SCOTUS, Texas, and Rolling Back Women's Rights

 In a striking blow to women's rights, on December 10th 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States let stand a Texas law that allows private citizens to sue any abortion provider. The law does not recognize rape or incest. So, in theory, if a young woman becomes pregnant from a rape, and has an abortion, her bible clutching neighbor could then sue the provider. The only saving grace in the by the ultra-conservative court is that providers can seek relief in federal court regarding the legality of the law.

Let's get a few things clear about the law. It was clearly written without the consolation of medical professionals. The law states that an abortion cannot take place after six weeks, which biologically, well before a woman may ever know she's pregnant. The law runs afoul of Roe V. Wade, which required 24 weeks. The effects in Texas were clear after the law went into effect. Those with the means were able to travel over state lines into friendly states and have their abortion. Those who could not afford to do that were essentially left with no options. Needless to say, one can easily summarize the thinking, and prejudices of those that crafted the law.

Justice Roberts had one of the most clear moments who he stated that the Texas Law essentially chills Roe V. wade because of what he aptly pointed out "providers are not attempting to carry out abortions because of draconian penalties." At least Roberts had the steel to aptly comment on the effect of the law. Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett punted when it came to recognizing that, instead they ruled to what the base of the party that helped them achieve those seats would expect them to, and virtually ignored Justice Roberts' warning. 

For those of you wondering where I stand on this issue, I fully stand behind a women's right to an abortion. It's her body, her choice, right? After all, isn't that the same argument that we've heard from the anti-mask crowd? Many of whom talk out of both sides of their mouths advocating for government control over what a woman can do with her body, while crying repression over a mask. Do I feel that the anti-abortion crowd feels that women are still chattel? I honestly feel that some do, hanging on to the misguided and antiquated notions that a woman should breed and not be seen. Many people whose viewpoints rest in their religious beliefs, as they feel life be God's decree is sacred. Well, even a casual read of the bible proves that not to be true, because God killed people whenever it struck his fancy. Personally, I see the Texas law, S.B. 8 as one of the most repressive laws passed in the 21st century. 

When all is said and done, we could be looking at an unexpected fallout. Women of all ages could find themselves having to travel state borders in order to get an abortion. Those unlucky souls may entrust their lives to quacks, or medical school dropouts, which could have deadly results. And I fear that those women would be cast as law breakers with cold, and heartless efficacy. Instead of calling them what they truly would be, victims. And the fallout will be left to those that so passionately pushed their agenda in hopes of "saving the unborn" will find their path to righteousness blocked and littered with the bodies of the women who died as result.

The era of Trump ushered in a new and most dangerous movement. One that has sought to roll back almost evert civil rights achievement from the 20th century. Their quest to install a poll tax carefully disguised as a "voter I.D." has gained steam thanks to clever marketing. Now they've ventured into more dangerous waters. A reversal of Roe V. Wade is a step back for women's right, don't let anyone tell you any different. Now we've had a state that adopted a law that encourages private citizens, who's otherwise have no stake nor standing, sue a medical professional for doing a constitutionally protected medical procedure. Something that can only serve to cause more logjam in a judicial system that is already suffering from bag logs. The effect this will have on the system, that thanks to a law that allows suits to cross state borders, will have an effect that only those blind to it cannot see.

 So, setting aside lawsuits, the questions before us is, how long and how many? How many women have to die before this law is proven to be misguided? And how long must these innocent and preventable deaths go on before a change is made, and those that backed it are proven wrong? Remember the cautionary tale of my earlier blog. That's telling you where this will lead. And I say it not for shock value or to speak from hyperbole. History tells us, history is screaming from the top of her lungs that story could come true. We just need to open our ears and listen.  

A Cautionary Tale about overturning Roe V. Wade

 Morgan and her mother quickly piled into her mother's car under the cover of darkness. It was a trip that posed great danger and could only be accomplished at night. The roads they took were rough and poorly maintained. Then again, these were the real backroads, as traveling on the main highway to their destination could and would draw unwanted attention, especially given the time of night. Morgan clutched the blanket she was under, as fear began to take over. She never pondered the decision no was the trip causing her fear. It was simply the repercussions of what she and her mother was doing. Morgan grimaced with every bump her mother could not avoid. And each time, her mother would glance back and offer an apology. Morgan would nod her head in understanding, and glance back out at the night scenery. She watched the trees as the car drove by, and soon enough, tears were falling down her face.

