U.S. Constitution is limited. Thank goodness.
The Republicans are currently totally out of control. Their current campaign is to destroy Labor rights starting with abolition of the right of workers to organize, and essentially, the entire middle class. Why? Because if the workers can't control how much they are paid, those who have the money can control more money and power. Also, the middle class tends to vote for the Democratic Party. What better method of curtailing that voting bloc than by preventing them from voting?
Yes, the Republicans want to outlaw low-power consumption light bulbs (considered a left wing initiative). They are also introducing a bill in New Hampshire to prevent college students from registering to vote from their college address. They must vote at their home address. That means they probably won't vote at all, considering the reality that they won't take that extra step. Why would the Republicans want this? Simple. Students tend to vote for Democratic candidates, as well.
There's a pattern here. And it stinks. If they win, it could also lead to the destruction of America the Free.
I’ve got to admit, I saw the light bulb one, and have to ask how daft that is: I think, here in the UK, the only people who have seriously made an issue about low-powered bulbs, are those with epilepsy or who suffer migraines.
The older sort, seemingly, induce less fits or migraines.
Don’t quote me, but I think there was a BBC page about it.
But I did catch their piece on Wisconsin ongoing union storm.
Now, I’ve never joined a union: I’ve never really felt the need, the kind of jobs I’ve had has never had effective ones and I’ve always been unimpressed by the likes of Bob Crow, one of Britain’s more militant Union leaders. Mostly where he’s always struck me as having a serious lack of a sense of humour.
But that basic idea, that we have a choice or whether to join one has been a default in the UK for many years: the only people for whom joining isn’t an option are the army and police. Even there, there}s some sort of representative body, even if the bodies concerned can’t call themselves a union, or go on strike.
I do go on!
Most US workers do not belong to a union. Unions actually don't have the same clout they had from the 1930's - 1960's. But a study showed that private sector wages and benefits are directly correlated to union jobs'. So unions are still relevant in this country.
The lightbulb controversy is madness. That moron wants the lightbulb technology reverted back to the standard set in 1910, and further developments prohibited. Seriously. Incandescent lightbulb technology has progressed since then, but that idiot doesn't want even those developments! He claims it's about lightbulb choice...while eliminating any opportunity for choice. Forget about choice of what to do with one's uterus. He wants to abolish choice of lightbulbs, too. I guess we should abolish automobiles and revert to horse and carriage technology next.
And that's the current state of the Republican Party. Insanity.
I'll just chime in briefly.
My husband was a firefighter for 27 years. He was in a union and thank God for that. He got good benefits out of it.
Here's the irony. Many of the people he worked with were Republicans. They would complain about Democrats and liberals always taxing and spending. Even though Republicans were simply spending and creating a deficit.
Not only that, but they were looking out for the wealthy and trying to bust the unions. And not looking out for the interests of people like, well, teachers, police and, um, firefighters. AHEM!
Really … ?
Heck of a job … !
I do know, though, that the government cutbacks mean Brentwood’s fire-station is having to look at cuts: understandably, the unions are too pleased, and have a work-to-rule in place.
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