Politicians can be funny.
No – really, some things politicians do or even legislation they sponsor can be downright funny. And even if their actions are not funny, sometimes all we can do is laugh or shake our heads from side to side so as not to cry or raise our blood pressure.
I found myself doing a lot of arbitrary laughing this week … all in an effort to prevent my blood pressure from soaring through the roof of course.
It all started Tuesday when I learned that the House voted 70 – 26 for Senate Bill 371. Those 70 legislators in favor of the bill hope to block the use of RU-486, commonly known as the abortion pill. The bill also mandates that a consent form be printed in color with the name of an emergency contact and the physician. Additionally, the bill requires the woman’s signature if they fail to view the ultrasound or listen to the fetus’ heartbeat.
Yeah, I laughed a lot that day!
Perhaps my humorless amazement was caused by the absurdity of the bill, particularly the intimidation methods such as ensuring documents stand out by printing them in color and requiring a woman’s signature if she opts out of viewing the ultrasound or listening to the heartbeat. Oh, and I can’t forget about the potential ostracizing the physicians may be subjected to by their colleagues who don’t support reproductive rights.
It all reminds me of those unfair, discriminatory and highly unnecessary “tests” Southern states required Blacks to complete and pass in order to vote.
The subject matter and the disenfranchised victims are different, but the intimidating tactics are the same.
Abortion is a very divisive subject. But let’s forget about the two different perspectives for a moment. Instead, let’s focus on some other things.
Things such as the failing education system, health disparities, or unfair and inconsistent pay of women compared to their male counterparts. Or even the fact that prisons are being built based on the number of children in the third grade.
I think these are some important issues that are of serious concern, not only here in Indiana, but throughout the country.
It seems that focusing on these issues would be top-agenda items because they affect society as a whole. Not just one individual. Isn’t that what politicians are supposed to be focused on? Things that are reflective of society in general?
By no means am I making light of abortions or downplaying the act of aborting life, but in the grand scheme of things, should we really be that fixated with controlling the choices of women?
Would it not be more productive if we focused on the children who have been born and need a helping hand? I would love it if lawmakers addressed issues that our children currently face with the same vigor and determination they use in their attempts to curb abortions. It’s as if politicians don’t want fetuses aborted but they don’t want to deal with the issues children face either.
I am sorry Mr. and Mrs. Lawmaker; you cannot have it both ways.
A more common-sense approach would be to support things such as birth control and quality education for our youth (and young mothers). And perhaps if politicians put more effort toward equipping third graders with the necessary tools to succeed, we would not have so many prisons in this country.
But instead of being proactive and effective, some politicians prefer to do what they do best: run their mouths and focus on things that are less likely to benefit the masses, but more likely to garner politicians’ attention and notoriety.
Sadly, ignoring the real issues or diverting attention from pertinent subjects has grown to be the norm among many politicians.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
