Toby Joe and I have been probably the only two people in all of America (outside of the obvious nut jobs) listening to the Alito hearings via CSPAN (Toby) and NPR (myself). There have been several times where I considered writing about what I have heard. Generally speaking, I should stick to questions about no-hitters, the shape of the states, and girls who talk using the word “like” as filler.
For example, I went on a HUGE rant last night about the predominately old white men and how many of them want abortion to be illegal. I wanted to know how a woman having an abortion affected them (especially considering the ones already alive are treated so poorly by their parents and the state elected officials put in place to “protect” them. For those too tired to sign into the article, it’s about another little girl who was found beaten to death after being tied to a chair in a room and fed cat food. She was also made to pee in a litter box. That’s all I have to say about that.) How can I take these men seriously when we treat our already living children so poorly? Education is all but ignored. Abused children are constantly returned to their parents, parents who obviously don’t want them. (Now, I’m not saying these children should be aborted, but I wish our congress/senate/state-elected officials would shift gears and take care of those we DO have instead taking so much care of the unborn.)
Last night, I started wondering if there was something we could “threaten” the (mostly) old white-haired men with in hopes of having them understand how some feel about their desire to remove the right to choose. How in God’s name (literally) are they expected to empathize with a group of people they have NOTHING in common with?
“It’s a religious crusade, Michele. Plain and Simple.”
Take away their legal right to divorce. Take away their right to use Viagra. Take away their right to bear arms. I have no idea. There is nothing similar, really. Take away their right to spend more than 100 thousand dollars a year on big cars, boats, trips to play golf, spa treatments, Botox. Hell, take away their right to pay for their child’s education. .
My question is this: Do the people who are opposed to abortion believe that this will alleviate the number of unwanted pregnancies? I’m an idealist, but come on! I have a bridge for sale. These same people probably believe that the death penalty actually acts as a deterrent for crime. Please. As if committing a crime warranting the death penalty isn’t welcoming the possibility enough.
I should probably stop listening to Alito’s hearing. For a much clearer debate, visit Old Man Sounds. Make some noise.
This is TOTALLY baffling. And totally relevant to today’s post. How many eggs does a woman have? From now on, I’m gonna say that I have a busload of people in my car!
If you haven’t read Freakonomics, I highly recommend it. There is a section on how legalized abortion is responsible for the drop in crime. Fewer women having unwanted children leads to fewer teens acting out. It’s a real shame that no politician would ever say that (even thought it’s true) out of fear of alienating the religious.
Debra, we talked about that last night. I asked the question, “What do they think will happen? Do they think that people will stop having unwanted children?”
If they suggest spending more on education and, oh, I don’t know, putting more safe sex options into the curriculum (including church!!) I’ll be more apt to agree with their ideas. But from my angle all I see is JUST SAY NO! practice abstinence. It’s NOT going to happen. Ever. Ever.
I seriously don’t understand the country anymore. I thought we were moving towards being more tolerant of others, more accepting, but it seems like that’s selective. I think abortion is something the majority of Americans simply doesn’t understand. Your average suburban would never have an abortion, but they aren’t living at poverty level with little chance of getting out, less so with a child. The option to have an abortion should be there for those who choose to do so. No one is being forced to have an abortion and it’s their choice.
Did you see Vera Drake? I think the wealthy will find a way to afford an unwanted baby should their teenage daughter find she’s knocked up. The wealthy always have a way out, it seems. The medical officials will deem it as necessary for some health reasons.
The poor and middle-class, on the other hand, well, good luck. Fend for yourselves! Chop shop! Alley cars! Whatever it takes! Hell! Throw yourselves down the freaking stairs for all we care!
I haven’t seen much of Vera Drake. I tried watching it on a long flight, but it was too depressing. I ended up watching the Incredibles for the millionth time.
It’s unbelievably depressing. Really. Better off avoiding if you don’t want to sob uncontrollably. :]
The statistics behind the abortion/crime link are a little suspect.
Michele, I’d lend you Freakonomics, but I already let someone borrow it months & months ago, and he never returned it.
That bastard.
I’ll buy it. I need something new to read. You’ve all been warned, however. This might open a door to a slew of new mihowisms
I think it’s a poor strategic move to (ideally, anyway) to use any sort of statistics regarding peripheral social conditions or results to qualify the legitimacy of protecting medical procedures.
you should definitely take away an old white man’s right to ‘bare arms.’ like, thats so gross anyway.
Ummmmmm Oops!
See? that’s why I stick to other topics.
kisses pythons
Wow, how totally embarrassing. I gotta say, it’s moment such as this I am ashamed to be a “blogger”. I can’t use spell or write grammar fer shit.
Missy,just curious, but in what way are the statistics suspect?
The book isnt using statistics to say anything about abortion, it is just stating the findings of a sociological study (as well as a whole lot of other interesting findings from other studies). missy can probably shed some light as to weather its been proven wrong, but it is presented as fact. if you want to use that argument in favor of abortion, it is up to you.
ps. personally, something doesnt seem right about the idea: “lets kill all the criminals before they are born”
Wow, that’s insane. However, if you pose it that way to some of these bigoted people in office, they might suddenly become pro-abortion!
My last statement was harsh. I wish to have it stricken from the record.
spelling and grammar are not the point.
the point is the point. and you always manage to get it across, nicely.
its all an act anyway, to hide your like, utter, perfect-ness.
They DO use statistics; they just use English in the book to sell more copies: most people have neither the interest nor the capability to read a journal paper.
Sorry, I’m busy at work on a conference call. Here are some links, the first may be subscription only.
http://economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5246700
http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/wp/wp2005/wp0515.pdf
“Last night, I started wondering if there was something we could “threaten” the (mostly) old white-haired men with in hopes of having them understand how some feel about their desire to remove the right to choose.”
If you had little conscience, you could route a bus full of ex-con sex offenders who just got released in front of posh DC grade school playground that all the republican senators send their kids or grandkids to.
But there’s a way that calls for far less crimes to be had—push for ethnically diverse housing and schooling – then their children/grandchildren might marry someone of african/latin/asian descent. See how fast the old white conservative guys clamor for abortion rights when the prospect of a half black grandkid is on the horizon.
Borrowing a defence from a David Cross joke – I’m not saying that all republicans are racists , just the people they choose to represent them in elected office.
Ok, Ok..I am hereby voluteering to knock up the Bush twins to prove the point. Its a win/win situation. If they have abortions it will show the hypocracy of the administration and republican party. If they don’t I will be the “Baby Daddy” of the year, literally sucking off the teet of the government!
hahaha both great ideas.
i have to say that the abortion issue is not some social cause in the fight against poverty. it is a medical procedure that should be available to all women regardless of class, race, or religion. Debra, the idea that “Your average suburban would never have an abortion” is ridiculous. it happens every day. and the idea that abortion is about population control for the poor is a bit offensive. is that really the argument?