Time to Put Legislators On Trial

My opposition to the whole South Dakota abortion policy has been well documented, but the fact remains that the legislators who push these bills across should recieve equal wrath.  with the abortion policy as it stands, South Dakota requires their women to travel to the only abortion clinic in the whole state sitting in Sioux Falls and requires a mandatory 72 hour waiting period.  The onus does not only fall on S.D Governor Dennis Dougaard, but he deserves the lions share.  Dougaard, echoing the thoughts that are shared with his fellow party members (the GOP for those not paying attention), believes, "everyone agrees with the goal of reducing abortion by encouraging consideration of other alternatives."  I'm not sure where he is getting this feeling but outside of his state, abortion is not only legal but supported by many, and not just women's rights advocates.  Dougaard sure has done a nice job of incorporating his personal belief system into his policy making, and I'm glad he doesnt share the belief that church and state should be seperated. 

This state has its priorities so out of whack they need to do a complete legislative overhaul. 

It doesnt help that they are close to jumping into their primaries to choose its next leadership and needless to say they still dont seem to have their act together (Mike Rounds Gears up for S.D Republican Primary).

This rant may seem like needless Republican bashing but nothing is further from the truth; this is South Dakota Republican bashing.  With its head wedged deep in the sand, this classicly conservative state needs to take an introspective look and gauge what the rest of the country thinks of them.  They are constantly being berated by women's rights and human rights groups alike.  Jan Nicolay, co-chair of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, states, "despite the fact that South Dakotans have repeatedly spoken on issues of government interference in private decisions, we will once more be pulled into a protracted legal battle that will potentially cost the state millions in tax dollars." 

South Dakota, unfortunately, are not the only one's tooling with a women's right to choose, which is backed by federal law.  However, they seem to be the most aggresive in trying to do away with abortion as a whole.

 

 

 

 South Dakota Abortion Bill Signed Into Law By Governor Dennis Daugaard

 

Freedom of Speech Works Both Ways

The South Dakota 8th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld its decision to pass legislation that required doctors to inform women of the links between abortion and suicide.  The only problem here is that there is no reliable scientific linking the two.  A John Hopkins suicide/abortion review found there to be no concrete evidence to support the aggressive legislation. The notorious red state, fueled by seven judges appointed by former President George W. Bush, believes that this decision has been a "victory" for all the women of South Dakota, and nothing could be further from the truth.  How could placing further restrictions on your personal human rights be considered any sort of victory?

Opponents to this bill, namely Planned Parenthood Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota (PPMNS), find this to be a strong violation of Free Speech rights.  If there is no factual and direct link between suicide and abortion, doctors should not be forced to say so.  Our right to freedom of speech doesn't only apply to things we want to say, but applies to things we DON'T want to say.  If a doctor finds fault with this loosely based information, he/she has every right to disregard it completely.  How can we call ourselves truly free from political oppression and restraint if we are being subjugated to personal biases within our public offices.

At the very least there are those who are not afraid to voice their thoughts on this restrictive law.  President and CEO of PPMNS, Sarah Stoesz, believes that "This law, upheld by the court today, is just one of many reprehensible barriers that South Dakota politicians are determined to impose on women seeking safe and legal health care.”

 South Dakota Law Linking Abortion, Suicide Upheld in Court

Rushmore State Takes it Time on Abortion

South Dakota is taking extraordinary measures to ensure abortion prevention statewide.  Last month, the Mount Rushmore State Senate passed a bill extending the mandatory waiting period for an abortion to a country high 72 hours.  Not a normal 72 hours, however, but only business day hours (excluding weekends and holidays).  The bill also stipulates that any woman intending to have the procedure will have to undergo counseling from a pro-life activist.

The only non-emergency abortion center in the ENTIRE state sits in the city of Sioux Falls.  Disregarding the fact that most women will have to drive hours just to get to the facility, but they will also have to wait up to 6 days before their operation can be completed.

Advocates of this bill believe that these harsh mandates will allow women the chance to contemplate their decision.  If they are willing to give up a week just to get the procedure done, I think they have sufficiently made up their mind.  Dont get me wrong, an abortion is not to be taken lightly and should be intensely thought out, but its wrong to push your agenda on an already vulnerable woman.

If women do not have the ability to decide when and how they start a family, they will continue to be economically disenfranchised. It is perfectly fine to be pro-life. Yet to force women into having children that they can’t economically support just on the basis of religious or political principle is unjust and cruel.

- Jordan Vesey

South Dakota Abortion Laws:Longest Mandatory Waiting Times in U.S Introduced

South Dakota G.O.P - Grand Old Problem?

The South Dakota House is planning to put a bill on the floor that would redefine "justifiable homicide" and make it legal to kill doctors who perform an abortion. 

I can't see how any of these legislators hold the public offices that they do with such a flagrant disregard for human rights.  South Dakota should have their National Guard Federalized and turned against them.  How can anyone, even the radical right wing ultra-conservatives, believe that a subsequent murder, post-abortion, is even somewhat rational let alone Constitutional.  Abortion in its own right can be argued passionately from both sides of the aisle, but taking the life of a doctor who is merely upholding his Hypocratic oath is plain wrong.

With abortion being the hotbed of controversy that it is in this country, this story deserves major national attention.  This stance by South Dakota, a notorious Red State, casts a terrible light on the Republican Party in general.  This is the kind of thinking that lost this party the White House, and alienates them from the common American.

South Dakota Takes Extreme Measures to Be the Top Anti-Abortion State