Hurricane Stasi Makes Landfall on Lonestar State
Reminiscent of the communist secret police, the Stasi, of East Germany whose role, of surveillance of private citizens and officials, threatens not only Roe v. Wade, but the foundations of democracy
Sep 10, 2021 | Alan B. Covey — Hovering over the Great State of Texas like an incoming hurricane, the specter of an 8.0 Communist-style brainwave storm threatens to engulf the values of our Constitution, our liberty, our freedom, even the rights of the majority of our population women and their right to be their own architects of their own destiny, And to what end? Is this to ensure the safety of pre-born helpless children, or an excuse to usher in a new era of hatred and control in the name of profit and barbarism?
And what about after birth? Do any of these self-anointed birthers ever create legislation to care for the unwanted ones. Or, is that even an after thought? Like the Coronavirus, could it threaten the foundations of the values our country holds so dear? It's time to wake up, hold our heads high, and get ready to armor ourselves, lest we become the instruments of our own elimination.
Reminiscent of the communist-era secret police, the Stasi, of East Germany whose role, in part was, domestic political surveillance of private citizens and officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law, SB 8, enabling private citizens to prove any person “aiding and abetting” an abortion past six weeks of pregnancy, will be awarded $10,000, including attorney fees.. The reward will be provided by the person caught. The new law swept into effect September 1 of this year. As soon as midnight Wednesday, September 4, the Supreme Court refused to block SB 8 by a 5-4 vote, citing “complex and novel” procedural questions. The decision effectively overturned Roe v. Wade to ban abortions before viability, directly affronting a precedent that has existed for nearly the last half century.
While fetal heartbeats can be detected as soon as six weeks into a pregnancy, most women are unaware they’re pregnant within six weeks of being impregnated. Approximately 85-90 percent of people who get abortions in Texas are at least six weeks into pregnancy, the Center for Reproductive Rights reported.
Chief Justice John Roberts noted in dissent, the matter was “not only unusual, but unprecedented.” In fact, no state has ever before tried to get around the Constitution by actually “deputizing private parties to carry out unconstitutional restrictions on the state’s behalf,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott | AP
SB 8 does not allow government officials to prosecute, rather it allows private citizens to sue. The bill does not permit lawsuits against persons “on whom an abortion is performed or induced,” and the law apparently does not envision the possibility of the patient terminating her own pregnancy using abortion pills easily obtainable over the internet. Would pregnant women begin to other more archaic and antiquated methods (e.g. a wire coat hanger, falling down stairs, ingesting dangerous chemicals Is this still America, the beautiful. Or is it now, the Stasi States of America ?
Word of warning: Obtaining abortion pills online, or even shipping them into Texas from another state violates other state laws. And any resident of Texas who terminates their pregnancy utilizing this or other restrictions open themselves up to civil and criminal liability. Further, Insurance companies are barred for reimbursing or providing resources for the costs of an abortion under already existing state laws.
Indeed, this exemption appears broad enough to prevent litigation against patients who self-terminate or suffer miscarriages. However, doctors, friends, and family may fall under suspicion for aiding or “abetting” the end of a pregnancy.
Word of warning: Obtaining abortion pills online, or even shipping them into Texas from another state violates other state laws. And any resident of Texas who terminates their pregnancy utilizing this or other restrictions open themselves up to civil and criminal liability. Further, Insurance companies are barred for reimbursing or providing resources for the costs of an abortion under already existing state laws.
So, am I to assume that if your son, daughter, or even husband has knowledge or even suspect their mother or wife may be contemplating having an abortion past that six week pregnancy, they may be fined and possibly even jailed? How far can this go? Is this only the prologue to more invasive laws? Do we need to worry that one day we will answer the door, and standing there will be a man in a brown shirt like the Stasi SS there to arrest you? One can picture bounty hunters who stalk and spy on pregnant women and their private medical decisions.