We, as a nation, watched with dismay as Afghanistan fell back into the hands of the Taliban, knowing that the imposition of Sharia Law would rapidly eliminate hard won freedoms for Afghanis, especially women.
We can debate the wisdom of the U.S. withdrawal and its execution, but the more important discussion must focus on our own descent into autocratic and authoritarian rule. Like the frog in the pan of water on the stove, we have ignored the rising temperature for far too long. Specifically, the recent Texas laws are part of a rapidly accelerating pattern. We have already:
Undermined truth itself through attacks on the press, the spread of misinformation and support of a president who deliberately propagated falsehoods.
Allowed hatred and bigotry to divide, fomenting violence.
Censored the history we teach, thereby eliminating opportunity to correct course.
Allowed the destruction of government agencies and norms designed to provide checks and balances on corrupt and criminal behavior.
Put our planet and its inhabitants in danger by ignoring climate change.
Dodged efforts to overturn the last election, but opponents of democracy are still working to limit ballot access, to replace election officials with those willing to “cooperate,” and to put mechanisms in place by which legislatures can overturn valid election results.
Politicized the pandemic and attacked solutions based in medical science and public health.
Another step downward occurred when the Supreme Court let a Texas law go into effect that deputizes and rewards citizens for policing the reproductive decisions of women. Further, it did so on an emergency basis without a full court review. That “shadow” decision overturned 50 years of Roe v Wade precedent — the landmark case that gave women the right to undergo abortion up to the point of fetal “viability,” after which some restrictions could apply.
This ruling is not viewed as a definitive overturn of Roe v Wade itself — that is expected this fall when the Supreme Court hears a case on a Mississippi law that would prevent most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. However, the Texas law contains several provisions that raise alarms as being especially draconian. Specifically, it:
Bans, without exceptions, all abortions once a fetal heartbeat is present (approximately 6 weeks gestation).
Allows any citizen to sue anyone who assists in efforts to obtain an “illegal” abortion.
Requires defendants to pay all related legal fees, regardless of who “wins.”
Rewards the successful plaintiff with a $10,000 “bounty fee.”
Is retroactive for events that occurred within the prior four years
The arguments for and against abortion rights have been debated vigorously ever since Roe v Wade was decided in 1972. That the debate continues is perhaps the strongest argument for protecting its status as established precedent. Maternal mortality, other health impacts, socio-economic impacts and the realities of incest, rape, abusive relationships and fatal fetal defects are among the other reasons that reproductive choices should be left to those most impacted by them. Simply stated, government intrusion into those deeply personal choices is a violation of personal autonomy and agency.
However, we return to Texas, which with the help of the Supreme Court, deputized its citizens with the right to sue those who aid someone in obtaining an abortion, rewarding success with a $10,000 bounty. Other Texas laws restricted access to the ballot and loosened gun regulations. All of these efforts have and will spread here and elsewhere. We can no longer sit on the sidelines as our democracy and our freedoms disintegrate under home-grown extremism.
Vote. Write. Call. Run. Protest. Organize. The pot is boiling.
Ellen Brady
Ellen Brady, M.D., is issues director for the Women’s Democratic Club of Utah. Now retired, she trained in internal medicine and public health and spent most of her professional career in the pharmaceutical industry, where she was involved in oversight and evaluation of clinical trials.