PROMPT WORD: CONTROL
I’m about to lose control!
What’s wrong?
Roe V Wade may be rescinded, and then all of the people in each State will get to vote on whatever abortion restrictions they want causing women to have difficulty getting abortion on demand!
Shouldn’t everyone get to vote on such a serious topic in the way the Constitution prescribes rather than allowing nine people to decide for the whole population?
Men shouldn’t have ANY control over women’s reproductive choices!
Um, you can’t be serious… It was men who wrote and confirmed Roe V Wade in the first place and, last I checked, men play a role in reproduction too although judging by the tragically high number of abortions, self-control and birth control ought to be the more urgent focuses of both sexes.
Sillyfrog's Blog 
Hi Susan. Personally, I think it’s a good idea to let the people in the states vote on whether or not abortions should be legal, especially given that the national average, according to a New York Times poll, shows that 54 percent of the people mostly or fully support legalized abortion, compared with 41 percent who mostly or fully oppose it.
According to Gallop, Americans’ support for abortion in all or most cases was at 80% in May 2021. And the Pew Research Center found that 59% of adults believe abortion should be legal. Pew also found that Americans with religious affiliations are far more likely to oppose abortion than the nonreligious (82% of whom believe abortion should be legal), but with the exception of white evangelical Protestants (77% of whom believe abortion should be illegal), a higher share of every religious group polled — white non-evangelicals, Black Protestants, and Catholics — favor abortion rights.
So by all means, let’s put abortion rights to a vote. Unfortunately, states with Republican governors and with Republican-controlled state houses, won’t even put such matters on the ballot to allow voters to vote on legalizing abortions on their states. So there’s that.
The argument really isn’t about whether abortion should be made illegal or not. Both extremes on the issue clearly want us all to believe this is an ALL or NOTHING case, though. The VAST majority of people would like to open up more localized discussions on restrictions. I don’t know anyone who thinks third trimester abortions should happen. In fact, only about 8% actually DO take place after 24 weeks. That’s too many just the same for about 70% of voters. (Don’t hold me exactly to that percentage but it’s close.)
It doesn’t concern me “who” or “why” people want restrictions. Everyone in a republic ought to have a voice.
The waters of the whole discussion are being muddied by the extremes and those who listen to the extremes, as usual.
States should decide what restrictions they want. That’s kinda simple and constitutionally sound.
Guess what?
Republicans are people too and there is quite a diverse range of opinions among them.
The ultimate decision making belongs with the people.
Food for thought: A Constitutional Amendment would easily pass if this issue were made palatable across the board. Perhaps, if discussions and State experiments in reasonable restrictions grow there may be a coming together?
You probably want to know how I feel too. Abortions ought to be extremely rare and firmly restricted to 12 weeks or less with provisions for mandatory counseling in alternatives. (Actually, a lifetime limit of one per ‘birthing person’ would make me ecstatic but I can’t believe that would be Constitutional. 😉 )
Thanks for your comment.
“States should decide what restrictions they want. That’s kinda simple and constitutionally sound.” What you didn’t say was that the PEOPLE in the states should decide, not the governor or the state legislature. But in Republican controlled states, the issue has never been put before the voters. It’s mostly decided by old, white men.
A Constitutional Amendment? Are you serious? Talk to me about the Equal Rights Amendment, which was introduced in Congress in December 1923., almost 100 years ago. It took until 1972 until it was finally approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. It was actually ratified by the 38th state in 2020, but Republicans in Congress are still fighting it every step of the way.
So to propose a Constitutional Amendment on legalizing abortion now is ridiculous. Everyone alive today would likely be dead before it would ever be enacted.
However long lawful processes in a Constitutional Republic take, it is what it is. Factions of people who are impatient for legal and lasting laws just don’t (shouldn’t) get to have their own way.
Courts have been stepping in and are WAY out of line according to the Constitutional order.
