Living in the US, feels like we've gone back 50 years

[Downamongtherednecks]

Ever since the buffer zone around abortion clinics law was struck down, it feels like the anti-choice lot have been galvanised into action. But I wanted to highlight the Rachel Maddow Show which took on the subject of an anti-abortion group who are targetting New Orleans, and trying to stop a women's clinic being built.
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/anti-choice-protests-put-new-orleans-on-alert-311514691822
I have no words for what it feels like to be living through this. I haven't felt so much like chaining myself to something since getting the bus to Greenham Common in the 80s.

wow. if the pro-choice don't find a voice, then there will be no abortion available in the usa before too long.

that lobby say they plan to harrass the contractors so much that hte clinics can't open. what a bunch of fuckwits

chanel I think there will be more and more US women travelling to the UK/Europe to have abortions. (Like Irish women do now) And of course, only the rich ones can afford to do that. It's the poor Southern states who are being hit hardest by these groups.

They are being imported to the UK. More and more protests by this type of person are being held outside any type of women's health clinic.

They really don't like women at all, and seek to control women's bodies. It's all rather sick making and worrying.

I am American and living in the South. We are also in election season, and the rhetoric is increasingly right-wing. I am really concerned about the outcome of the mid-term elections; if the Republicans take the Senate, it will only get worse.

Does it look likely, Scone? Having the GOP back with real power behind them is a scary thought.

Capt I think right now the forecasts are that it is a toss-up. The Republicans will definitely gains seats. One interesting race to watch is in Georgia (my native state; I now live in Florida). The Democratic nominee, Michelle Nunn, has a real chance to beat the Republican nominee. Her opponent may be too right wing, even for Georgia. It may be crucial for her to win to offset losing other Democratic seats. The Georgia seat is currently held by a Republican who is retiring.

I lived in Georgia for a while as a child. I have family all over, so will be paying attention. Thanks for the heads up on the Ga race.

scone I'm a bit further up than you, properly in the deep south. I've never seen anything like the current level of anti-women stuff going on. Even my primary age DD has asked why so many creepy men seem to be obsessed with controlling women.

I agree, Down. It's not even veiled misogyny; it's very out there.

Florida is interesting. The state went for President Obama twice, but has a Republican governor and legislature. I live in the culturally Southern part of the state (the north), but it is not as right-wing as some other parts of the South.

I started feeling like I was on Mars when the "motorcycle vagina" law passed in NC last year.

I just googled motorcycle vagina law and this was the first hit. If anyone could be in any doubt as to what the real agenda behind this sort of legislation is, this paragraph is really damning (and comes "straight from the horse's mouth" - it's a forced-birther republican on the subject of whether to extend state funded medical aid to the unborn...)

"UPDATED: According to the Huffingon Post, the author of Texas' anti-abortion bill, State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (R), has argued against health care for the unborn because "they're not born yet." Back in 2007, she tried to pass a bill that would force expecting mothers to "to wait three months before they could begin receiving prenatal and perinatal care under the Children's Health Insurance Program." When asked "You do know, don't you, that these are U.S. citizens?" Laubenberg answered "But they're not born yet."

"Pro-life? Yeah. Sure."

Motorcycle vagina is a real travesty, especially since the proponents defend it as a measure to protect women's health. And we lefties farther south used to admire North Carolina for being one of the more reasonable Southern states.

Yes, it takes more headspace that I can muster to work out how you can be anti-abortion AND anti-prenatal care AND anti-benefits for teen mothers. The Onion got closer to it than most of the mainstream media. www.theonion.com/articles/new-antiabortion-legislation-requires-doctors-to-s,36514/

www.theonion.com/articles/new-antiabortion-legislation-requires-doctors-to-s,36514/

No clue why this link isn't playing the game!

try this

I love the Onion!

Thanks terraria I love the Onion too.

And yet there remains to men the most simple yet powerful solution to stop all abortions, everywhere: Stop getting women pregnant.

Somehow I doubt it'll catch on.

So someone wants to control our bodies and what we do with them. This time lifers and the religious right. Christian Concern were campaigning in the UK over this but fortunately most people see them as nutters and avoid dealing with them as much as possible. Every woman should have the right to decide what goes on with her body and sometimes stupid laws are just that stupid laws.

The ones I really can't understand are the women who go along with the concept of the state controlling women's bodies. Why? Just Why?

Downamongtherednecks - I hear you, I also live in the US, have done since December 2013.

I can't believe how quickly the rights of women have been eroded in just the seven months we've lived here. DH and I have always been very aware of US politics and happenings, even before moving here, as we're dual citizens (my mom is American, both of DH's parents are). Before we decided to relocate here, every blow for women made me angry, and now we're living here it's damn well personal.

The decision by SCOTUS, to support Hobby Lobby was a huge blow, especially when the company's healthcare will still cover Viagra. If Hobby Lobby bosses are so right-wing Christian, surely the healthcare will only cover Viagra for married men, because to the right-wing lot, sex outside of marriage is a sin?! But no, of course there won't be such a stipulation, as the men can do what they like!

With regards to the buffer ring around abortion clinics, I was livid with SCOTUS over that one, especially when they get their own buffer ring to protect them from protesters.

I want to volunteer as a clinic escort, those incredible people who help guide patients and staff into the clinic, in order to shield/protect them from demonstrators. However, I'm not able to do it at the moment, as I'm seven months pregnant. I do however volunteer for them in another capacity at the moment, it's only a small thing, but it's my little way of saying f* you to the anti-abortion lobby!

I am very upset with the Hobby Lobby decision, but I feel that it is important to understand exactly what Hobby Lobby objected to. They provide other forms of contraceptives, such as the pill and diaphragms. They objected to four contraceptives that they believe to be abortifacients.

One of the biggest problems is that some owners of other closely held companies object to all forms of birth control; some of these cases will eventually be decided and the Hobby Lobby case may make it possible for them to ban all forms of birth control.

Very good point about Viagra provision to unmarried men. It is hard to imagine a religion that would object to birth control, but condone extra-marital sex.

the problem though with the Hobby Lobby decision is that although they might say they "believe" that four contraceptives are abortifacients, the science does not support this. So it appear now that as long as you say you "sincerely believe" something, that has status in law, even if it's bullshit. tess it's really strange seeing this happen step-by-step, isn't it? I want to volunteer too, which group are you with? I think you are wise keeping away while you are heavily pregnant -- the anti-choicers use methods which would be dangerous to be around.

I agree with you Down. The belief aspect is one of the many things that is so troublesome about that case. I just felt it important to clarify Hobby Lobby's stance because they do provide most forms of male and female birth control to their employees.

The next case that will probably work its way through the courts is Eden Foods. They object to all contraception.

scone I agree. Haven't looked at Eden Foods, will try to get up to speed on it.