The New Confederacy White People's Treason Party, formerly known as the Republican Party, has demonstrated that they have indeed taken the place of the old Confederacy that was defeated 158 years ago, and are now as much of an insurgent party of treason as were the old Confederacy. They are The Enemy.
Sad to say,TC, that the old Confederacy was defeated on the battlefield only. The hot war morphed into a passive-aggressive war in politics, heavily supported by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. They preached the Lost Cause mythology at every possible opportunity. They were on the front lines in the propaganda war. As Faulkner said, "The past is not dead. It's not even past!"
Just think what human potential has been wasted in this country over the last 200+ years due to hate and greed.
Again with the “pregnant people” displacing women. Just how many non-women people were at the 2017 march? Why is one of the largest elements of the population, women, being dismissed for “pregnant people”? It isnt just the asshat far right bozos who are saying it, Ms. Magazine writers offered up a really great article about how folding women into what appears to be an inclusive term ‘pregnant people’ is indeed harmful to women’s rights and health. True inclusive language regarding abortion is “women and other pregnant people”. I am not a TERF or anti-trans and the mistake that way too many people are making is making that assumption about women who continue to not want to be swallowed up by a trendy cultural equity fest. Equity means saying “women” not “people”.
Tina, that is quite a comment, and I agree with every word.
As an old straight monogamous 'woke' man who along with my wife raised an incredible daughter, I watched many hours of that march with wonder and joy.
I don't think Dump gave a hoot (he was only thinking about his inaugural attendance), but many Republicans felt the heat that day! But the treachery against all of us was already in motion....
Joyce, your writing is absolutely necessary for our informed peace of mind, and I thank you and all of those who contribute such insightful comments
Tina, I was also disturbed by “pregnant people”. I agree with your comment 100%. “Women and other pregnant people” is an excellent solution linguistically.
Women and pregnant people is more accurate, but pregnant people is not inaccurate. If I understand you correctly, your complaint is that the smaller group has co-opted the identifier for the whole group, and this causes harm to the larger part of the group because it is no longer referred to specifically. I can see the merit in that argument. Un-naming has been used as a punishment in cultures of the past, and while I don't think it was the intention to punish the larger group, un-naming does carry societal consequences.
I spent several months last year delving into the history of misogyny, and I completely agree with you. Women and girls get pregnant, not merely "people." These are biological terms within the context of reproduction; no one who is not biologically female can become pregnant. We must not dilute the power of misogyny. By the same token, I have been railing for years against calling women "girls" or "gals" because it diminishes us. We don't call men "boys," yet we use "girl" to describe women into their 30's, and don't get me started on women calling other women "baby girl."
Joyce, some of this news is so depressing, but some is also worthy of our hope. Between you and HCR I feel connected to the world and the huge sea changes happening in the US. Many thanks, from the bottom of my heart.
The pharma companies are now with the FDA about the ban on mifepristone. If this drug can be banned then more will follow. Vaccines and viagra? The anti-vax crowd will judge shop to ban all vaccines. Viagra should be banned too.
"Based on FDA data and decades of research, both mifepristone and Viagra appear to be largely safe when taken as prescribed and directed.
Regardless, as the data shows a significantly higher rate of adverse events and deaths associated with Viagra, the argument that mifepristone is safer appears to be sound."
I’m with you. If this goes through, at the very least, Covid vaccines will be next, and then we will see how loudly the very off-key anti-everything vaccine folk can get, and who will listen to them so they get their parents’ rights, and the rest of us lose ours.
Viagra is ostensibly a couple's drug. For that reason, it shouldn't be banned. I wish people would stop claiming there is any equivalency in an abortion medication and a sexual performance enhancing drug.
Don't be antagonistic. There are many couples whose sex lives have been made possible because of Viagra, but you seem to think anyone who uses it wants a pregnancy to result.
Funny, but the news seems not to have ever reported on all those men who "died in the saddle" after taking Viagra or Cialis.
Statistically, the death stats for the smallpox vaccine were terrifyingly high, but the risk of dying from the disease itself made the case for the greater good.
It's naive to claim that the attempt to ban mifepristone was anything other than disingenuous, A drug on the market for 20 years cannot realistically be said to be lacking statistics proving its safety. If this drug remains banned, we'll have clear proof of the complicity of the SC in promoting a clearly partisan agenda.
I appreciate the update, Joyce. You always make the legal points clear, or at least clearer, for us and that is so helpful. And thanks for knitting those pink hats. We need another of those marches. Soon.
