AUGUST 1, 2012

 

     We noted recently that the U.S. House of Representatives was to vote on a bill to ban late-term abortions in the District of Columbia. They did vote and the bill, which would have banned abortion in the District except to save the life of the mother after twenty weeks of pregnancy, won 220—154.  But, this beingWashington, that means it lost.  Under House rules it needed a  two-thirds majority to pass under the suspension of normal rules in effect at the time.

    Nobody said House rules were simple.

    We have two good issues here, and anyone can argue either side of either one.  Abortion?  My own feeling has always been, if you don't approve of it, don't have one.  Lots of people, for religious or other reasons, don't.  They certainly have every right to follow their convictions.

    On the other hand, I see no reason why 435 visitors (Congress, that is) can decide this issue and the people like me who live here have no voice, no vote, in a decision which basically affects only us.  Seems perfectly undemocratic to me.

Freedom for DC! Now there's a slogan.