As politicians go…(II)

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, November 18th, 2016 - 7 comments
Categories: abortion, International, political alternatives, Social issues, uk politics, us politics - Tags: , ,

In a world where the radical centre is being handed back to itself on a plate in election after election, we either progress from that point or we regress. Our choice.

On the one path there is the likes of Donald Trump, who during a recent ’60 Minutes’ interview signaled his intent to bring the US in line with Eire and Northern Ireland by overturning US abortion legislation.

On the other sits the likes of Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who has signaled how she intends to explore the devolved powers around the National Health Service in Scotland to ensure that women from Northern Ireland can access abortion for free.

Transcripted segment of the 60 Minutes interview from the first link in the post.

LESLEY STAHL (HOST): During the campaign, you said that you would appoint justices who were against abortion rights. Will you appoint– are you looking to appoint a justice who wants to overturn Roe v. Wade?

DONALD TRUMP: So, here’s what’s going to happen– I’m going to– I’m pro-life. The judges will be pro-life. They’ll be very much–

STAHL: But what about overturning this law —

TRUMP: Well, there are a couple of things. They’ll be pro-life, they’ll be, in terms of the whole gun situation, we know the Second Amendment and everybody’s talking about the Second Amendment and they’re trying to dice it up and change it, they’re going to be very pro-Second Amendment. But having to do with abortion, if it ever were overturned, it would go back to the states. So it would go back to the states and then the states–

STAHL: But then some women won’t be able to get an abortion?

TRUMP: No, it’ll go back to the states.

STAHL: By state. No some —

TRUMP: Yeah. Yeah, well, they’ll perhaps have to go, they’ll have to go to another state.

STAHL: And that’s OK?

TRUMP: Well, we’ll see what happens. It’s got a long way to go, just so you understand. That has a long, long way to go. [CBS, 60 Minutes, 11/13/16]

And Nicola Sturgeon quoted from the second link in the post –

“I am happy to explore with the NHS what the situation is now in terms of the ability of women from Northern Ireland to access safe and legal abortion in NHS Scotland and whether any improvements can be made. Like Patrick Harvie, (leader of the Scottish Green Party) I believe that women should have the right to choose, within the limits that are currently set down in law, and that that right should be defended. When a woman opts to have an abortion – I stress that that is never, ever an easy decision for any woman – the procedure should be available in a safe and legal way.”

7 comments on “As politicians go…(II) ”

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  1. Karen 1
    18 November 2016 at 11:51 am

    Irish women have been going to England and Scotland for abortions for generations. Great they can now access the NHS in Scotland as up until now they have had to go private.

  2. Siobhan 2
    18 November 2016 at 12:20 pm

    Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba!!

  3. mary_a 3
    18 November 2016 at 1:40 pm

    This proves there are leaders and then there are LEADERS! Trump falls into the former category.

    Trump in usual form contradicts himself. He states he’s pro life, while at the same time 100% supports the second amendment … the right to bear arms, as well as the NRA and is quite happy to bomb “the crap” out of ISIS anyway he can, obviously without a thought for the resulting collateral damage!

    Trump pro life? I don’t think so!

    And to think Americans voted for this man to be their next president! Give me strength!

    • In Vino 3.1
      18 November 2016 at 8:15 pm

      This has always been the great contradiction of Christianity: Love your enemy, turn the other cheek – versus – Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition… Trump is obviously in the latter category.

  4. greywarshark 4
    18 November 2016 at 1:47 pm

    Scotland and Ireland have had common histories in the past, Gaelic etc.
    So good for women in Eire if they can forge a new relationship with Scots so they have fertility rights.

    I remember an Irish film made in early birth pill days. One family had a problem of limiting births that happened every 18 months. The father confided to a friend that he had obtained some birth control pills. The friend queried about the mother and how they suited her but the father declared he was taking them himself to make sure they did the job.

    The women who want access to them have recently been using drones to fly them over the border. Back in 20th century feminist days they would stand near the Eire-Northern Ireland barrier where customs dwelt, and toss them over the top to the waiting women on the other side. People move very slowly to make intelligent changes despite obvious value even necessity. Now Trump appeals to emotion and siding with the strident, self-righteous and oppressive in society. We have such people mounting a continuing street protest against abortion in Thames, and the law apparently cannot interfere to stop them harrassing others and denying their personal freedom to choose. But they can decide to not have patch-wearers moved from a whole town.

    • Rocco Siffredi 4.1
      18 November 2016 at 3:35 pm

      “Scotland and Ireland have had common histories in the past”

      Didn’t that common history consist of a lot of Scots colonists taking over Northern Ireland? The Plantation of Ulster and all that? Protestants offering abortions to Catholic girls does seem an odd way to forge a new relationship.

      “I remember an Irish film made in early birth pill days. One family had a problem of limiting births that happened every 18 months. The father confided to a friend that he had obtained some birth control pills. The friend queried about the mother and how they suited her but the father declared he was taking them himself to make sure they did the job.”

      No irony in Ireland having some of the largest plants producing both Viagra and oral contraceptives?

      “The women who want access to them have recently been using drones to fly them over the border. ”

      Why on earth would they need a drone?! You just drive, or walk, or cycle, or take a train. The only change is the road signs changing from miles to km/hr.

  5. greywarshark 5
    18 November 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Don’t know Rocco but I saw the piece about drones and thought it quite droll.
    But I won’t put anything more about Ireland up because you will be able to supply all the information that anybody would want to know, or not.

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