Thank you Sharon; the Supreme Court is hopeless now and only the addition of four more rational justices can save us from ultra conservative rule for at least 10 yrs or more. A a practicing lawyer, I knew the hypocrisy of Republican Mitch McConnell by denying Obama a legitimate appointment was illegitimate and would have long term consequences as Barrett lied throughout her confirmation. Dems have to play hard ball in 25 or most social progress will be stopped dead in its tracks. Serious stuff!
I just do not understand the men, mostly men, but joined by a few completely inexplicable women, who want to regulate and limit women's freedom over their own bodies. What's in it for them? Pure reassertion of of ancient patriarchal power? If you don't want an abortion, don't get one. Hold onto that view in your own home - don't tell my wife, daughter, sister what to do. And don't vote for legislators who think they know best what's good for others.
"What's in it for them? Pure reassertion of of ancient patriarchal power?"
Yes. Especially by Christian men. Quiverfull is only one example of the movement to "return to traditional values," namely, the idea that women should be subservient to men.
Dang, Joyce, you must somehow be able to only sleep for about 3-4 hrs a night. These late submissions plus your almost daily, sometimes multiple times daily on MSNBC have you running ragged. But, you do a fabulous job of it all. What in the WORLD are Republicans thinking with reference to their attempt to defund the Manhattan District Attorney??? Do they truly want to show all of the WORLD & Americans that they don't care about the rule of law, especially when it comes for one of their own party??? It doesn't matter if they are successful, the optics should scare every sane American, and should energize voters to eliminate all of these GOP goons next election cycle. My goodness, every day is a new Republican horror story! I cannot wait for the drama to subside. Carry on!
This is all so upsetting. I feel overwhelmed by maniacs. I keep sane reading you, Robert Hubbell and many others on Substack. Thank goodness for the Tennessee outcome or I might have really flipped. I postcard, phone call and am a member of SD Indivisible. And I know it’s time to do more. ☮️
Thanks, Joyce, for another informative and insightful update. I do not know where you get the energy necessary for all of the work you do to help us understand these crazy events and times. It must be the eggs! Keep sharing the pictures of your beautiful babies!
We Brits (as you call us) are perplexed by many things that are going on in the USA at the moment, not least by the cruel obsession with abortion rights and the equally cruel failure to bring gun ownership under control. We are getting a lot of things wrong at the moment on this side of the pond but (I say it with no smugness) we do have sensible and effectively applied laws relating to gun control and abortion.
Abortion was made legal by the Abortion Act 1967. A decision to terminate a pregnancy is inevitably traumatic and never taken lightly. Those in that situation should be left alone to make their own choices with appropriate advice and without the outside interference of others. That is how termination is treated here. See for instance the information given by our National Health Service: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/
Gun ownership is tightly controlled here. I am certain that it is absolutely no coincidence that we have fewer mass shootings here in 10 years than there are in a month in the USA. Here is a link to our government control of firearms. https://www.gov.uk/shotgun-and-firearm-certificates (oddly the link to apply for a licence doesn't work but that will not worry you yanks!)
I know you declared independence 200+ years ago because you thought you knew better, and I am not inviting you back into the fold (certainly not at the moment with your former president still at large) but why not think about at least doing guns and abortion the way we do them and save yourselves some immense heartache??
Thank you Joyce! Let’s hope the Supreme Court shows us their legal expertise, which was (except for Thomas) after all what they were appointed to the Court for, and leaves aside any political or religious feelings they may have, manifestly unlike Judge K.
On a different subject, do you think this classified documents leak case that is boiling up will cause Jack Smith to treat Trump’s sins in that category any differently, one way or the other?
Sharon: I appreciate your “hope” that the Supremes will leave aside political or religious feelings but those feelings are baked in by the three Trump appointees plus Alito who is perhaps the most extreme liar on the Court and then there is law breaker Clarence Thomas! We are on the side of probably four justices against five so that the majority are not only Trump lackeys but also anti-choice robots! So much for justice aside from political and religious feelings. 2024 will be the decision point as to whether America turns to restoring democracy, fairness and true respect for the rule of law at the state level even in some marginally red states as well as the federal level! To do so please help out nonpartisan voter registration of younger voters and 18-30 young women by spectacular Harvard students trying to run effective drives in 2,700 high schools and colleges-- please go to www.turnup.us and contribute! Thanks
The New Confederacy White People's Treason Party, formerly known as the Republican Party, has demonstrated that they have indeed taken the place of the old Confederacy that was defeated 158 years ago, and are now as much of an insurgent party of treason as were the old Confederacy. They are The Enemy.
Sad to say,TC, that the old Confederacy was defeated on the battlefield only. The hot war morphed into a passive-aggressive war in politics, heavily supported by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. They preached the Lost Cause mythology at every possible opportunity. They were on the front lines in the propaganda war. As Faulkner said, "The past is not dead. It's not even past!"
