"...they talk about sluts who need to be taught a lesson about personal responsibility and face the consequences of their actions..."
I've said this before but it bears repeating. If any of those people had to read The Scarlet Letter in school they would have been sure that the townspeople were the heroes and that the "slut" Hester Prynne deserved everything bad that happened to her.
stupid is as stupid does... when you make a culture out of being proud of being ignorant and Do YoUr 0Wn ReesUrch is considered the ultimate put down, well...
"...but the information is out there if people want it."
That's true but it requires time, effort, and education to find and be able to recognize the truth. Folks with families who work long hours don't always have the time to be politically engaged. They'll often settle on the most convenient news source (news radio on the way to work, local news). Those sources are often right-leaning if not rightwing. And if folks haven't been taught critical thinking, it's very difficult to tell the shit from the shinola.
This - and also it is difficult to have a clear picture of the situation (s) even if you are closely following it all on the news and here
I live in TX. I am Wonk. But I still have a hard time trying to remember the exact details of the laws concerning abortion in TX because - as Robyn says - the situation is nuanced. There have been so many horror stories, court cases, appeals, supreme court decisions, pronunciamentos from Greg abbott etc, that it is hard to have an exact and clear picture of what is and is not the case here concerning the gestation (6weeks), is is still illegal to drive on certain roads and if so which ones exactly, abortion is illegal in the cases of rape and incest I believe, it is still illegal to help someone - in which circumstances does that appoly exactly.
andf in the case of danger to life that is even more muddled and 'nuanced'.
Rather than blaming us dumb Texans for not knowing this in perfect datil it would be far far better to find a mechanism for publicly boiling it all down and explaining all the details and all the horrors and inconsistencies and from that a call to action - clear, precise action.
And part of their strategy is chaos and confusion. They throw so much at the wall, it's hard to keep it all straight. Which bills actually passed and what they actually say and which bills are on hold for appeals...as you say, it's hard for US to keep up and we're deeply engaged.
I also assume that most women assume since they're not dirty sluts and they're not planning on having an abortion none of this applies to them. Won't they be surprised when they find themselves in a potentially life threatening situation.
"73 percent of those surveyed incorrectly believed that abortions were still available at abortion clinics in the state. ... (24%) of survey respondents incorrectly believed that Texas had passed a law prohibiting travel to another state to get an abortion.”
Not sure about the 3% difference (probably the ever with us "don't know"s), but this kinda tracks. If abortion is thought to be still available in state, then that nearly 75% thinks TX wants to keep those tasty abortionplex dollars at home, else why would they ban leaving? Or the ~24% who know abortion isn't available in state, also know the state wants to keep abortion-seekers from leaving to get one, whether or not the state has technically banned that.
Most people, men and women, have no clue what either party stands for, and no idea what either party has done for them. Example: the majority of Americans think that Republicans are "better with the economy." If you look at the last 43 years of deficit spending, it's about 80% Republicans tax cutting our way to the poor house, and Republican wars and recessions, and bank collapses (thanks, deregulation!).
Middle class people know they're getting poorer, but they blame their downward slide on immigrants. They're clueless that shifting all the money to the 1% allows us all to have much smaller SS payment, and a whole other host of projects that will never get funded due to lack of revenue. They blame Democrats for their downward economic slide.
You know what would get a lot of people's attention and possibly move the needle, both for abortion and gun control? Showing actual uncensored footage of babies with fetal abnormalities and gunshot victims.
I've always thought we should show the aftermath of mass shootings. I remember one cop describing going into that Baptist church in Texas where 20 some odd people were murdered. He described how sick to his stomach he felt when he was sloshing through blood on the floor. Let people see that shit.
Are the women in Texas just particularly stupid? They really believe there is a special exception just for them, or if there *is* a rule it wouldn't apply to *them," right?
I think that's less of a "Texas thing" and more of a "human nature thing" where this is concerned. Other states have these laws too, and is there survey data from the other states regarding these types of questions?
In my experience though, most people think the rules won't apply to them if/when the time comes. (EDIT: Especially where conservatives are concerned.)