Morgan was 15 years old and seemingly had a bright future. She did well in school, and hoped to attend college. However, a chance encounter with Eddie, a boy she knew, changed all of that. Eddie was 19 and hailed from a family with great influence. They even owned the warehouse that employed Morgan's father. Morgan's father was against this trip, but yielded because he knew it was of importance. One fateful night, Morgan and her friends went to a party where she met Eddie. She was taken by his handsome good looks, and felt honored that he'd give a girl like Morgan, who many might consider plain, such attention.  The night that seemed like it was straight from a storybook ended up as if was written by Mary Shelly. Eddie took Morgan up to his room and used his power to rape the young girl. Morgan had never known the touch of a man before, and her first encounter was an act of violence. It would be several weeks and a missed cycle later that Morgan learned the rape had led to her becoming pregnant. 

Eddie steadfast refused that he raped Morgan and claimed she made up the story. The baby had to belong to someone else. Morgan couldn't find anyone that would back her story, because Eddie's father had used his wealth to pay off any potential witnesses. Morgan was totally alone now, and knew she could not bring a baby into the world. So, she opted to have an abortion. However, the only clinic that would risk providing one was two towns over. And that's where Morgan's destination was, the clinic. She had the abortion with her mother holding her hand the entire time. It seemed that there was a chance that everything would come back to normal.

Instead it didn't, Morgan became ill from the unsterilized methods the doctor used, and infection set in. Just three weeks after the abortion, Morgan's parents had the grave duty of planning her funeral. Just six weeks shy of her sweet sixteen, Morgan died from complications of a late night back-alley abortion.  

The above was a dramatization of what happened to many women and teenage girls, until the issue of abortion was settle with Roe V. Wade. And now we sit at the cusp of those dark days returning. The days where a woman who couldn't get to a clinic would throw herself down a flight of stairs, drink heavily, or anything she could think of to bring the pregnancy to a "normal  end".  It was during these dark days that access to abortion depended on where you stood geographically. Here's an example, a woman in New York would have easier, safer and more affordable access to abortion that a woman in Alabama. In many cases, she wouldn't be able to afford a trip to New York for an abortion. During this patchwork time of abortion law, a licensed doctor or even a midwife was allowed to perform an abortion where allowed by law. Anywhere else on the map, and you not only risked your medical career, but you could very well find yourself doing time in prison as well. A system Texas tried to impose earlier this year.

When I hear the anti-abortion crowd describe themselves as pro-life I have to laugh, I really do. Carlin once said "They aren't pro-life, they are anti-woman." and I think that simplified it. He later pointed out how the anti-abortion crowd, many of them have no issue with the death penalty. How when you boiled it down to the truth, they were pro-life  alright, they just want to be able to control who lives and who dies. 

What a full repeal of Roe V. Wade will represent a return to the days when a woman dies from an infection from an flawed procedure. How does one call themselves pro-life when they are literally causing women to die? Another sign of their naked hypocrisy is if a child is born with a developmental disability, then it's a series of red tape just to get them a quality education, let alone the public assistance they'll need during their developmental years.  And these folks who stand and scream holding those signs in the air call themselves "Pro-Life"? I really don't think they thought that one through too well.

As for the comments Justice Coney-Barrett was said to have made, that instead of abortion, the woman could put the child up for adoption and just move on with her life/career. Not only would those comments be insulting, they'd be short-sighted comments from someone with no insight whatsoever. We'll table the discussion that there are many children out there in need of adoption and that a high percentage of them go through and never are adopted, and eventually age out. What of those por souls? Anyone who says "Oh, you can just put the child up for adoption" does not have the slightest concept of how the system works. And before you have a single thought asking if I know what I'm talking about, I've spent the last six plus years working in family laws. I've worked on Termination cases and surrenders. Not everyone has a happy ending. 

Abortion has never been about being pro-life. It has always been an attempt to return to the days where women were considered property, and not people. It's about asserting control, in an almost biblical fashion. Do not let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise. I am sure of that as I am if Roe V. Wade is overturned in its entirety, then we are opening the door for a very dark period of history to live again. And it will come at the expense of many lives, lives lost because of the so-called "Pro Life" crowd.