If you don't take the South Dakota law seriously, you are dead wrong

[Taverner]

A couple of our more aware women on DU have pointed out that the optimism of thinking that "theres no way the republicans would let this happen" is bullshit. They are absolutely right. Since when have you been able to count on a Republican to protect human rights?

Think about it - in 1999 you might have thought:

- there's no way a Republican would brazenly cheat in a national election
- there's no way a President would ignore warnings about a terrorist threat
- there's no way an administration would brazenly go against the bill of rights
- there's no way an administration would endanger a whistleblower for political gain

Well guess what you were wrong. And you will be wrong again.

Kennedy is the lone vote. He knows who brought him to the party, he knows who his supporters are and he knows what would happen if he votes to strike down the SD law. Chances are, he won't even make that decision. You see, John Roberts is now Chief Justice on the Supreme Court. His stance on abortion is clear - he's against it. IN addition to standing in the middle of Supreme Court photos, he also gets a major voice in deciding which cases are to be heard by the Supreme Court. If the SD law gets upheld in a Federal Appeals court (which is very likely) he can decide that it does not have merit, and the Supremes don't hear the case.

Of course, an even worse scenario would happen if they do hear it, and they uphold the law. That means your body is no longer your property. YOu see, Roe V Wade wasn't *just* about abortion. It was a ruling that set the standard for privacy. Basically your body is yours and you can do with it as you please. Once it's gone, your body is the state's property. They decide what you can do and what you can't do with it.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. I think you are right on this one

This is the beginning of the end and it is going to be like dominoes. It's all over as far as reproductive rights is concerned. They are winning. And not just in SD. They are winning everywhere.

[renaissanceguy]

13. Yup, once the SCOTUS upholds this law

and overturns Roe, watch all those fundie states begin their bans. But it won't stop there. Many, many other "private" rights will be overturned. You just watch.

The best part is there is NO COVERAGE OF THE OUTRAGE among Joe/Jane Voter.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.46183076

[TallahasseeGrannie]

19. I thought the "pendulum" was done swinging to the

right after the wild and wooly '60's, but I think I was dead wrong. It is swinging so hard it might flip right over the top.

I believe it will be another generation before it settles down again.

If you have daughters, make sure they can get birth control!

[villager]

2. the next Underground Railroad is coming...

n/t

[fleabert]

3. California's side is open- I'll pick anyone up who needs it at the SF

or Oakland airport. I can see CA fighting this till the end.

[Taverner]

4. Very true

However, I don't think women seeking abortions should have to go to California.

This should not be open to debate - Abortions should be safe, legal and readily available.

[fleabert]

6. abso-fucking-lutely .

but I am here to help if anyone needs it, to the best of my abilities. I am one who would go to jail for helping women who choose to have an abortion, should the government make it against the law to make that choice.

I have been screaming for years that people should read the history of Roe v. Wade before they think that it will never be overturned, it's like we are living in a fucking duplicate universe. We are repeating history here, it's disgusting. I actually heard a piece of shit man on the news this morning talking about how a rape victim was at fault for being raped. She was at a bar, alone, at 3am. of course it's her fault- how can a man resist? :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :nuke:

[villager]

15. while I agree completely, we're talking about strategies

...people can undertake until such time as the malign empire falls...

[colinmom71]

7. Sadly, there already is a bit of one...

In Georgia, there's a volunteer organization of women who help provide transportation and/or lodging for GA women seeking abortions to get access to that service. The only clinics that perform abortions in GA are in the metro Atlanta area, with only two other clinics (Columbus and Augusta, IIRC) outside Atlanta. For GA women south of Macon and in the very northern areas of the state, travel times to Atlanta can be prohibitive to abortion access. Heck, even living in the Atlanta metro area without reliable transportation (personal vehicle) can impede access considering our metro area is pretty large at 20 counties...

I wouldn't be surprised to learn if there were other such organizations in states with very limited abortion access as well.

[Solly Mack]

5. In this America, all bets are off

and it's really just that simple.

In this America, torture is government policy.
In this America, a President breaks the law and instead of charging the President, the law is changed.
In this America, lying to go to war is A-OK.
In this America, we don't need civil rights (Patriot Act)
In this America, denying hurricane victims the right to vote is acceptable - never mind we can stage elections in a country we illegally invaded and where death is all around.
In this America, insert your own example here - I know there are plenty of other examples.

[Texasgal]

8. Just today...here on DU

I was told by somebody to RELAX! " It's not gonna happen" BLAH,BLAH,BLAH!!

As long as this issue is in the forefront, I will not RELAX!

As long as the government wants to put their hands on MY BODY, I WILL NOT RELAX!!

[Taverner]

11. Most of those saying "relax"...

are my fellow blue-staters I'm sorry to say.

I don't think they sense the magnitude of what's going on. Y'all (if I can use that term) in Texas do - you guys know what's coming - and it will affect all of us.

[Texasgal]

12. I swear to god or anything holy

I will fucking fight this shit tooth and nail. To me the choice issue is the single most important issue out there, if it fails get ready to start drinking cyanide laced water!

[Taverner]

18. Please don't drink the cyanide

Instead, think of serving it up in BBQ sauce for the next Operation Rescue picnic ;)

[Texasgal]

20. GOOD IDEA!!

heh heh!

[renaissanceguy]

16. They're in a fantasy world.

I live in the bluest of blue states, Illinois. But let me tell you, all it takes is for our gov to lose (and he probably will) the next election to a fundie candidate. Then, it's bye-bye abortion here.

It can happen ANYWHERE.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.46183076

[geniph]

9. If Roe falls, Griswold is next

don't assume you'll keep your right to contraception in some states, either. Roe is heavily based on the "right to privacy" precedent established in Griswold. Griswold, for those who don't know, was the SC case that established that married couples had the right to purchase birth control pills and other contraceptive devices.

[Taverner]

10. Exactly...n/t

[renaissanceguy]

17. Definitely.

They'll go after Griswold and Lawrence, for sure.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.46183076

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. i take it dead seriously.

and i agree with you