About the Abortion Thing - Am I the Only One Who Saw This Coming?

[Is It Only Me]

I've often wondered if I'm the only one who immediately thought, "Well there goes my right to choose" when the 2000 elections were stolen. I mean, my right to choose a President was taken away, when the Supreme Court made the choice instead. I knew it would only be a matter of years before the Supreme Court was packed with white men who would take away my right to control whether or not I had to carry a pregnancy.

So I took matters into my own hands. Less than three months after * took office I found a doctor willing to perform a tubal on a 29 year old unmarried woman with no children. I had it done. I am one of the (ever growing) population of women who has never wanted to have a child. I'm fortunate that I never had to have an abortion prior to sterilization.

I wondered then if I'd ever regret my decision. I don't. Heck I still take the pill to control my periods and think of it as my backup plan. With South Dakota trying to take away the right to choose for women everywhere, I breathe a sigh of relief that I am one step ahead of the game, but I'm still infuriated. I still wonder if I'll regret the decision someday. Years of having people tell me I don't know what I want, that I'll change my mind, that I just haven't met the "right" man, you know, all those things society tells women so they can coerce them into breeding mindlessly... Society's brainwashing techniques definitely take their toll on even the most ardent, most resolute people.

I think I'm probably the only woman alive who had a tubal because * was elected. But the Supreme Court's decision to take away this country's right to choose its President also was a big factor for me. If they'll take away our votes, they'll take away anything.

What drastic measures have you had to take because of the direction this country has headed?

[Ninga]

1. Every man, woman, DU'er, and child who wrote, emailed and called

their Senator's during the Roberts and Alito hearings saw this coming.

[Is It Only Me]

2. No, I mean saw it coming in 2000...

I saw it coming the day the Supreme Court took the Presidency from the people of the country.

[sproutster]

3. Amen :( And I didn't even see the latest "labor workers" talking point

WTF

[LisaLynne]

4. I think many of us knew * was going to have to put out ...

so to speak, for his RW Religious fanatic portion of his "base". Some people thought they would never actually overturn Roe V. Wade because they need it as a wedge and fundraising issue, but I personally always felt that they would if they could. And they certainly seem to think they can. I fear they are right.

I also never wanted to have children. I know what you mean about societal pressure, although now due to medical issues, it's no longer possible for me to have children, but that's a very recent development. I have to say that at the moment, there is little I am as grateful for as not having a child because I fear so much for this world. I fear for all the children because I don't know how bad things are going to get in this country. This morning, it looks as though things are very, very, very bad indeed.

[kevinbgoode]

7. I agree. . ..these people are not about compromise

and they have an unending list of other "issues" to grind once they've revoked abortion rights. . .everything from criminalizing homosexuality again to establishing Sunday blue laws nationwide. They've been open about their proposals for years - and too many of us have been duped into believing they can't be serious...well, they are.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. the blue laws will be the last to go

because they interfere with corporate interests, which will always trump the rw religious looney agenda.

[madokie]

12. I also never wanted to father children, i've always wanted to be a step

dad. I always seen the motherless or fatherless kids and felt sorry for them. I had great parents who didn't try to instill in me any of their own beliefs and i feel better for it. Today i have two great step-sons, Sons is more like it, who i couldn't love any more if they were of my genes. Today i am a happy man.

[LisaLynne]

14. I know what you mean!

There are so many children who are already here who could use a good, caring, loving person in their lives. That's wonderful that you have your guys. :)

[XanaDUer]

5. Nope.

...

[LiberalinNC]

6. I sure as hell did see it coming in 2000 - that is the main reason why

I became more involved in my state's democratic party!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. Drastic measures?

Well, I save a lot of money because I don't trust anybody but my family to take care of me. I don't trust the State of Florida pension plans or Social Security. I am putting my son in law through medical school as well.

To address your other issue, children are wonderful and I'm glad I had mine, but there are all kinds of happiness in life and when it comes down to it, you come in alone and you go out alone.

