3 Simple Rules for Anti-Choice Politicians

Since abortion, and laws intruding on women's ability to access it, is a hot topic this year (nearly a thousand bills impacting reproductive health so far this year in all 49 states whose legislatures are in session, 56% of which are restrictions on access in some way), and this has been, is, and will likely continue to be discussed rather vehemently, let's lay some ground rules to be adhered to from here on out, shall we?  I'm really goddamn tired of the fallacies that saturate this "debate".  So, anti-choice politicians, here are three simple rules to follow when discussing abortion-related legislation:

Rule #1:  If it imposes something MANDATORY, it is not to be referred to as "allowing" women to do anything.

[The bill] would require the woman view the fetus and hear a detailed verbal description of it before undergoing the mandatory waiting period. "This bill just allows them to see the child inside of them, so it's not just out of sight, out of mind," said Alabama State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Albertville).

In this situation, you are not allowing women to see the fetus.  You are forcing them to.  There is a vast difference there.  Please to knock it the fuck off with this disingenuous pose of magnanimity toward those poor, uninformed women. 

Rule #2:  Unless you are, yourself, every single person whose potential pregnancy will be impacted by the law under discussion, you do not have the authority to declare what is or is not a necessary part of the decision-making process.

"This bill just allows them to see the child inside of them, so it's not just out of sight, out of mind," said Alabama State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Albertville). "It's critical in their decision-making process."

I didn't need to see an ultrasound to make up my mind, and being forced to see one would only have pissed me off, not changed my mind.  Major studies have shown that so-called "informed consent" requirements don't actually affect people's decisions on abortion.  We know what we need to make our decisions.  We know how to seek out information if we want it.  It's no business of legislators to try to decide for people what they need for their decision-making.

Rule #3:  Treat pregnancy-capable people like adults, goddamnit.  Adults who know what pregnancy is, what it means, how it happens, and what it leads to.  This "out of sight, out of mind" and "remind them of their natural relationship with their child" (can't find a citation, but I distinctly remember it; it was recent, and if anyone knows who said this please remind me!) bullshit has got to stop.  Pregnancy does not remove one's capacity for reason.  I know you actually *do* see pregnant people as walking incubators, but this is desperately inaccurate and obscenely insulting.  Fucking stop it.  Or at least keep that shit to yourselves.  I'm tired of writing about this particular attitude.

There.  Simple enough, yes?  Now, if y'all anti-choice bastards can just do these couple little things for me, maybe we can make it through the rest of this legislative season without giving me too many headaches, mmkay?  Thanks bunches!