1. The planned parenthood battle going on in washington right now is much more than a normal skirmish. It's a struggle that could define political power in the future and affect the political parties. For now Democrats and Republicans are drawing battle lines over wether or not to fund millions of federal dollars to the organization. New York Democratic Rep claims that Republicans are fighting this war not against abortion but against women's "rights" to choose. Republicans are seizing the chance to use the videos of planned parenthood officials talking about using fetal tissue to trigger a response from republicans and put democrats on the defensive. Republicans are sincerely motivated against abortion which offends their morals or religious beliefs. However there are valid political reasons to attack the group. Planned parenthood critics claim that the organization recieves funding due to its strong democratic ideals rather than actually improving women's health. Republicans feel that denting Planned Parenthood will be a win for them and Democrats feel the same way about defending it and that it can win the crucial women's votes. The planned parenthood issue is also a chance for Republicans to strike at the Democratic Party's machinery, on an issue that both sides have organized multiple elections around.
2. I think this is a pretty serious issue. I don't align with either political party (mostly because I don't believe in the mystical entity that's beyond morallity known as the government or the majority) but I find myself agreeing most often with the Republican side on this issue. The issue of planned parenthood's use of special techniques to save parts of aborted fetuses is one thing. I guess if you're gonna end a human life you might as well profit off of it so besides being disgusted I don't really care. Abortion itself is another issue that often revolves around "rights". US liberals often claim that a "clump of cells" that can't survive on its own don't have rights since its not self sufficient and a physical burden on the mother and father. Libertarians (and Republicans) often claim that since it has Human DNA and Human cells and will generally grow into a state of self sufficiency then the fetus does have rights and therefore can not be murdered while still staying morally correct. Liberals also like to claim that the fetus with DNA not equal to the mother's is a part of the mother since they're attached and mothers have the right to do with thier own bodies as they wish. Liberals don't seem to understand how and where rights came from so often they commit hypocritical actions and cherry pick what is a right and what is a priviledge on a whim of feelings. Libertarians claim consistency and origins in defining and protecting rights so they end up usually against the "right" to abortion.
3. This relates to our current unit on civil rights and liberties because it's about the feud between the political north-west, north-east, and south about wether a women has the right to end a life they have biological control and responsibility over.
No comments:
Post a Comment