Just think what human potential has been wasted in this country over the last 200+ years due to hate and greed.
They need to be thrown out. Now.
Again with the “pregnant people” displacing women. Just how many non-women people were at the 2017 march? Why is one of the largest elements of the population, women, being dismissed for “pregnant people”? It isnt just the asshat far right bozos who are saying it, Ms. Magazine writers offered up a really great article about how folding women into what appears to be an inclusive term ‘pregnant people’ is indeed harmful to women’s rights and health. True inclusive language regarding abortion is “women and other pregnant people”. I am not a TERF or anti-trans and the mistake that way too many people are making is making that assumption about women who continue to not want to be swallowed up by a trendy cultural equity fest. Equity means saying “women” not “people”.
Tina, that is quite a comment, and I agree with every word.
As an old straight monogamous 'woke' man who along with my wife raised an incredible daughter, I watched many hours of that march with wonder and joy.
I don't think Dump gave a hoot (he was only thinking about his inaugural attendance), but many Republicans felt the heat that day! But the treachery against all of us was already in motion....
Joyce, your writing is absolutely necessary for our informed peace of mind, and I thank you and all of those who contribute such insightful comments
Tina, I was also disturbed by “pregnant people”. I agree with your comment 100%. “Women and other pregnant people” is an excellent solution linguistically.
Women and pregnant people is more accurate, but pregnant people is not inaccurate. If I understand you correctly, your complaint is that the smaller group has co-opted the identifier for the whole group, and this causes harm to the larger part of the group because it is no longer referred to specifically. I can see the merit in that argument. Un-naming has been used as a punishment in cultures of the past, and while I don't think it was the intention to punish the larger group, un-naming does carry societal consequences.
I spent several months last year delving into the history of misogyny, and I completely agree with you. Women and girls get pregnant, not merely "people." These are biological terms within the context of reproduction; no one who is not biologically female can become pregnant. We must not dilute the power of misogyny. By the same token, I have been railing for years against calling women "girls" or "gals" because it diminishes us. We don't call men "boys," yet we use "girl" to describe women into their 30's, and don't get me started on women calling other women "baby girl."
Joyce, thank you for this update! You spell it out clearly, and you are appreciated.
Joyce, some of this news is so depressing, but some is also worthy of our hope. Between you and HCR I feel connected to the world and the huge sea changes happening in the US. Many thanks, from the bottom of my heart.
There is a lot of news worthy of hope.
The pharma companies are now with the FDA about the ban on mifepristone. If this drug can be banned then more will follow. Vaccines and viagra? The anti-vax crowd will judge shop to ban all vaccines. Viagra should be banned too.
"Based on FDA data and decades of research, both mifepristone and Viagra appear to be largely safe when taken as prescribed and directed.
Regardless, as the data shows a significantly higher rate of adverse events and deaths associated with Viagra, the argument that mifepristone is safer appears to be sound."
https://www.newsweek.com/abortion-pill-mifepristone-safer-viagra-what-we-know-1788089
I’m with you. If this goes through, at the very least, Covid vaccines will be next, and then we will see how loudly the very off-key anti-everything vaccine folk can get, and who will listen to them so they get their parents’ rights, and the rest of us lose ours.
I have yet to hear anything about tubal ligation, though I'm sure that will be next on the list, along with vasectomies.
Thank you, Joyce.
Oh no! Viagra will not be banned! Viagra is a man's drug, enabling sexual intimacy.
Viagra is ostensibly a couple's drug. For that reason, it shouldn't be banned. I wish people would stop claiming there is any equivalency in an abortion medication and a sexual performance enhancing drug.
Where did I say that?
Don't be antagonistic. There are many couples whose sex lives have been made possible because of Viagra, but you seem to think anyone who uses it wants a pregnancy to result.
Viagra and mifepristone are two unrelated issues.
Funny, but the news seems not to have ever reported on all those men who "died in the saddle" after taking Viagra or Cialis.
Statistically, the death stats for the smallpox vaccine were terrifyingly high, but the risk of dying from the disease itself made the case for the greater good.
It's naive to claim that the attempt to ban mifepristone was anything other than disingenuous, A drug on the market for 20 years cannot realistically be said to be lacking statistics proving its safety. If this drug remains banned, we'll have clear proof of the complicity of the SC in promoting a clearly partisan agenda.
I appreciate the update, Joyce. You always make the legal points clear, or at least clearer, for us and that is so helpful. And thanks for knitting those pink hats. We need another of those marches. Soon.
