There are eight states that passed bills to restrict certain abortion procedures this year. Many polls show that 73% of Americans want Roe v Wade to stay in place. However, the recent bills from Georgia and Alabama have most Americans worried about the health and safety of women who will be affected by them. While the country worries about their health care, the politicians are methodically making decisions regarding the health of women that was decided decades ago by the Supreme Court.
Before the 1970s abortions were illegal, and some women went to other countries if they had the means to have one. Sadly, not all women were lucky enough to go that route, and many went to the extreme of performing the abortion on themselves, by using coat hangers, or knives, and in some cases throwing themselves down a flight of steps. Abortions were performed by unqualified people for a minimal fee in an unsanitary environment and many women died.
Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in 1973 in which it ruled the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides a fundamental right to privacy that protects a pregnant woman's liberty to choose whether or not to have an abortion. It also ruled that the States had no right to interfere with a woman's right to seek an abortion during the first trimester. The second trimester ruled the States could regulate with reasonable health issues. The third trimester is the only time a State could interfere. However, the health of the mother is the deciding reason for an abortion at any time of a woman's pregnancy.
The day after Alabama enacted the strictest abortion ban thus far, they executed a man on death row. The state that is fighting for the life of unborn children has a capital punishment policy and has the highest per capita of death row executions. This begs the question, is Alabama pro-life or pro-birth?
Unlike before the 1970s and according to www.medicinenet.com, there are fifteen types of birth control available. A vasectomy is the only type solely on the shoulders of a male. However, a condom is the number one listed type of birth control and is widely used, but it is the male's responsibility to wear one and the female to insist that he do so. In the day and age of STD's, the condom is the ultimate protection for either sex.
The morning after pill is also accessible prevention and is not as evasive as an abortion. Even though there are religions and politicians that don't believe education on this subject is appropriate for our youth, there needs to be legislation that teaches our pre-teens how to prevent an unwanted and or unexpected pregnancy.
The eight states that have begun the process of banning abortions are Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Utah, Arkansas, and Alabama. (Five of these states have capital punishment.) The courts will take part in the final enforcement of many of these bans. However, is there another motive for this besides the religious conservative's agenda? In 2018 it was reported that the birth rate is at an all-time low. What does this mean for the future economic society that relies on low wages and an abundance of low-income citizens to keep our GDP down?
In addition, as the population shrinks, where does the country get the soldiers and sailors to protect and fight for our religious freedoms? Even though these states have million-dollar budgets for foster care programs they will also need to go back into the welfare system and begin funding for the mothers that are not able to support themselves and the child. If the birth rate begins to grow so will the need for an improved health care system as well as welfare and education reform.
According to the site Abort73.com, the facts show abortions have decreased from 913,000 in 2015 to 879,000 in 2018. However, to look at the big picture of the decrease in abortions, 1.36 million abortions were performed in 1996. The highest percentage of abortions are performed in the District of Columbia, followed by New York, and New Jersey. The lowest percentages are in Utah, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Therefore, the current bans if passed would have very little effect.
As the men and women in America come together to march and protest this new round of dystopian laws thrust upon us by religions that want the United States to stay in the dark ages. Remember ladies, we have control over our minds and bodies. Or a reaction to these antiquated bans are important, however, the only way to make sure this does not happen in the future is to vote responsibly.
