Good medicine or bad politics?
The governor must decide between women’s health and extreme politics.
The Virginia Board of Health last week did the unexpected and backed away from onerous, costly architectural regulations proposed for first-term abortion clinics. In doing so, the board refused to do politicians’ dirty work, at least when it comes to building requirements.
The adopted rule imposes no heavier or no lighter burden on the clinics than Virginia requires of existing hospitals; they must meet local and state building codes. This achieves lawmakers’ stated goal of ensuring the places women turn to for legal first-term abortions provide good care in safe environments.
June 19, 2012 - 7:33 AM
Do you suppose it will ever dawn on them that the best way to reduce or end abortions is to help women feel able to “choose life”? If it is “Socialism” to help her choose life, why is it not “Totalitarian” or “a Dictatorship” to refuse her an abortion?
1 – who is “them”?
I know of many organizations that help women feel able to choose life, and that help provide support throughout the pregnancy and after. Is that what you are talking about?
“Them” would be the legislators referenced in the commentary who are trying to legislate the problem away. Funny how they get all kinds of crazy when we try to do that.
Agencies, whatever you are speaking of, will not solve the abortion issue in this nation.
3 – “Agencies”, to me, implies government organizations. I’m talking about charities.
In any event, how would you see the abortion issue “solved”? What constitutes a solution in your mind?
Organizations will not solve the abortion issue in this nation either. The way we solve it is with a national mindset and national programs (yes, that means the government is involved), that back it up, which promote whatever will help pregnant women choose life. Along with comprehensive national sex education and a national commitment to birth control availability at reasonable access and cost (including supporting voluntary sterilization at a nominal fee). It won’t happen, but it is what will work.
Sandi, indeed all of the above-named components are key: I would argue EDUCATION is the foundation of it all. We will never achieve an environment wherein abortions aren’t necessary, but we can certainly reduce the number performed by a substantial amount. One of the roadblocks is that the very people who wail about “murder” and “make all abortions illegal” are the same people who refuse to acknowledge that educating young people is mandatory to reducing abortions…”Just Say No” didn’t work with drugs and it isn’t working with sex, no matter how much the Old World Puritanical Reaganites wish it would.
#5 “Organizations will not solve the abortion issue in this nation either. The way we solve it is with a national mindset and national programs….”
And what if my “mindset”, “national” or otherwise, is not the same as yours? Or vice versa?
#6 Don’t think anyone said or believes, what you selectively, out of context, ridicule, is/are the solution(s).
But are you saying personal responsibility would not help?
Jim Lucas…umm, what? Your retort is unclear. Are you referring to my reference to the “Just Say No” crowd? If so, then you are sadly mistaken in believing “Don’t think anyone said or believes…” There are many “Abstinence Only Education” proponents out there, and they have considerable sway over policy (although not enough to do major damage yet). And yes, I ridicule them for their extreme ignorance and arrogance in clinging to that outdated and disproved idea.
Yes, of course personal responsibility within the context of sex and reproduction is a component to reducing the number of abortions in the U.S (and in the world). Having said that, I don’t believe personal irresponsibility is the cause of a great number of unwanted pregnancies. Having the facts and being knowledgeable about reproductive matters and choosing to engage in behaviors that result in unwanted pregnancies in disregard of the facts and knowledge is personally irresponsible, and it, of course, happens. But far too often there is a lack of possession of facts and knowledge which result in unwanted pregnancies. One must be be educated, have an understanding of an issue in order to practice responsibility re: that issue.
You are so right E. William!
#9 “Just Say No” didn’t work with drugs and it isn’t working with sex, no matter how much the Old World Puritanical Reaganites wish it would.” Your #6.
Saying “no” to destructive behaviour does not work? Would the logical reversal be that saying “yes”, does? If the point of “education” is not to help in making less destructive choices, what is it?
How has such “education” without emphasis on personal responsibility (“Old World Puritanical”) helped?
Umm, that.
Jim, (ummm, thanks for clarifying your earlier muddied statement, which I had already interpreted…)
Only if one has the ability and resources to “say no” to destructive behavior does it work. One also must be able to define something as a destructive behavior before one can “say no” to it (again, predicated on the presence of ability and resources). Therein lies one of the points of education, to help individuals gain the tools to think critically and make less destructive decisions.
May peace and good decison making be with you, Sir.
E William, in your classrooms and in education in general, do you teach or have you seen taught, the ignorant idea that education EVER lacks any emphasis on personal responsibility?
Sandi, not in my 16 years in public education (as an educator) nor in my 20 years of being a student. I’m not really sure what Jim was talking about…