Readers dismayed that Roe v. Wade may fall
Most letter writers would be opposed if the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion:
Wake up, Democrats
As a progressive, I see a very significant silver lining in the Supreme Court’s apparent intention to strike down Roe v. Wade. It might just wake up and motivate a slumbering Democratic Party electorate who would otherwise sit out the next election and allow Republicans to take back Congress. Watching the right-wing court strip women of their right to control their own bodies should convince Democrats that elections do matter.
The only way to stop Republicans from dragging this country back into the dark ages is to go to the polls and elect representatives who will not only change the Supreme Court, but will work for the people rather than just corporations and right-wing interest groups. The ballot box is the last and best chance to resist those forces who wish to crush hope and progress in our troubled country.
Arlen Grossman, Monterey
Offer safe abortions
I will begin my master’s in nurse midwifery in the fall, and I feel so grateful to be in a position to support the reproductive choices of women in a political environment that seems to be intent on suppressing female autonomy.
Despite what the Supreme Courts opinion might be, I know that my fellow midwives at UCSF are pushing to be taught how to provide safe, effective abortion treatment to all people no matter their circumstance as part of our medical education. I would call on all nurse midwifery students who would like to improve their patients’ access to reproductive health care services, especially abortion care, to work collectively in order to ensure that their training includes abortion care.
Shanda Manion, San Francisco
Add more justices
Regarding “How Roe v. Wades fall would create a public health crisis in California” (sfchronicle.com, May 3): Overturning Roe v. Wade would be a public health disaster for all of America, not just California. It is vital that this fact is not lost.
Some studies show that making abortions illegal does not reduce the number of abortions performed; it reduces the number of legal and safe abortions. The United States already has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country. If this opinion becomes of the law of the land, this number will certainly go up.
As a nursing student, I agree that California must do everything in its power to enshrine the right to abortions in the state and make them more accessible. However, that simply isn’t enough. As a nationwide public health disaster, it must be treated as such and we must take drastic measures to respond to it.
As a former attorney, it has become clear that we cannot rely on the current Supreme Court to uphold the law. Accordingly, President Biden and the Democratic controlled Senate must pack the court in order to right this grave injustice and public health disaster.
Justin Biddle, San Francisco
Ditch Electoral College
It is worth remembering that if the presidency was decided by the popular vote, Samuel Alito, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney-Barrett would most likely not be justices on the Supreme Court.
After Congress restores the right to abortion, the next big job should be to amend the Constitution to eliminate the Electoral College so that the votes of all citizens in the 50 states are the results that put a president in office. And, yes, I purposely used 50 rather than “united” because on issues of abortion, privacy and voting rights, this country is most definitely not united.
Charlotte Seekamp, South San Francisco
Love all children
The chant about women’s bodies belonging to themselves distracts us from that main issue, which is that every child born deserves to be wanted.
Melinda Lassman, Oakland