The Truth About SB1 (SB5)

SB1 (originally SB5) has been called the "Abortion Bill", the "Pro Life Bill", and a "trampling of women's rights". Its been hailed by the pro-life advocates and booed by the pro-choice advocates, but often without knowledge of what the bill truly does. 

SB1 is not truly pro-life or pro-choice in its wording. While the intent was obviously pro-life, the bill itself really is not. It requires abortion clinics to upgrade their facilities and services and bans abortions after 20 weeks, no more. It does not actively shut down clinics nor does it truly infringe upon a woman's ability to get an abortion. Many clinics that would get shut down right now have over a year to comply with the bill, ample time to gather the money to upgrade. 

Additionally, the rules set down are by no means new. Europe, which is often hailed as more liberal and progressive than America, has restrictions that are often even more restrictive than SB1's. In many countries in Europe, abortions must be performed in hospital grade clinics and abortions are banned after 15 or even 10 weeks. 

Thus, at its core, SB1 is not truly pro-life or anti-abortion. It is merely an exercise in the state's right to limit and control abortion, per the guidelines established in Roe vs. Wade. 

On Republics

A republic is NOT a democracy. In a democracy, the people vote directly on laws. For countries with large and diverse populations, democracy is all but impossible. Thus, another form of popular government is needed.

Republics, also called representative democracies (there are actually differences between two, however, discussion of those is reserved for a dedicated politics class), are a solution for countries with large bodies of people. In a republic, the people elect other people to represent them, who then make and vote upon laws. If your representative does not act how you wish, you vote against them the next elective term. However, if the majority of the people in your district like the actions of the representative, then consider yourself outvoted, and live with the fact that the democracy of elections has left you the minority.

America, believe it or not, is a Republic. The states in the union are Republics. There is no democracy in America, as such a system would not work with the large populace. Americans are called to live in and act in a Republic, and any claims that a process is not democratic or honoring democracy are unfounded, as America should NOT support democracy, because it is not one.