Legalizing abortion state by state meant that people with the money for the airfare and the procedure could get abortions, but people with limited means effectively could not.

And of course, it's the same thing again now, as states un-legalize it.

This is consistent with what some of the Supremes have been saying about Roe v. Wade - that it was too much, too soon and should have been played out on a state by state basis. That it would have been less polarizing that way.

Yeah, I saw that. And the person mentioning it was like "and I'm sure racists would've preferred slavery ended in a more gradual way, but that doesn't mean it would be RIGHT...why pander to assholes who will be angry at some point no matter what?"

Seriously. I think the stalwart bigots are going to be frothing at the mouth over being thwarted in any way, up to and including not being able to have whoever they want arrested for "rubbing deviant lifestyles in their faces" by holding hands and whatnot. Instead of appeasing them, hand them their asses in court and then let them spend all their energy in a losing battle to undo it through legislation when public opinion is rapidly tilting in favor of equal rights and right-wing candidates are losing votes over the issue.

"and I'm sure racists would've preferred slavery ended in a more gradual way, but that doesn't mean it would be RIGHT...why pander to assholes who will be angry at some point no matter what?"

That's pretty much what came to mind--if it's a right (and thusly important), how tenable is waiting? Would I rather be a free person and racists are really pissed, than a slave and racists are kinda pissed? I'm only gonna go one way on that, really.

Of course, there were decades of agitating for the end of slavery before it actually happened. And don't forget that Lincoln thought (at one time) that the best idea was just to get rid of the black people in America altogether.

NY Times graphic on the various outcomes from the two marriage equality cases: [link]

That's pretty much what came to mind--if it's a right (and thusly important), how tenable is waiting? Would I rather be a free person and racists are really pissed, than a slave and racists are kinda pissed? I'm only gonna go one way on that, really.

Yeah, there's really only that one way to go there.

afternoon malaise is setting in, so I am online shoes window shopping:

grabby hands, want

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Related to shopping, do you people have opinions about the best way to use credit card/bank points? I feel like most rewards are about the same value per point, except for occasional sales. Mostly right now I'm trying to decide between cashing in the medium amount of points I have for a Lands' End (or similar) gift certificate (money I would probably spend anyway, at some point), or save it until it's enough for a plane ticket (also probably money I would spend anyway).

Strategies?? I have both Citi Thank You and Discover rewards.

there were decades of agitating for the end of slavery before it actually happened

How would that affect my answer? How would it affect the commitment with which I as an ally would agitate for right now? Trying to talk someone into equality later is a sucker's bet.

I just got thrown under the bus by the incompetent developer and had everyone in management drill home that we're lowering expectations even further, so please stop driving improvements to completion, the developers don't like it, and management is confused.

Hearing that from boss and manager at the same time, all the while manager doesn't explain she was part of the meetings whose conclusions were being questioned...depressing as fuck. I'm curious about what I'll actually say in my one on one with her tomorrow.