Let me begin with a personal statement. In general, I would like to believe that most women who experience an unwanted pregnancy would choose to cherish the life their unborn babies. However, I am an avid supporter of every woman’s right to make choices about her mental and physical health. No man should be allowed to prevent a woman’s Constitutional right to have control over her own body.

Secondly, abortion and same-sex marriage would not be political issues if the Christian religious right was not in control of an entire major party. No one in our government appears to notice that allowing a single religion to interfere in the governing process is a direct violation of the first amendment of the Constitution.

Now for a fact the right-wing does not want you to know. Planned Parenthood’s purpose is not providing abortions for women. Planned Parenthood is a ‘reproductive health’ organization. They serve men and women with low-cost medical advice and assistance.

With the passing of the Hyde Amendment in 1976, federal funds received by Planned Parenthood are prevented from being used for abortions unless the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Only private donation are used to offer abortions to women who seek the end of an unwanted pregnancy.

The truth is that Planned Parenthood is crucial to the health of millions of low-income and impoverished women across America.

Under orders from the Christian religious right Republican politicians continue to make attempts to remove all funding from Planned Parenthood. This is another example of the truth; the right-wing continues to wage a war against women. All women are considered second, and even third class citizens by the Republican Party.

It is beyond my comprehension to understand why any woman in America would vote for a Republican candidate. I am 73 years old and have considered myself a feminist since my teenage years. The United States is the most backwards nation in the developed world. It’s years past the time when women should have become equal to men in every way imaginable. Now is the time for the old, white men in our government to cease their control over women. Whether the subject is domestic violence, equal pay for equal work, or reproductive health, our nation’s women will be taking control of their futures, and will no longer ask congress to do the right thing and protect their Constitutional rights.

Women continue to dominate America’s population, and if they vote in unison, they cannot be defeated.

Stand with women and remove all Republicans from office.

Op-ed by James Turnage

“The Truth Lives Here”

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