[Solly Mack]

9. No. Recall when he was campaigning and talking up his "culture of life"

Some folks scoffed at the notion of a "culture war" - not me. I knew exactly what the fucker meant by "culture of life" - he meant the enslavement of women, he meant the poor get fucked even more, he meant to create more poor, he meant to erode rights and kill anything and everything that helped people - he meant to impose on people, against their will, measures that made them beholding to religious groups by giving them power over life and death decisions. And now he's created a faith based program inside Homeland Security - to help with disasters. Life and death at the hands of theocrats.

He meant exactly what he said by "culture of life" - all anyone had to do was think what that would mean to a sane person, and then think the opposite to understand what Bush intended.

[bliss_eternal]

20. Yep!

...saw it coming a loooong time ago.

As Maya Angelou said, "When people show you who they are (the first time), believe them..." He showed who he was, I believed him. Simple. I've disliked the man since day one.

[Dhalgren]

10. Welcome to DU! We need all the strong, brave, resolute

people we can get! Stick by your guns and don't take no shit! I admire you...

[annabanana]

11. Welcome to DU...

I think bunches of us considered it a possibility. I think many were surprised at how quickly he was able to accomplish it. And more than a few of us were SURE 2004 would nip it in the bud. I had not foreseen the black boxes attacking, not at that early date.

[DemGirl7]

13. I saw it coming when * in 2000 said ...

that his favorite 2 Justices on the Supreme Court were Scalia & Thomas. I mean, that statement says "that when I get into office, I'm going to make sure Roe v. Wade gets overturned sometime in the future, because I'm going appoint all the judges I can that fit that mold." That is one of the many reasons I was so pissed when * was handed the election. :grr:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. I also decided long ago not to have children

I wasn't married until I was 38, and when I did, we decided against having children. As for what happened in 2000-I didn't catch on until 2003, when I had visions of the pain and suffering to come. Not a nice thing to realize.

[niyad]

17. can tell you from personal experience, the brainwashing is BS-- I have

never wanted children, never had children, and have not for one moment ever regretted my choice. what interests me is the fact that NONE of the child-free women I know have EVER regretted their choices, but I have met plenty of mothers who wish they had been able to make different choices.

as for drastic measures? planning on going back to my birthplace before the borders are sealed down.

[blonndee]

18. "What drastic measures have you had to take" ?

Well, I guess I haven't HAD to take these drastic measures (as a bisexual person), but I'm no longer having sex with men.

Is that drastic?

[KitchenWitch]

19. I had a feeling that Roe would be overturned after 2000

I have two beautiful children, and although I would like to have one more, my body does not tolerate pregnancy well (long story). I had a tubal in 2001, a day after my daughter was born.

[bliss_eternal]

21. My husband takes responsibility for birth control, too.

We both do. We are probably over protected (lol) in terms of all that we utilize to prevent an un-planned pregnancy. But we have strong opinions about having children when one is ready (mentally and financially). We adore children, we just choose to 'plan our parenthood.'

If it gets to the point that we can no longer have children ourselves, and decide we want to share our lives with a child--we are open to adopting. There are many children in this world that need loving parents. It doesn't matter if we make it ourselves. ;)

Welcome to DU, is it only me! :hi:

[politicat]

22. Saw it and have been trying to get my own tubal done.

Just turned 30, though, so the docs have been less than cooperative. Plus, I had to have my knees fixed first. Walking rated a bit higher on the priorities scale.

DH has his own snippage done before we married (in 2000) so as long as I'm either faithful or careful, I'm safe.

BUT. We have stopped flying, have gotten rid of all but one of the credit cards, and are trying to pay off our house as quickly as possible (even though I have a fixed rate, low interest mortgage.) We moved to a county that uses paper ballots, have worked for the Dems and gotten heavily involved in Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War. (And in September of 2000, we were pretty much the most apolitical people around. I mean, we voted, and we were Dems, but that was it.)