(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Do women really want to be equal? [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-25 The setting was a local restaurant, the event was a woman’s club meeting in Northwest Florida. As a candidate, I began to ask my table mates their opinions on issues including the marijuana amendment that is on the ballot in Florida, their thoughts on book banning, school vouchers and more. Then, the topic turned to Amendment 4, the one that guarantees women the right to reproductive freedom. That’s when the conversation went off the rails. “I just don’t like how women are having babies just so they can get more welfare,” the first woman commented. I shook my head. “That’s not the point of the amendment; it is to guarantee the right to an abortion if a woman wants one.” “Oh, well, I just think more babies should be adopted,” another person said. “I know someone who tried to adopt and the process took years,” she said. I said, “That’s not the issue I am wanting to discuss. I am talking about the Florida legislature’s six-week abortion ban that went into effect this month.” “Six weeks?” The first person said. “What was it before that?” “It was 15 weeks,” I said. “Maybe it will help if I read the amendment language.” So I did. “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.” “Well, I don’t know about that. When is a baby viable?” the first woman asked. “Maybe 24 to 26 weeks,” I said. “I don’t feel right about aborting a baby at that stage,” she said. I answered, “The amendment says it will be before the age of viability.” The second woman piped up. “What about the father’s rights? I think the fathers should be involved in the decision.” I answered. “Well, do you think the decision should be between the mother and the father or the mother, father and state legislature?” “I don’t know,” she answered. The third woman spoke up. “It’s not my decision. Therefore, I don’t want to interfere with another person’s decision.” Finally, someone gets it. The amendment is about your rights, your family’s rights and your health care decisions. In a perfect world, there would be no unwanted pregnancies, no children victimized by family members or neighbors, no women accosted in dark alleyways or victims of birth control that failed. There would also be no illnesses that must be addressed to the detriment of either the fetus or mother, causing a hard decision to terminate the pregnancy or risk the mother’s life. These are tough decisions that must be made individually. Some may argue that the financial impact of having a child could derail a family’s ability to stay above the poverty line and off public assistance. There were 84,052 abortions performed in Florida last year, according to an update to 2023 totals that the Agency for Health Care Administration published on Jan. 31. That’s up from 82,192 in 2022. How will an additional 84,000 births per year affect the economy in Florida? Who will feed and clothe these infants, children and eventually, teenagers? How many public schools will need to be built? How many maternity wards or day cares? Or how many women will opt for a back-room abortion instead? The daughters of wealthy men will still have health care options while the middle class and poor will have few options. How many who will vote against Amendment 4 will step up and adopt at least one child? As the woman at my table said, “It’s not my decision. Therefore, I don’t want to interfere with another person’s decision.” Vote for Amendment 4. Lisa Newell is running for Florida Senate District 1. Her opponent is Republican Don Gaetz. www.Newell4Florida.com secure.actblue.com/... [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/25/2248619/-The-conversation-turned-to-Florida-s-Amendment-4?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/