Prop 8 passed on the ballot in California in 2008 and courts ultimately just decided what they thought the law should be. Whether we think it was a good outcome or not isn’t the point. When the rules are no longer clear, chaos and unrest builds. That’s not good for any of us. At least those of us who want to preserve our country. You seem to want to go through more details than I have time for. Have a nice night. I’m done. 🙂
I meant “the people” of the State should decide BTW (The people can vote out the governors and legislators who aren’t doing their bidding, can’t they?) and old white men decided to hold up Roe V Wade in the first place. Guess you only get agitated about the age, race, and sex of who is making the decisions when it’s not an outcome you approve. LOL
“Guess you only get agitated about the age, race, and sex of who is making the decisions when it’s not an outcome you approve.” No, I get agitated, regardless of age, race, or gender, when six highly partisan, conservative justices, four of whom were appointed by presidents who LOST the popular vote, can decide the fate of more than half of the American population (women) with respect to their health care and reproductive rights and their right to privacy. What’s next? Birth control? Gay marriage? Voting rights? Freedom of speech?
And you’re missing the point of my previous comment. Why are Republican governors and Republican state legislators unwilling to even put the question of abortion rights on the ballots in their respective states? Why do they keep on enacting state laws effectively banning legislation, even in the case of rape and incest, when the majority of the voters in such states oppose such restrictive laws? When the majority of those most impacted by such laws the poor and minorities? You suggested letting the people vote on this matter, Susan. Why is it not happening? Why is the will of the people being subverted by partisan politics? What are these Republican “leaders” afraid of?
Good point and reminder: “self-control and birth control ought to be the more urgent focuses of both sexes”
Thanks Frank. 🙂
What i want to know is when we’re going to quit fighting about this and start creating a society where women don’t have to make this agonizing choice at all.
That would be a wonderful thing!
Is society causing women to make that choice or are there other reasons? Certainly, society pressures and teases women in that direction.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
I get the passion on this issue from all sides of the argument and I am totally opposed to cancel culture in all its forms. However I’m not sure whether this is the platform for such a discussion. I’d be interested in the views of other contributors.
Like any topic, it is each reader’s prerogative to ignore and move on or comment. It’s how people who don’t approve of ‘cancel culture’ have operated for years. 😉
Partial touche, Susan 😉 but I’ve seen situations like this arise on other writer sites and it rarely ends well.
If you’re talking about those who have commented more than this simple little SIX, please don’t worry. I considered not adding it to this page after creating it for my blog but figured creative adults could handle 6 sentences on any topic. Hope you weren’t traumatized… that wasn’t my intention. 😉
I don’t think I’ve ever been traumatised by an argument, Susan. As for my opponents … 😉
😁🥂😎
This is such a subjective matter. I’m going to take a back seat for now.
That’s how adults do it. Salute.
I’m not from or in the USA, so I’ll let you guys sort out your own stuff
Thanks. 😊
All I’ll say is that I passionately believe in a woman’s right to choose. It is not a decision that’s taken lightly.
Thanks for your comment! The SIX is actually about who gets to choose if abortion is regulated or not but you are not alone in your opinion that it should be available. Whether it’s a ‘right’ or not might also be argued but that shouldn’t get in the way of reasonings on whether it should be available.
You’re very kind to weigh in. 😊
Happy to speak out, but my limited grip on the mechanics of US law-making finds me unable to contribute further to the dialogue.
Understood and respected.
Let’s hope that there are more states that will control the narrative around abortion and reproductive freedoms. This is one of my fights for a while now. Great six to bring awareness, Susan!
Thanks very much. 😊
You’re welcome. Thank you for writing it!
Thought provoking
That’s exactly what I hoped for. Thank-you.
This piece is relevant and with nuggets of wisdom.
Much appreciated. 😊
Always a tricky topic, and good on you, Susan, for bringing it to the fore so clearly.
Much appreciated! It, like so many things, not a binary issue. Discussion is needed.