Saturday, February 05, 2011

Extremism At Work

God bless the Republicans and their friends.  They know what is best for us!  Keep the government out of our lives, unless of course we are talking about social issues near and dear to their hearts.  In which case - let's invoke Nanny Government.  The issue at hand - abortion.


H.R. 3 "No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act", has just been introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ).  He has 173 co-sponsors, including 10 Democrats. (Dan Boren (D-OK), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Mark Critz (D-PA), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Mike Ross (D-AR), Heath Shuler (D-NC)).  At first blush it seems harmless enough.  However this assessment suggests we follow the reasoning more carefully.


The original wording of the bill allowed for abortion only in the case of "forcible rape" and incest in the case of a minor.  That created a storm, and the bill has been modified, although I was just at Thomas and didn't see anything showing the modification.


But that is not the end of the concerns.  There is a long history of limiting women's exercise of their right to have an abortion if they choose.  This bill takes it further and, if enacted, stands between women and that right.  It also opens the door to more Government interference in what we choose to do.


ENOUGH!  If the Republicans are serious about getting government off our backs, dropping this bill is one place they can begin.  I want them out of my bedroom, out of my vagina, out of my uterus, and out of my health insurance.  Let me choose my own health plan if there isn't going to be a single payor plan.  And stay out of my choices for coverage.  MYODB!!


If you believe this bill is a mistake, get angry, get moving and get a hold of your Representative. 

1 comment:

The North Coast said...

This bill is a disaster. Preserving reproductive rights is essential to protecting the health and the RIGHTS of women.

But maybe the health care bill is a disaster, too, given the toxic political climate in this country. Involving our authorities more deeply in our health care might mean opening the door to more intrusions into our personal lives.

What will we pay to preserve our RIGHTS, which include the right to complete control over our own reproduction, including the right to abortion?