then now then

If you love a broken record, if you love a step back in time, if you love a division of freedoms, if you love less government to keep the air clean, less money for education, no safety net, but prefer BIG government to set the standard for your moral behavior, you will love to have the Republican/Tea Party politicians lead this country. If you hate the divide between church and state, forgot the struggles to achieve equality, embrace the quote that separate but equal is fair then you will salivate at the chance for the Republican/Tea Party politicians to gain the majority in this nation come November.

NOW "I believe and I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created - in the sense of rape - but nevertheless a gift in a broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given you. As you know, we have to, in lots of different aspects of our life. We have horrible things happen. I can't think of anything more horrible. But, nevertheless, we have to make the best out of a bad situation." Rick Santorum, candidate for the office of President representing the Republican/Tea Party January 25, 2012.

THEN Several centuries ago, many practicing Christians, and those of other religions, had a strong belief that the Devil could give certain people known as witches the power to harm others in return for their loyalty. A "witchcraft craze" rippled through Europe from the 1300s to the end of the 1600s. Tens of thousands of supposed witches—mostly women—were executed.

NOW A Republican supermajority has muscled two of the most restrictive anti-abortion bills in years through the Virginia House, including one that would all but outlaw the procedure in the state by declaring that the rights of persons apply from the moment sperm and egg unite.

The ultrasound legislation would constitute an unprecedented government mandate to insert vaginal ultrasonic probes into women as part of a state-ordered effort to dissuade them from terminating pregnancies, legislative opponents noted.

"We're talking about inside a woman's body," Del. Charnielle Herring, a Democrat, said in an emotional floor speech. "This is the first time, if we pass this bill, that we will be dictating a medical procedure to a physician." (NPR)

THEN In 1973, the Supreme Court heard two cases dealing with the issue of abortion. Roe v. Wade was the big one, and they ruled that a Texas statute forbidding abortion except when necessary to save the life of the woman was unconstitutional. But, they did also rule that states could restrict abortions in the second trimester, and outlaw it in the third.

Many arguments ensued against this decision: 1.For women who demand complete control of their body, control should include preventing the risk of unwanted pregnancy through the responsible use of contraception or, if that is not possible, through abstinence. 2.Those who choose abortions are often minors or young women with insufficient life experience to understand fully what they are doing. 3. Many have lifelong regrets afterwards. Abortion frequently causes intense psychological pain and stress. 4.In the instance of rape and incest, proper medical care can ensure that a woman will not get pregnant. Abortion punishes the unborn child who committed no crime; instead, it is the perpetrator who should be punished.

NOW Conservatives said Sunday the flap surrounding President Barack Obama's birth control mandate was far from over, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell saying he'll push to overturn the requirement because it was another example of government meddling.

"It's riddled with constitutional problems," McConnell said of Obama's broader health-care plan. "And this is what happens when the government tries to take over health care and tries to interfere with your religious beliefs."

There's no compromise here," said GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, a Catholic and favorite among religious conservatives. "They are forcing religious organizations, either directly or indirectly, to pay for something that they find is a deeply, morally, you know, wrong thing. And this is not what the government should be doing." (Huff Post Politics)

THEN The argument against suffrage: Suffrage is not a right. It is a privilege that may or may not be granted. Politics is no place for a women consequently the privilege should not be granted to her.

The mother's influence is needed in the home. She can do little good by gadding the streets and neglecting her children. Let her teach her daughters that modesty, patience, and gentleness are the charms of a women. Let her teach her sons that an honest conscience is every man's first political law; that no splendor can rob him nor no force justify the surrender of the simplest right of a free and independent citizen. The mothers of this country can shape the destinies of the nation by keeping in their places and attending to those duties that God Almighty intended for them. The kindly, gentle influence of the mother in the home and the dignified influence of the teacher in the school will far outweigh all the influence of all the mannish female politicians on earth. (learn california)

Now Women seem to be the current demographic who need Big Government to control their lives. Once again from the mouths of the characters who swear government is too big when it comes to health care, taxes, employment, regulations for corporations is ready to enlarge its grip on the lives of women. The crusade against women having any to all control of their own bodies is led of course by men but sadly enforced by other women who love to be a subservient to their male masters. It is the intent of God, of course as to why this legion of woman hating Republican/Tea Party goons pursue this mission. Those who cast the first stone are pure and full of moral superiority, until their own closets are opened and reveal depravity, greed, and gluttony.

We have gone through the restrictions on women’s rights throughout our American history to find that the only purpose was to deny the rights of our Constitution for fair and equal. We are constantly harangued about a war on religious freedom, yet it is religion that restricts the rights of the citizens of this nation.

Then we witnessed terrible prosecutions, scapegoating, victimizing and religious zealots trying to redefine our Constitution as it related to women Now we find some individuals who believe that God, their God, the one who hates more then loves, excludes more than includes is the definer of all things American. And now, as it was then we see the possibility of ignorance, arrogance idiots and fools trying to change the core and foundation of this nation.

When do we learn that history should never, ever repeat itself? When? Why does Now seem more like Then?