Republicans are doing all of this to sidetrack us. They are causing chaos and trying to get us into focusing on these terrible laws for a purpose. They cannot figure out how to take care of crime because their hands are tied to corporations who fund their campaigns. They cannot figure out how to keep our economy afloat and reduce the deficit. They do not tackle major problems of our cities and the country because they don’t know how. Go down through the history of republicans who are elected as president and see that any time they are President the economy suffers. They do not know what else to do but attack the poor and innocent people who cannot fight them. They are causing chaos and hatred to reign so they can sit there and do nothing for the people because they work for the corporations. People need to realize that voting is so important even for what they think is a small election. Not very many people vote in governor elections. Every single election no matter what they are is significant. People can protest all they want and republicans do not care. They work for corporations.
Here’s a question that I haven’t seen addressed yet about reproductive health in 2023. For those of us living in states where abortion is banned (me) and who are of childbearing years (also me): do you truthfully answer your doctor’s question “when was your last period?” Because I know it’s standard but it’s increasingly making me uncomfortable…like if I skipped a month, which sometimes happens, will I get reported? Should I just lie? Should I tell my doctor about my discomfort with the question or will that make me look suspicious in and of itself?
This all sounds paranoid but it’s absolutely what goes through my head whenever I have to see any doctor—not just a gyno—these days. So I see perfectly why these doctors feel they can’t help with miscarriages even if legislators say “that’s not true.” Because the laws were written by people who think in black and white but the human body doesn’t work like that.
This is such a good piece, Lyz. Thanks for writing it. With these Republicans--the ones we have in Iowa and the ones around the country--it's all about control, controlling what women can do with their bodies, controlling what teachers can teach, what books kids can read at school, what bathrooms kids can use. It's not about sanctity of life or keeping kids safe (note proposed changes in child labor laws). It's just about controlling the lives of others--and other-izing people who are not exactly like them in thought and deed.
This entire situation makes me feel physically ill. I listened to an episode of This American Life following an OBGYN in Idaho who shares that she now has to consider EVERY patient she sees as potentially pregnant and yes, her first thought suddenly is no longer: "What is the care this person needs?" but "Will I risk going to prison if I provide the care this person needs?"
It's horrifying. And it needs must be said that the issue here is a willingness to cross the line of who has autonomy over their own f*cking body and who does not. That's it. Whatever anyone believes about a fetus is irrelevant because the start and end of this is whether one person gets to control what another person does or doesn't do WITH THEIR OWN BODY.
I don't think I can include an image here, but I googled "Abortion care in Oregon" where we are apparently a haven of liberal ideology (doh!), and the link I paste at the end of this illustrates two things. First, if you want Abortion care, you'd best not be anywhere in Eastern Oregon (a five-hour drive if you have a car or a longer bus ride). Second, the search includes at least two places that are not abortion care clinics, but are those "pregnancy care" clinics that parade themselves as abortion clinics to lure scared women and pressure them into not aborting. My stepdaughter needed an abortion about 7 years ago, and even though we are in Western Oregon, she had to travel up to Portland to access care. My husband drove her.
My SIL is a midwife in N. Idaho, and she is conservative, including being pro-life. But she isn't annoying. Her patients sometimes require hospital care when a birth goes sideways - so the loss of maternal care in the only hospital in Bonner County is devastating - Northern Idaho has real winter, no transportation services (maybe Greyhound), and is generally not safe for libs or women already. Not far from there, about 134 miles, a Planned Parenthood clinic was bombed in Pullman, Washington, just a few years ago. In Washington, which is also a supposedly liberal state. It ain't good.
B) Very solid newsletter today. You noted at the end, "The real issue is not hypocrisy but inequality." I'd say with Repubs & Righties, it's both.
C) For a political organization like Republicans are today (As Jason Johnson is doing, I try not to call Republicans a "party" any more https://youtu.be/4z42VDx_fwA?t=191 ), who claim to be SO much more Christian than anyone else, Republicans constantly seem to forget First Corinthians 15:8–10, as John Bradford so legendarily paraphrased, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
On abortion & issues of LGBTQ health especially, Republicans need to learn what Nebr. State Sen Jen Day did yesterday ( https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1638233551622512654 ), in good Nebraskan's ongoing fight against an anti-LGBTQ bill - that Republicans should just leave people the hell alone.
My partner was born and raised in Bonner County, ID, so we have been following this story, as well as the horror stories about people unable to afford to travel out of state for safe abortion access with sadness and frustration.
I am troubled by the number of doctors who are saying that the risk of being fined or jailed is so severe that they will choose not to treat a patient. My understanding of the Hippocratic Oath is that the patient comes first... but then I read that it includes " I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion."
What is really needed are more doctors who will publicly step up and place women's health ahead of fear of the government.
“….the three states that ban D&cs have carve-outs that allow those procedures for miscarriages or when the life of the pregnant person is threatened. “
Carve outs might not be the best phrase for this topic it must be the Day-Quil
I have three daughters coming of age in Missouri and I have no real way of explaining this to them other than: daughters, be sure you are using your birth control!
