To the Editor:
One of the good things about being old is that I can remember when a lot of things actually happened. T, there was a time when the political parties differed on policies, but generally had the country’s welfare as a priority. Politics was not just a zero-sum game played only to maintain party power. There really was a “Reagan Revolution” when it became acceptable to be greedy and to blame the poor and increasing number of homeless for their situations, rather than tag big money and the failure of capitalism to provide for anyone except the rich and powerful.
The Democrats have their causes, but white nationalism, Christo-fascism, and denial of civil rights of women over their own bodies are not among them. Here is what the Repo senators have done in the last couple of weeks to strengthen and serve the interests of their constituents:
0% voted for cheaper gas
0% voted for cheaper insulin
0% voted for child tax credits to help out young families
0% voted for the Voting Rights Act
1% voted to fight domestic terrorism
4% voted for background checks to buy assault weapons
6% voted for more baby formula
13% voted to stop domestic violence
16% voted for veteran’s cancer care
23% voted to keep gay marriage legal
32% voted to uphold the 2020 election
Why does the party that vehemently proclaims their patriotism and reverence for the constitution and flag also make it difficult for people to vote when there is no legally-supported evidence of elections abuse? Why would they vote against supporting our veterans In need? Why would the party that claims to stand for the “average American” and “the little guy” work so hard to prevent working people from having union representation in the workplace?
Why do so many Republicans support authoritarian Russia and vote against aid to democratic Ukraine? Why do Tucker Carlson and other conservatives celebrate an autocrat and fascist like Viktor Orban when he’s openly endorsed Russia in its conflict with Europe and Ukraine.
Why do they constantly try to reduce taxes on the insanely wealthy while throwing the smallest of bones to average working people and saving the debt for our children? And why is that acceptable to so many Republicans?
Kelly Scoles
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Kelly Scoles wrote on June 30, "Last week, as anticipated, SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, deciding on a 6-3 vote that women's reproductive rights are not HERS but belong to States' law enforcement." Kelly thinks that abortion is a woman's reproductive right. I assume that she agrees with those who say, "my body, my choice." This raises the question: Is the fetus simply part of the woman's body? Have you ever heard of one part of a woman's body having a blood type different from that of the rest of her body? Yet an unborn child often has a blood type different from her mother's. Within a short time, she also has her own beating heart. Have you ever heard of a woman's body having two beating hearts (and also two heads)?
Kelly also stated sarcastically, "control of a zygot or fetus is far more important than the freedom of the woman ..." The little fetus is a human being with her own heart, her own blood, and her own body. Shouldn't she have the freedom to grow up to be a woman like her mother did? Is her life any less important than her mother's? The Supreme Court didn't say that women don't have freedom, including reproductive freedom. What the court said is that the Constitution doesn't give women the right to kill their unbornbabies.
Sadly, many women buy into the lie, "my body, my choice. "However, abortion is murder because it intentionally takes the life of another human being. All murder, including abortion, is against God's law. David writes in Psalm 139:13-14,"You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." And God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." God gives life, beginning in our mother's womb. We have no right to take it.
Mary Bennett,
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
The discussion of the end of Roe v Wade has quieted down these last few days, as many protests against the decision by an ideological group do. I have no doubt as situations occur some will come out in protest again.
The query by Ms. Scoles was, “Why do so many conservative politicians rail against government interference in our lives ...?”. While she was directing her question to “woman’s healthcare”, I think the question should not be directed only to “conservative” politicians, as it seems to be a bipartisan problem. Government has a habit of interfering in virtually every aspect of our lives.
The federal government has stepped into areas which in the past were under states control - education, healthcare, welfare, as well as law enforcement. In 2021, many were forced to take an experimental vaccine in order to attend school or hold down a job. Many, like Fauci and Biden who have had the preferred four shots, still were not protected. Even when taking Paxlovid, each relapsed.
Our Constitution gave us guidelines granting us the freedom to live our lives as we see fit. It doesn’t care which party is in power. The Founders understood each would seek to push their interests at the expense of our liberty. It set out specific checks and balances for the three branches of government, and each branch was given specific powers under which it must operate thereby limiting overreach by another. Each state then has its own constitution which cannot pass any law that violates the U.S. Constitution.
The representatives in California, the majority being Democrats, are quite progressive. There are 11 bills passed or before the legislature relating to reproductive rights. Over $200 million for those rights are set out in this year’s budget. Most is going to abortion clinics, little, if any to provide support to pregnancy centers that help women and girls who chose to have their child.
Why do Democrats want to pass laws that allow for the killing of a fetus yet don’t support the death penalty for those who are convicted of murder?
Patti Walker
Fillmore