The Virginia Anti-Woman Law

Dear Madame L,

You keep carping on these ideas about women's rights being trodden upon in the American democratic system, claiming that pro-life legislation will put women in the same situation as women in backwards FLDS and Saudi communities, and so on. 

Why do you keep making connections that are not really very obvious?

Sincerely,

Seriously Worried About You, Madame L

Dear Seriously Worried,

Madame L appreciates your concern and raises you one: Madame L is worried about you. 

Pay attention, Dear Readers! Madame L is not saying that Calif. Rep. Darrell Issa (R), or Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) hate women or want to deprive them of freedom. She doesn't think that even Catholics Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich or even the fake libertarian Ron Paul want to see a society of Stepford Wives or black-draped drones of women confined to their homes.

What Madame L is saying that even the best of intentions---and Madame L wants to give these politicians the benefit of the doubt---can have unforeseen consequences. 

So, while these guys may think that most abortions are being requested by women who are stupid or careless, who are using abortion as a back-up birth-control method, and Madame L acknowledges having read that this happens in some cases, Madame L doesn't think their tactics, of viewing ALL women in this way, will be helpful for women or families or the future of our democracy. 

Madame L notes that there are many better ways to prevent those kinds of abortions while allowing women whose health is at risk or who have been the victims of rape or incestuous abuse to return to their lives. Since these methods include education and the availability of birth control medications and devices, Madame L thinks it should make sense to make these available. Instead, these same politicians who rail against abortion (which Madame L also opposes) want to block funding to birth control education and medications.

Additionally, Madame L hates the way these politicians wave the flag of "religious freedom" with one hand while covering up the rights of individuals with their other. As if anybody believed any of this was about religious freedom!

Finally, Madame L is appalled at the hypocrisy that makes these politicians want to limit basic women's health care insurance coverage while making sure that men's Viagra prescriptions are covered by health insurance.

To summarize, if politicians really wanted a society in which all rights, including religious rights and women's rights, were protected, they would be legislating for equal access to health care coverage, education, and transparency in government, instead of spreading lies and making hypocritical and inflammatory statements against people who disagree with them.

Sincerely,

Madame L