Anti-abortion policies about more than reproductive rights

During a recent interview, Bernie Sanders said that abortion is an important issue, but that Democrats are placing too much focus on it. He is right that Democrats need to also push back on the GOP regarding their poor record on crime and economic issues, like wealth inequality.  However, I think he (and Democrats as a whole) is missing the big picture. 

 

The GOP anti-abortion position involves more than reproductive rights; it is about government imposing religious beliefs on the citizenry through the force of law or the establishment of a theocracy. For years, the GOP has been flirting with doing just this by pushing on constitutional limits regarding religion. They banned same sex marriage, fought against gay rights and supported teaching creationism and allowing prayer in public schools.  Furthermore, GOP leaders have defended placing religious symbols on public property, denounced the separation between church and state and fought to publicly fund faith-based organizations and religious schools.  A recent poll found that 61 percent of Republicans support designating the U.S. a Christian nation, while acknowledging that doing so is unconstitutional. 

 

Stripping away reproductive rights is only the beginning of a GOP long game. Even conservative Republicans in Kansas recognized this when they rejected changing their State Constitution. Iran presents us with a real world example of where theocracies take societies.  Ron DeSantis justified the creation of an election police force in Florida following Trump’s loss.  Is it really such a stretch to think that GOP wins this year and beyond could lead to the creation of a national morality police force?  We voters must reject any attempt to merge religion and government and those who pursue it.

 

Joseph Cannisi