While I agree with Robin and Allyson that we're due for a swing back in the other direction, and I think that's the most likely outcome (though who knows whether that swing will come in 1, 5, or 10 years), I

But in all fairness, the changes in this country that occured after McCarthyism didn't come about from liberal handwringing while blogging on their asses, it was the result of pretty hardcore activism. People died, were murdered, and beaten while fighting for civil rights.

And i wonder if people will do the same for abortion rights. I wonder if I'll get off my ass and risk the dogs and the hoses for abortion rights. I hope I have that within me. I'm not sure.

The problem with abortion is, I don't think Roe actually will be overturned, because they've won too effectively for too many people already, so they don't have to make that big deal, giving pro-choicers something to organize around. Abortion isn't all that available in this country, thanks to terrorists, and state and local regulations, and medical schools being lame.

Meanwhile, tax policy of this country seems to be swinging back to the 1890s....

Jesse, you've sort of nailed something for me that Kat has spoken about before, and I've come to appreciate.

I live in California, and before that, I lived in Massachusetts. I knew exactly where I could get birth control and/or an abortion, and it didn't seem to be much of a big deal at all. I really do believe there are two Americas, and I've lived in the free states, and so my understanding of "how things really are" in terms of reproductive rights in the US is skewed by that experience.

I remember there used to be a woman who flew her own plane around I forget where -- Dakotas? -- because she was literally the only doctor for hundreds of miles who was willing to provide abortions. And I think she either retired or died a few years ago (she was old). I think the urban/rural divide is even more important than the "red state"/"blue state" thing when it comes down to access.

I live in California, and before that, I lived in Massachusetts. I knew exactly where I could get birth control and/or an abortion, and it didn't seem to be much of a big deal at all.

You've also lived near large cities, if memory serves. So do I, and I know precisely where I need to go. However, some women in the same state as me, the state I used to consider a "free state", have to drive over 5 hours to find the nearest abortion clinic. Women in Duluth and the Iron Range - the northern part of the state - have nowhere near them since the Duluth Clinic was forced to close. And now we have a mandatory 24-hour waiting period where the woman has to come into the clinic, get the informational pamphlets and the beejesus scared out of her by some trumped-up report that links abortion and breast cancer, and then has to come back the next day for the procedure. A lot of women can't afford that, and so a little more gets chipped away....

ETA: Or, what Jesse said.

IMPORTANT QUESTION!!!

A co-worker is jonesing for a Jamiacan Beef patty. As HR person, I feel I should do what I can to help the poor dude. Anyone know where one can get good restaurant or frozen ones in LA?

I think the urban/rural divide is even more important than the "red state"/"blue state" thing when it comes down to access.

This is true in my state, at least. The local weekly occasionally runs stories on the lack of abortion providers outside of the I-5 corridor.

Anyway, this year I'm more concerned about people who think torturing prisoners is OK.

I know nothing about beef patties in LA, Robin, sorry.

Probably not coincidentally, there's a recipe in today's NYT: [link]