Alabama Goes Rogue, Chooses Abortion Rights


I remember as a graduate student another student from the deep south saying, "Don't Democrats understand they will lose the entire South?" She was referring to Democrats at the time, including JFK and Lyndon Johnson, who were forcing nation-wide integration on a resistant South. As the young woman predicted, Democrats have been losing the South ever since integration. 

The Republicans, however, have had to swallow a poison pill to hold the South. That pill is a total ban on abortions. Could it be the proper question for Republicans hanging on to anti-abortion for dear life is "Don't Republicans understand they will lose the entire South?"  

While, of course, one small election does not mean widespread change it certainly is something new to wonder about. An open seat in the Alabama legislature was just won by a woman who campaigned almost exclusively on abortion rights. She, herself, had an abortion earlier in her life. 

The ironies about Forced Birth politics continue to add up. The Alabama woman's opponent said it was unfair for her to campaign on "one issue." That is laughable. Many an election has seen one issue Republicans, the issue was abortion. Even today, there is an article on a Christian site saying Joe Biden is the most "pro-abortion President ever." Trump was the most anti-abortion President ever. Does anyone remember who won in 2020? I'm betting on Biden in 2424. Republicans made 2020 a referendum on abortion. They lost. Biden knows how to count votes. The link author does not.

When one thinks about the current situation in the U.S. where abortions are available to women in anti-abortion states but they have to pay travel expenses to get them, it is helpful to remember Ireland. It's safe to say Ireland was as anti-abortion as any country in the world. But women could fly to England and get abortions. Family members chipped in so enough money was available when a young member needed an abortion. Slowly the majority began to realize Ireland's anti-abortion politics had nothing to do with stopping abortions. It was, instead, a way to punish poor women for having sex. Eventually, the majority concluded these laws were ridiculous and dumped them. Abortions are now available in Ireland.

Alabama voters seem to now realize its anti-abortion laws are simply a penalty for being poor. 


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