The recent SCOTUS decision to abandon the nearly 50 year old Roe v. Wade decision has resulted in what will be a totally unworkable national dilemma. We personally do not favor abortion but the vast majority of Americans support abortion on some (limited) basis. The current problem, as we see it, is that the Federal Government has washed its hands of the issue and delegated the abortion issue to the control of each state. This won’t work. It’s a practical impossibility for so many reasons. Let’s examine just a few. (1) It’s a serious cost issue for the country. Companies–with employee medical and disability plans–will find it much more expensive to cover unwanted children than for paying medical bills for dependent children up to age 26. And, 60% of the current Federal budget goes to “entitlement programs”–many of which provide food stamps, rent money and other allowances for destitute families. Imagine how a million more un-aborted children will cost US–the taxpayers who fund the Federal budget? These “costs” (like schooling, food, shelter, etc.) will multiply over time as these unwanted children have children and the cycle grows. In 20 years maybe 75% or more of the budget will be absorbed to keep these “families” off the street. (2) Each state law (as they currently stand) seems to have different terms. As a result some states are so restrictive that people will need to travel away from home to get an abortion. Some states allow bounty hunter rewards for turning in their neighbors. Some states focus on the doctor who performs the procedure. Some states have a 6 week limit that makes it almost impossible to comply. These are all “red” (Republican) states. Will we see a vast migration from “red” states to “blue” states? What will be the impact? And imagine the legal activity generated by all this variety of rules. (3) Some “red” states have “blue” Attorneys General who refuse publicly to enforce their own state laws on abortion. How will that play out? Are we expecting precedent law rulings to overturn some states legislative actions? Remember–this all started when the Supreme Court reversed Roe. (4) Many companies have already indicated that they will pay the travel expenses of any employee who chooses to go to another state for the purpose of getting an abortion. Are we talking–IF you have vacation time available? Are we talking–IF you are not a union member? (Union members MUST receive only negotiated benefits under Federal Labor laws.) (5) And what about HIPAA complications? The Health Insurance Protection and Accountability Act of 1996 severely restricts unnecessary and unwarranted access to an individuals medical information. How will Human Resources people, Union Leadership, line Supervisors, etc. be kept “in the dark” when one of their employees needs to leave the company WITHOUT a full explanation? Of course every effort can be made to conceal the abortion trip but office/plant gossip is very efficient and news will spread–violating HIPAA. Enter the legal team. (6) While there are many other practical issues here, the most central issue is THE EMOTIONAL TOLL THIS WHOLE UNNECESSARILY EXTENDED PROCESS WILL HAVE ON THE INVOLVED FAMILY. There can be many situations that lead to the decision to have an abortion. But–once that decision is made for whatever reason–enduring the rigors of the current state law and determining the best course of action should not be any more complex than simply driving to a Planned Parenthood facility. Again we do not condone abortion. But, for the many who do, running the legal gauntlet caused by the SCOTUS Roe reversal is not only impractical, overly stressful, very expensive and unnecessary–it is also– at its roots–undemocratic. The vast majority (majority rule) do NOT want this change. We are swimming against the current of popular opinion by changing the rule. Why?
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