Not being a Socially Conservative Republican, I can’t begin to understand- much less explain- the Right-wing concept of “small government.” Near as I can tell, the hypocrites who comprise the Religious Right demand that government get off their backs…even as they turn around and pass laws that essentially puts them in the bedrooms, exam rooms, and uteri of Americans.
Small government (n): A formal of minimalist governance intended to increase personal liberty- unless the subject is female reproductive functions or female health care decisions.
Ruminating over this seeming contradiction is almost as much fun as pondering the Far Right’s obsession with “religious liberty.” Though this is Rick Santorum’s raison d’etre, he’s hardly the only Republican singing this song. Again, I can’t pretend to put myself into the Conservative hive-mind, but, near as I can tell, “religious freedom” means “possessing the ability to force my narrow morality upon those who don’t think as I do and are therefore wrong and Hell-bound.” It seems the Far Right believes the only people being persecuted for their religious beliefs are…themselves. Therefore, unless they have the right to force their beliefs on others, their persecution will continue unabated.
Yeah, I know; WTF??
The latest outrage committed by those who would have you believe that THEY’RE the ones being persecuted involves the phrase, “Trans-Vaginal Ultrasound.” That sounds every bit as degrading and invasive as it actually is. In Virginia, Texas, and Iowa, a woman wanting to have an abortion will be required to undergo a procedure involving an ultrasound wand BEING INSERTED INTO THEIR VAGINA.
If that sounds like the very definition of state-sanctioned rape, it’s because that’s exactly what this use of trans-vaginal ultrasound is. In fact, in at least one state- Virginia- the procedure appears to meet the statute definition of rape:
ยง 18.2-61. Rape.
A. If any person has sexual intercourse with a complaining witness, whether or not his or her spouse, or causes a complaining witness, whether or not his or her spouse, to engage in sexual intercourse with any other person and such act is accomplished (i) against the complaining witness’s will, by force, threat or intimidation of or against the complaining witness or another person; or (ii) through the use of the complaining witness’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness; or (iii) with a child under age 13 as the victim, he or she shall be guilty of rape.
In essence, the “small government” party wants to reduce government to the size where it can be stuffed into a woman’s vagina. And bedroom. And doctor’s office. And anywhere else that a woman might be involved with reproductive health care of any sort.
Though it may not be explicitly spelled out in any of these laws, it’s becoming clear that the men responsible for such legislation consider women to be sperm receptacles and the property of men. Women, being too emotional to be trusted with such momentous decisions, will be cajoled, ridiculed, and if necessary forcibly violated before being allowed to have an abortion…if she’s even to be allowed to cross that moral Rubicon on her own or otherwise.
Is it just me, or does this all seem like an outtake from The Handmaid’s Tale?