Thank you Sharon; the Supreme Court is hopeless now and only the addition of four more rational justices can save us from ultra conservative rule for at least 10 yrs or more. A a practicing lawyer, I knew the hypocrisy of Republican Mitch McConnell by denying Obama a legitimate appointment was illegitimate and would have long term consequences as Barrett lied throughout her confirmation. Dems have to play hard ball in 25 or most social progress will be stopped dead in its tracks. Serious stuff!
I just do not understand the men, mostly men, but joined by a few completely inexplicable women, who want to regulate and limit women's freedom over their own bodies. What's in it for them? Pure reassertion of of ancient patriarchal power? If you don't want an abortion, don't get one. Hold onto that view in your own home - don't tell my wife, daughter, sister what to do. And don't vote for legislators who think they know best what's good for others.
Yes. This is deep-seated misogyny. Trying to reassert the hoary patriarchal bargain. We will all suffer for it, regardless of gender.
"What's in it for them? Pure reassertion of of ancient patriarchal power?"
Yes. Especially by Christian men. Quiverfull is only one example of the movement to "return to traditional values," namely, the idea that women should be subservient to men.
Dang, Joyce, you must somehow be able to only sleep for about 3-4 hrs a night. These late submissions plus your almost daily, sometimes multiple times daily on MSNBC have you running ragged. But, you do a fabulous job of it all. What in the WORLD are Republicans thinking with reference to their attempt to defund the Manhattan District Attorney??? Do they truly want to show all of the WORLD & Americans that they don't care about the rule of law, especially when it comes for one of their own party??? It doesn't matter if they are successful, the optics should scare every sane American, and should energize voters to eliminate all of these GOP goons next election cycle. My goodness, every day is a new Republican horror story! I cannot wait for the drama to subside. Carry on!
This is all so upsetting. I feel overwhelmed by maniacs. I keep sane reading you, Robert Hubbell and many others on Substack. Thank goodness for the Tennessee outcome or I might have really flipped. I postcard, phone call and am a member of SD Indivisible. And I know it’s time to do more. ☮️
Noise is intended to discourage everyone from going to the polls to vote. It’s an intimidation strategy.
Thanks, Joyce, for another informative and insightful update. I do not know where you get the energy necessary for all of the work you do to help us understand these crazy events and times. It must be the eggs! Keep sharing the pictures of your beautiful babies!
Ah, Yes, finally and logically, comes the midnight message, Civil Discourse... by Joyce Vance... and good it is...
We Brits (as you call us) are perplexed by many things that are going on in the USA at the moment, not least by the cruel obsession with abortion rights and the equally cruel failure to bring gun ownership under control. We are getting a lot of things wrong at the moment on this side of the pond but (I say it with no smugness) we do have sensible and effectively applied laws relating to gun control and abortion.
Abortion was made legal by the Abortion Act 1967. A decision to terminate a pregnancy is inevitably traumatic and never taken lightly. Those in that situation should be left alone to make their own choices with appropriate advice and without the outside interference of others. That is how termination is treated here. See for instance the information given by our National Health Service: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/
Gun ownership is tightly controlled here. I am certain that it is absolutely no coincidence that we have fewer mass shootings here in 10 years than there are in a month in the USA. Here is a link to our government control of firearms. https://www.gov.uk/shotgun-and-firearm-certificates (oddly the link to apply for a licence doesn't work but that will not worry you yanks!)
I know you declared independence 200+ years ago because you thought you knew better, and I am not inviting you back into the fold (certainly not at the moment with your former president still at large) but why not think about at least doing guns and abortion the way we do them and save yourselves some immense heartache??
Thanks for the update Joyce!
Thank you Joyce! Let’s hope the Supreme Court shows us their legal expertise, which was (except for Thomas) after all what they were appointed to the Court for, and leaves aside any political or religious feelings they may have, manifestly unlike Judge K.
On a different subject, do you think this classified documents leak case that is boiling up will cause Jack Smith to treat Trump’s sins in that category any differently, one way or the other?
Sharon: I appreciate your “hope” that the Supremes will leave aside political or religious feelings but those feelings are baked in by the three Trump appointees plus Alito who is perhaps the most extreme liar on the Court and then there is law breaker Clarence Thomas! We are on the side of probably four justices against five so that the majority are not only Trump lackeys but also anti-choice robots! So much for justice aside from political and religious feelings. 2024 will be the decision point as to whether America turns to restoring democracy, fairness and true respect for the rule of law at the state level even in some marginally red states as well as the federal level! To do so please help out nonpartisan voter registration of younger voters and 18-30 young women by spectacular Harvard students trying to run effective drives in 2,700 high schools and colleges-- please go to www.turnup.us and contribute! Thanks
I read that there are several precedents where Alito sided with the FDA in other matters before the court. Hope this is a goid sign fwiw.