Indiana: Home of Scare Tactics and Questionable Science

Now, I enjoy an unfounded and controversial scientific theory as much as the next person, but this is just a little ridiculous:

Indiana Bill Would Force Doctors To Tell Woman That Having An Abortion Could Lead To Breast Cancer

Now, let's all be honest here: America may be many things (Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, Birthplace of Carrot Top, etc.), but one thing that America prides itself on is that it is NOT above using any means necessary to push through its own political agendas.  For example, take this nonsense in Wisconsin: the only way that the Republicans were able to push their own political agenda through and take most collective bargaining rights away from the unions, was to find a tiny loophole in their bylaws that would allow them to have a vote WITHOUT having to wait for the Democrats, who were still M.I.A. at this point.  That's a pretty handy loophole to have in place, but I guess I wonder why it was never used before or even brought up before this moment.  Hmm...

But I digress.  Requiring doctors to inform women that abortions could lead to breast cancer is going to prove to be an ineffective mandate, mostly because we are a nation of people who really don't put much stock in health and safety warnings, particularly when we really want/need to do the thing we're being warned about.  Let me put it this way: I smoke 1-2 packs of Camel Lights a day (I'm sorry, Camel BLUES...apparently the name was changed so people wouldn't think that smoking lights was healthier than smoking regulars, which is an entirely new level of stupidity altogether), and I am well aware that smoking causes cancer, and it's bad for you, and Satan will come and rape my soul if I light even one more cigarette.  However, I really don't give a shit, because if I want a smoke, you bet your ass I'm going to have one.  I could be the healthiest person on the planet, and get hit by a bus one day.  At least this way, I get to pick my death.

When it comes to abortion, the threat of cancer is not going to be a huge deterrent, especially since it seems that EVERYTHING causes cancer these days.  However, I have a suggestion for Indiana: do you know why a lot of my friends have quit smoking?  It has nothing to do with the health risks or social stigma...we live in Chicago, which is in Cook County, IL, and a pack of cigarettes costs (on average) $9.00 A PACK after taxes.  No one can afford that!  You want to push your agenda through and effectively brand "Property of Indiana" on every woman's uterus?  Stop throwing mediocre facts and scare tactics at society, and do what Republicans do best: tax the shit out of everyone.

However, an even better idea is this: stop passing laws regarding my uterus, because I'm pretty sure my uterus isn't legally allowed to vote, so I'm pretty sure you can't make a law about if it doesn't have a political voice.  And for the record, conservative Republicans and right-wing assholes like this are a prime example of why we NEED to keep abortion legal and available.  Think about it.

~Andrea