Friday, December 23, 2005
A Little Hypocrisy, if you Please
Judge Samuel Alito appears likely to be confirmed to the Supreme Court, replacing Justice O’Connor. Those of us who care more about the rights of living women than of the unborn fetuses are concerned that he will be the swing vote to overturn the decision Roe v. Wade. Abortion will no longer be a right protected by the federal constitution.
What next? I suggest that we look at laws that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages. Oklahoma used to have such a law. A friend told me of his experience in finding a bar in Oklahoma City. Of course, bars were illegal. My friend asked a man who certainly would know about illegal goings-on in the city: a policeman. The policeman directed him to the nearest illegal bar. My friend offered to treat the policeman to a drink. The policeman politely declined.
Another friend told me of the advertisements. During the Christmas shopping season, the newspapers in Oklahoma would publish suggested prices for popular brands of whisky. It was a service to the public so that one would not be overcharged by one’s bootlegger.
Everyone was happy with the arrangement. The church people were happy that evil drink was illegal. The bootleggers were happy that there wouldn’t be fights over the prices of their wares. The drinking public was happy. It was a fine arrangement.
In a world without Roe, abortions would certainly be legal, available, and safe in California and New York. In other parts of the country, illegal abortionists would flourish in secret. A family planning clinic would not advertise abortion services, but would give directions to a safe abortion bootlegger. Just as in the country before 1973, when Roe v. Wade was decided, abortions would still take place, but in secret.
Nearly everyone would be happy. The fundies would be happy that abortion was illegal. Abortion providers would not be exposed by working in visible family planning clinics, but rather in private houses.
Perhaps I present too rosy a picture. How about poor women in need of abortion services? Would they be able to pay the abortionist’s fee? The abortionist, in turn, would have to make anonymous contributions to the police benevolent association to avoid being raided. The police might become greedy. Abortionists might turn to organized crime for protection from the police and the fundies.
What is to be done? I am thankful that I am not a woman. Justice Alito is not going to deprive me of my reproductive rights.
What next? I suggest that we look at laws that prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages. Oklahoma used to have such a law. A friend told me of his experience in finding a bar in Oklahoma City. Of course, bars were illegal. My friend asked a man who certainly would know about illegal goings-on in the city: a policeman. The policeman directed him to the nearest illegal bar. My friend offered to treat the policeman to a drink. The policeman politely declined.
Another friend told me of the advertisements. During the Christmas shopping season, the newspapers in Oklahoma would publish suggested prices for popular brands of whisky. It was a service to the public so that one would not be overcharged by one’s bootlegger.
Everyone was happy with the arrangement. The church people were happy that evil drink was illegal. The bootleggers were happy that there wouldn’t be fights over the prices of their wares. The drinking public was happy. It was a fine arrangement.
In a world without Roe, abortions would certainly be legal, available, and safe in California and New York. In other parts of the country, illegal abortionists would flourish in secret. A family planning clinic would not advertise abortion services, but would give directions to a safe abortion bootlegger. Just as in the country before 1973, when Roe v. Wade was decided, abortions would still take place, but in secret.
Nearly everyone would be happy. The fundies would be happy that abortion was illegal. Abortion providers would not be exposed by working in visible family planning clinics, but rather in private houses.
Perhaps I present too rosy a picture. How about poor women in need of abortion services? Would they be able to pay the abortionist’s fee? The abortionist, in turn, would have to make anonymous contributions to the police benevolent association to avoid being raided. The police might become greedy. Abortionists might turn to organized crime for protection from the police and the fundies.
What is to be done? I am thankful that I am not a woman. Justice Alito is not going to deprive me of my reproductive rights.
