The Lesson of Roe v Wade
The American democratic system, at its best conception, was setup to give people the freedom to make choices at the level where the effects and impacts of the choice are felt the most: individual, town, county, state, or federal. What Roe vs Wade exposes is that these geographic boundaries are sometimes insufficient. Especially when dealing with issues of culture and social structure. That is, sometimes an issue only impacts a specific group of people.
Abortion is a female issue. Men might have an interest, a concern, but men will always have the option to walk away from the impacts of a pregnancy; even to accept legal punishment instead. Women do not have the option to walk away from the impacts of a pregnancy, thus they must be free to make choices. Since, even among women, it is still a contentious issue, it cannot be left to the individual.
A functioning democracy must be able to decide at what geographic level a choice should be made, such as individual, state, or federal. But a democracy must also be able to determine if the choice should be made by a specific group. I will not pretend to know if abortion is best decided at the state or federal level, but I am clear on the understanding that it is a female issue that should be decided by biological women* alone. This is the next step in the evolution of our nation, and our democracy.
We started where women had no rights at all. Slowly we evolved to where a woman can own property, vote in a general election, have legal equality (their signature and voice are equal to that of a man in a court of law), and hold public office, but only as individuals. Now, through an issue that only impacts women, we are being challenged to recognize women as a distinct legal group within our democracy.
The thalweg of evolution is increasing efficiency. Our democracy has been floundering. Corruption has eroded away at our democratic efficiency to the point where we are indeed, at an existential crisis. The river that is the evolution of our society has become still and stagnant. Our democracy must adapt or die.
Maciolekism 