Young Women Need To Rise Up
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| Also listed in: Democratic Women |
If there ever was an example of why young women needed to vote, it could be found in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, passed prior to the Democrats taking back the majority in Congress. This Act included a provision that has been detrimental to women's health. It ended the ability of pharmaceutical companies to sell contraceptives at very reduced cost to college clinics and other clinics that were used by low-income women. As such, since the enactment of this provision, the price for birth control sold at these clinics has risen astronomically.
Fortunately, Democrats in both the House and Senate have introduced legislation to reverse this insidious attempt by the former Republican Congress to control the reproductive health of young women. The "Prevention Through Affordable Access Act" (H.R.4054 and S.2347) will restore the ability of pharmaceutical companies to sell contraceptives to clinics at a discount, thereby giving young women the opportunity again to protect their health.
The Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress have been systematically limiting women's rights to privacy and self determination by slipping in restrictions such as this one to the Deficit Reduction Act, in addition to enactment of the Global Gag Rule which prohibits distribution of family planning funds to clinics located outside the United States that provide abortion services.
Many other examples of women's rights being obstructed or denied by the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans have been written about in previous blog entries, and should convince every woman about the importance of her vote. In particular, by voting for a Democratic President, we will not have to fear that the hard fought freedoms secured by our fore mothers will be in jeopardy any longer.
By voting Democratic we will see appointees to the Supreme Court and Federal Courts that will respect precedent and hold steady to the rights recognized in Roe v. Wade. We will see rulings that do not dismantle laws designed to protect us from pay discrimination and we will reverse the harm done by the recent Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
Young women have the power to change the disastrous course charted by the Bush Administration simply by voting. By doing so, young women empower not only themselves, but the generations that follow them into the heart of the 21st Century.
Fortunately, Democrats in both the House and Senate have introduced legislation to reverse this insidious attempt by the former Republican Congress to control the reproductive health of young women. The "Prevention Through Affordable Access Act" (H.R.4054 and S.2347) will restore the ability of pharmaceutical companies to sell contraceptives to clinics at a discount, thereby giving young women the opportunity again to protect their health.
The Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress have been systematically limiting women's rights to privacy and self determination by slipping in restrictions such as this one to the Deficit Reduction Act, in addition to enactment of the Global Gag Rule which prohibits distribution of family planning funds to clinics located outside the United States that provide abortion services.
Many other examples of women's rights being obstructed or denied by the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans have been written about in previous blog entries, and should convince every woman about the importance of her vote. In particular, by voting for a Democratic President, we will not have to fear that the hard fought freedoms secured by our fore mothers will be in jeopardy any longer.
By voting Democratic we will see appointees to the Supreme Court and Federal Courts that will respect precedent and hold steady to the rights recognized in Roe v. Wade. We will see rulings that do not dismantle laws designed to protect us from pay discrimination and we will reverse the harm done by the recent Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
Young women have the power to change the disastrous course charted by the Bush Administration simply by voting. By doing so, young women empower not only themselves, but the generations that follow them into the heart of the 21st Century.
Thank you for responding to my recent post. You are absolutely correct: voting is power. Our democracy is at its best when everyone who is eligible to vote does so. More young people voted in the November 2006 elections than ever before and we have to continue that trend. We must make sure that our friends and relatives, neighbors and even strangers understand the importance of their individual votes. For women in particular, who if they voted would most likely vote for Democrats, we must do everything we can to make sure they are registered and get to the polls. Try to find 8 women who are not registered and help them register to vote. Then stay in touch with them and make sure they make it to the voting booth. By reaching out, one to one, Democrats will take back the White House and increase our numbers in Congress.
ASHER HEIMERMANN / Link
Thank you for responding to my post. We are definitely seeing a wave of young people becoming more involved in elections and caring deeply about major issues such as global warming, human rights and of course ending the war in Iraq. I do believe that young people in particular are starting to truly worry about their futures and the survival of the planet. We all have a responsibility to insure that everyone who is eligible to vote does so, which means we must reach out to as many people as we can, starting with our own families and friends, and make sure they all understand the importance of the 2008 elections. Then we need to expand our range of influence and discuss the issues with our neighbors, who in turn should discuss them with their family and friends until communities all over the country are fully engaged in the democratic process. This is how we will restore our democracy and uplift the nation.
Many young women today don't have health insurance nor jobs that pay enough to purchase it. Let's not lose sight of the fact that we need to work for health care for all. Let's not relegate women's focus only to reproductive rights or health care only for children or families. Single women at any age also have a right to affordable care.
I would be very pleased to see my party broaden its agenda for women and address all the issues they're concerned about.