Republicans are doing all of this to sidetrack us. They are causing chaos and trying to get us into focusing on these terrible laws for a purpose. They cannot figure out how to take care of crime because their hands are tied to corporations who fund their campaigns. They cannot figure out how to keep our economy afloat and reduce the deficit. They do not tackle major problems of our cities and the country because they don’t know how. Go down through the history of republicans who are elected as president and see that any time they are President the economy suffers. They do not know what else to do but attack the poor and innocent people who cannot fight them. They are causing chaos and hatred to reign so they can sit there and do nothing for the people because they work for the corporations. People need to realize that voting is so important even for what they think is a small election. Not very many people vote in governor elections. Every single election no matter what they are is significant. People can protest all they want and republicans do not care. They work for corporations.
Here’s a question that I haven’t seen addressed yet about reproductive health in 2023. For those of us living in states where abortion is banned (me) and who are of childbearing years (also me): do you truthfully answer your doctor’s question “when was your last period?” Because I know it’s standard but it’s increasingly making me uncomfortable…like if I skipped a month, which sometimes happens, will I get reported? Should I just lie? Should I tell my doctor about my discomfort with the question or will that make me look suspicious in and of itself?
This all sounds paranoid but it’s absolutely what goes through my head whenever I have to see any doctor—not just a gyno—these days. So I see perfectly why these doctors feel they can’t help with miscarriages even if legislators say “that’s not true.” Because the laws were written by people who think in black and white but the human body doesn’t work like that.
This is such a good piece, Lyz. Thanks for writing it. With these Republicans--the ones we have in Iowa and the ones around the country--it's all about control, controlling what women can do with their bodies, controlling what teachers can teach, what books kids can read at school, what bathrooms kids can use. It's not about sanctity of life or keeping kids safe (note proposed changes in child labor laws). It's just about controlling the lives of others--and other-izing people who are not exactly like them in thought and deed.
This entire situation makes me feel physically ill. I listened to an episode of This American Life following an OBGYN in Idaho who shares that she now has to consider EVERY patient she sees as potentially pregnant and yes, her first thought suddenly is no longer: "What is the care this person needs?" but "Will I risk going to prison if I provide the care this person needs?"
It's horrifying. And it needs must be said that the issue here is a willingness to cross the line of who has autonomy over their own f*cking body and who does not. That's it. Whatever anyone believes about a fetus is irrelevant because the start and end of this is whether one person gets to control what another person does or doesn't do WITH THEIR OWN BODY.
I don't think I can include an image here, but I googled "Abortion care in Oregon" where we are apparently a haven of liberal ideology (doh!), and the link I paste at the end of this illustrates two things. First, if you want Abortion care, you'd best not be anywhere in Eastern Oregon (a five-hour drive if you have a car or a longer bus ride). Second, the search includes at least two places that are not abortion care clinics, but are those "pregnancy care" clinics that parade themselves as abortion clinics to lure scared women and pressure them into not aborting. My stepdaughter needed an abortion about 7 years ago, and even though we are in Western Oregon, she had to travel up to Portland to access care. My husband drove her.
My SIL is a midwife in N. Idaho, and she is conservative, including being pro-life. But she isn't annoying. Her patients sometimes require hospital care when a birth goes sideways - so the loss of maternal care in the only hospital in Bonner County is devastating - Northern Idaho has real winter, no transportation services (maybe Greyhound), and is generally not safe for libs or women already. Not far from there, about 134 miles, a Planned Parenthood clinic was bombed in Pullman, Washington, just a few years ago. In Washington, which is also a supposedly liberal state. It ain't good.
A) Get well soon, Lyz.
B) Very solid newsletter today. You noted at the end, "The real issue is not hypocrisy but inequality." I'd say with Repubs & Righties, it's both.
C) For a political organization like Republicans are today (As Jason Johnson is doing, I try not to call Republicans a "party" any more https://youtu.be/4z42VDx_fwA?t=191 ), who claim to be SO much more Christian than anyone else, Republicans constantly seem to forget First Corinthians 15:8–10, as John Bradford so legendarily paraphrased, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
On abortion & issues of LGBTQ health especially, Republicans need to learn what Nebr. State Sen Jen Day did yesterday ( https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1638233551622512654 ), in good Nebraskan's ongoing fight against an anti-LGBTQ bill - that Republicans should just leave people the hell alone.
Anywho, back to work for me.
A good piece today. Again, get well soon.
My partner was born and raised in Bonner County, ID, so we have been following this story, as well as the horror stories about people unable to afford to travel out of state for safe abortion access with sadness and frustration.
If you don’t like a book, don’t read it. If you don’t like abortion, don’t have one. Pretty simple.
I am troubled by the number of doctors who are saying that the risk of being fined or jailed is so severe that they will choose not to treat a patient. My understanding of the Hippocratic Oath is that the patient comes first... but then I read that it includes " I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion."
What is really needed are more doctors who will publicly step up and place women's health ahead of fear of the government.
And after the scopes trial ….. and now the results of a century long project are coming to fruition :(
Great article Liz. I hope you feel better soon. Two fingers of brandy with NyQuil should do it.
“….the three states that ban D&cs have carve-outs that allow those procedures for miscarriages or when the life of the pregnant person is threatened. “
Carve outs might not be the best phrase for this topic it must be the Day-Quil
I have three daughters coming of age in Missouri and I have no real way of explaining this to them other than: daughters, be sure you are using your birth control!