The Dobbs decision was partly my fault
28 June 2024
It has now been 2 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization which overturned 50 years of settled law in Roe v. Wade (1973) that the Constitution guarantees abortion rights to women and girls. This was, in my opinion, the worst U.S. Supreme Court decision in our history because for the first time, it took away the longstanding rights of a large segment of our population.
I feel guilty about the Dobbs case. I am a Michigan resident. In 2016, I did vote for Hillary Clinton running against Donald Trump and I did work a little on her campaign. But I could have done a lot more. My excuse was that Clinton seemed a sure winner in Michigan so I would be better off spending my time on other campaigns.
My father, Larry Pernick, of blessed memory, was an Oakland County Commissioner for 25+ years and won every election. Still, he told me he never takes an election for granted and works as hard as possible each time. Applying this lesson to 2016 would have meant that we cannot take extremely important elections for granted, like Clinton vs. Trump. Of course, we cannot work hard on every campaign but we should give extra attention to those whose outcome will markedly affect our lives.
Trump’s victory in 2016 meant that he appointed 3 Supreme Court Justices who voted to end the federal guarantee of abortion rights. What would have happened if I worked harder on the Clinton campaign? Perhaps my work might have inspired others to work harder, which may have spread to still others and ultimately made a difference.
For 2024, not only do we have to worry about electing a dictator, but we can assume that a Trump victory will lead to a national ban on all abortions, including medical abortions. Women and girls with pregnancy complications will have to go to Canada, Mexico or other countries to get medical care to save their lives, and even then, that travel may be a felony. Trump may also outlaw hormonal birth control, the morning after pill and IUDs. We can anticipate religious indoctrination about reproduction in public schools and additional efforts to restrict the education and employment of women and girls, lest it interfere with the Trump / GOP view of women and girls as baby incubators.
We can prevent this dystopian future, but only if more of us become more politically active now to support candidates who support abortion rights, which, in 2024, means voting for Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.
Related articles:
Where Are the 'Protectors'? Men: It's time to stand up on abortion rights, 15 June 2024
The impact of limiting abortion rights on Black Americans, 13 June 2024
Republican states are dangerous for women and girls, 29 May 2024
Getting a little more involved, 24 June 2024
Encourage young people to vote, 21 June 2024
Vote for a better world, 26 November 2023
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