As Gail Collins puts it in her column today:
Just try to envision yourself in a doctor’s office for a consult. Then
imagine you’re joined by a state legislator. How many of you think the
situation has been improved? Can I see a show of hands?
Thought so.
3 comments:
Thank you for sharing!!!!
The editor of the Des Moines Register chose not to publish the Doonesbury columns last week, suggesting that it was available at Doonesbury.com for anyone who wanted to read them. In response to angry readers, all five columns were published on today's opinion page of the Register, along with a sampling of comments from readers disgusted by the editor's idiotic & offensive "protection" of readers' sensibilities.
A female columnist for the Register, whose writing I generally enjoy, included the following toward the end of her column today about lawmakers & women.
"Though plenty of Republicans support birth control and abortion, these initiatives come out of a conservative Republican political agenda. Some fed-up Democratic women legislators are fighting back with tongue-in-cheek bills penalizing male sexuality. Ohio state Senator Nina Turner introduced one to require men to get psychological counseling and a doctor's written warnings in order to be prescribed Viagra. Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy wants to amend a state mandatory ultrasound bill for abortion-seeking women by requiring men seeking Viagra to watch graphic videos on its side effects. Virginia Sen. Janet Howel's bill would require Viagra-seekers to get rectal exams. In Georgia, Rep. Yasmin Neal introduced a bill banning men from seeking vasectomies, claiming they lead thousands of children to be 'deprived of birth' every year. In Oklahoma, Sen. Constance Johnson proposed a 'spilled semen' amendment to her state's 'feel personhood' bill - to make 'wasting sperm' an act against unborn children. And Wilmington, Del., City Councilwoman Loretta Walsh authored a resolution that declares "each 'egg person' and each 'sperm person' to be equal in the eyes of the government." I particularly like the latter three. What's good for the goose.....
I have no doubt that there are many women (could it be most of them?) who are angered and offended by legislation regarding women's reproductive rights, but they either don't know what to do about it, or they just don't voice their opinions. If true, I find that sad. Where are today's Bella Abzugs and Gloria Steinems?
Rosemary, thanks for the awesome comment.
Hard to believe the DM Register was one of the stupid papers that chose not to publish this series. Jeez.
You're right too about what seems to be a regression in the number of strong, outspoken politicians like Bella Abzug, Ann Richards, Barbara...something, can't remember her last name...a black representative from Houston.
It's serious, but some of those proposals by women legislators around the country left me in tears when I read them. I hadn't heard of any of them.
Thanks again.
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