This is an article printed by the right for freedom of speech, but does not represent the views or beliefs of the Ridgeview News.
Submitted by Deirdre Purdy
Abortion and Democracy
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs that there is no constitutional right to abortion. Instead, they said, it was an issue for “the people and their elected representatives.”
In Republican-led states, though, the people and their elected representatives are not on the same page. In Missouri, North Dakota, Mississippi and Florida, Republicans are working to block any votes on pro-choice initiatives.
Ohio was a test case for this Republican strategy. Last week, Ohio voted NO 57% to 43% on Issue 1. In 21st century politics, that’s a landslide.
Under Issue 1, changes to the state constitution would have required 60% approval rather than a simple majority. Ohio’s Republican legislature rushed this single issue to the voters in an unusual August election, thinking turnout would be low so it would easily pass.
Why? Because a ballot measure to codify abortion rights in Ohio’s state constitution will appear on the November general election ballot. The legislature hoped to make it much harder to pass that change.
Ohio voters were clear that a NO vote was a vote for abortion rights, which are women’s rights, and the voters overwhelmingly said NO. In the precinct where Ohio State students vote, it was reported that the tally was an incredible 98% to 2% NO.
It is not surprising that when the people speak, they support abortion rights because 69% of all Americans believe abortion should be legal in the first 3 months. You don’t get to 69% without men, women, and people of every political party agreeing.
Meanwhile the percentage of Americans wanting abortion to be illegal in all circumstances has fallen to 13% post-Dobbs.
Since Dobbs, in Michigan and Vermont, voters got reproductive protection included in their constitutions. In deep-red Kansas, an amendment to remove abortion rights from the constitution was rejected by 59% of voters. Another landslide.
Young voters, 18 to 29, who voted in the 2022 midterms said abortion was the top issue influencing their vote and 80% of them voted for Democrats for the House of Representatives. Not surprisingly, females outnumbered males. It’s their lives at stake.
A 2023 report shows that women in states with abortion bans are nearly three times more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth or soon after giving birth.
Young people voted for Democrats because Democrats support a woman’s right to choose with the help of her doctor and without government intervention.
For many, abortion is a religious issue. Freedom of religion should mean freedom for all, including the 69% of Americans who do not believe that abortion should be banned in the first trimester.
Conservatives are supposed to support small government, yet the Dobbs decision has empowered Republican state legislatures to force women to carry unwanted or dangerous or futile pregnancies.
Abortion has become a test of democracy and majority rule. How long can the minority who believe there should be no abortions under any conditions continue to impose government oversight and their religious beliefs on women’s medical conditions, personal lives and private decisions?
VOTE
~ Deirdre Purdy, Chairperson, Calhoun County Democratic Executive Committee
Good Day Diedre. It is always interesting to read your articles and get your viewpoint. I am always glad that you put so much time and effort and research into your articles. This one is no exception. I would like to offer a different viewpoint. First of all, the Democrat party has negated the very essence of your article with your first comment. You state that the majority believe in the woman’s right to choose. Since the Democrats under Biden have taken control, meanings of words are debatable. For example, words like infrastructure, recession, Jim Crow, etc , have been given new and in most cases, very inclusive and wide definitions. In that vein, since your claim that it is a womans right to choose, you need to define what a woman is . That is difficult for the Dems because the Supreme Court cannot. Until they can, your points are moot. But assuming we go back to the original meaning, the numbers you cite re again very selective. If you look carefully at the Pew study you quoted, you will see the Dems views on abortion as morally acceptable is only slightly ahead of those who do not think of it as moral or not. The Dems other biggest ally is aethiests. Like again, time and space limit our arguments. But we need to get our definitions concrete before we can proceed. Not only what is considered a woman. But what defines a human being.; Or life. Or pain and suffering. Or murder. etc. My standard is the Bible and it gives me clear definition and direction. Any political doctrine that goes against it, Dem. Rep. Ind, Green or whatever goes against it, stands against my beliefs. Where you put your mind and heart is where you put your beliefs. Thanks again for bringing up topics such as this, Open dialog is the first step to education and reconciliation.