So, it’s happened.
Millions of women in the US will lose the constitutional right to abortion, after the Supreme Court overturned its 50-year-old Roe v Wade decision.
The judgement paves the way for individual states to ban the procedure.
That second sentence is what matters. The SCOTUS hasn’t banned abortion. Some states may choose to. Some may impose restrictions. This is a matter for those legislatures and their electorates as the SCOTUS has decided that it’s a states issue not a federal one.
However, expect the usual screeching and strawman arguments forthwith.
Across the divide, pro-choice supporters decried the decision as “illegitimate” and even a form of “fascism”.
Well, that was quick. It is neither of course.
Oh, and anyone wishing to comment here on this one – I am not going to get into a discussion about the rights and wrongs of abortion, as this is not about that. I am making no comment one way or another on the merits of abortion or its legal status. This discussion is about who decides that status.
The sad thing is the viscous division between so-called red and blue states of which this one of many examples. When I was young the USA was held up as an example of cross=party cooperation. Sadly no longer, and the UK is showing signs of going the same way.
It’s well down the path, frankly. The Brexit debate showed us that.
The ironic thing is that one of the pro abortion groups raised the challenge as they wanted the 15 week cut off limit raised, leading to the re-evaluation of the original 50 year old decision.
Be careful what you ask for.
In fairness, by legislating 15 weeks it pushed it into the 3rd trimester. That was a deliberate poison pill to enable an attack on Roe v Wade. Quite clever, actually.
It’s interesting to note that if you overlay a map of which states vote Democrat/Republican over a map showing the states on either side in the American Civil War, it’s essentially the same map with only a couple of variations
Very true
This is the long-term revenge of the slavers, attempting to re-impose a modern version, based on (mostly) religion, rather than skin colour & to keep “those people” in subjugation
I’m not sure this point is valid. The political map of the US has changed dramatically during my lifetime. Compare the election map for, say, 1960 with the 2020 map.
REAL PROBLEM – leaving aside abortion (For the moment)
The judgement was made on the grounds that there is “No right to privacy” – think about that?
AND
Clarence Thomas (SCOTUS chief justice) has said that he wants said court to now investigate 3 other cases, also based on privacy.
Can states ban access to contraception?
Can states ban homosexuality?
Can states ban same-sex marriage?
The whole thing is based on a particular interpretation of a very narrow evangelical sect’s view of the world – very dangerous territory.
Anyway: “State’s Rights” was the clarion call of SLAVERY was it not?
Yes, but I suspect “Not like that” would be a common refrain of the states righters.
This stuff won’t end with the attack on “substantive due process” though, if someone doesn’t stop him he’s going to move onto all those dodgy judgements around “Interstate Commerce”.
Now, that WOULD set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Yes, Greg, having it made a tiny bit difficult to get rid of the burgeoning life within you because you couldn’t be bothered to source and take contraception is EXACTLY LIKE becoming mere chattel and being forced to pick cotton all day…
Julia
ANd the between 50 – 70+ % of actual fertilisations that either don’t implant, or “drop out” after 2-3 days?
Or you find that the foetus has an abnormality? Or you don’t have access to proper birth control because the US is “funny” on that subject & restricts it.
You are blaming the victims – a common tactic, that leaves a nasty taste.
“Planned Parenthood” – the US group[ that promotes safe sex & birth control has itself been under attack from the “christians” for many years
Strawman.
Not so – unfortunately.
What Julia ( & others, I think ) have missed ios that several (not all) of the US states’ are making NO exceptions for rape or incest.
How nice – & you can’t blame the victim for that ones
Yeah, it is. Julia did not indulge in victim blaming.