I live in South Carolina, and always thought my state was the stupidest state in the Union, after Alabama and Mississippi. SOOOOO many states are now way dumber than my dumb state. I'm looking at you, TX and FL.
Yeah, this syncs right up with something those of us who've worked at clinic offering abortion often see: the very people protesting against abortion in front of the clinic will suddenly see the righteousness of THEIR unwanted pregnancy (typically a man with an unwed daughter, or a mistress), and fully expect the clinic to step up. And we usually would, other than the times it was clear the pregnant person actually wanted to carry to term, which we would also support.
Abortions for me, but not for thee, is quite the common thinking on the far right.
This is essentially what you get with the post-truth environment, furthered by the right wing media human centipede. There really isn't a good answer for this.
We need to bring truth back into the media. Allowing Fox News to spew their bullshit into the minds of gullible rubes for the past 30 years has led us into our current state.
Rupert's home country wants to limit his ownership of media properties because they don't want to be like...us. They see what he's done to America, and they're like "yeah, we don't want a bunch of violent incel thugs running around shooting people, while the other half doesn't believe in vaccines or science."
I think you would find a similar percentage of the population who do not know what Trump's promise to suspend the constitution really means. They think it just means Antifa and BLM can't burn down entire cities and unqualified brown people will not be able to enslave whites. But the constitution is the source of every right Americans have. From property rights to voting rights to the right to a trial by a jury of your peers to being told what you are being charged with, and yes gun nuts, your right to own a gun. Without the constitution citizens have no rights. You can be rounded up by the military for criticizing the supreme leader, put in a detention camp indefinitely, your property confiscated, and no opportunity to defend yourself in court.
Yep. Once you've taken away one right, the rest are very easy to take away.
I'm currently reading the book Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. It's set in Dublin, just at the very start of when the country falls into totalitarianism (the book starts after the new government has taken power). In it we see the gradual erosion of people's rights/liberties. It's a great read, while at the same time it's quite scary b/c I can see this happening here in the States.
Having spent my teenage years in Dallas all I can say is: No shit Texans are unaware. Every year I see Democrats say that this year Texas is voting blue. And every election they continue to vote in Republican assholes. I have zero hope these dumasses will ever see the light.
My Southern Baptist sister and her husband who live in Dallas have been bemoaning the fact that their eldest daughter told them that she and her new husband will be moving back to the East Coast once they decide to start having kids become my niece doesn't want to risk being pregnant while living in Texas. I told her that is too fucking bad and she should welcome the consequences of voting a straight GOP ticket for the past 35 years.
Americans in general seem to hate things like thinking, learning, and generally paying attention. I'm sure it's MUCH worse in places like Texas.
"...they talk about sluts who need to be taught a lesson about personal responsibility and face the consequences of their actions..."
I've said this before but it bears repeating. If any of those people had to read The Scarlet Letter in school they would have been sure that the townspeople were the heroes and that the "slut" Hester Prynne deserved everything bad that happened to her.
stupid is as stupid does... when you make a culture out of being proud of being ignorant and Do YoUr 0Wn ReesUrch is considered the ultimate put down, well...
"...but the information is out there if people want it."
That's true but it requires time, effort, and education to find and be able to recognize the truth. Folks with families who work long hours don't always have the time to be politically engaged. They'll often settle on the most convenient news source (news radio on the way to work, local news). Those sources are often right-leaning if not rightwing. And if folks haven't been taught critical thinking, it's very difficult to tell the shit from the shinola.
This - and also it is difficult to have a clear picture of the situation (s) even if you are closely following it all on the news and here
I live in TX. I am Wonk. But I still have a hard time trying to remember the exact details of the laws concerning abortion in TX because - as Robyn says - the situation is nuanced. There have been so many horror stories, court cases, appeals, supreme court decisions, pronunciamentos from Greg abbott etc, that it is hard to have an exact and clear picture of what is and is not the case here concerning the gestation (6weeks), is is still illegal to drive on certain roads and if so which ones exactly, abortion is illegal in the cases of rape and incest I believe, it is still illegal to help someone - in which circumstances does that appoly exactly.
andf in the case of danger to life that is even more muddled and 'nuanced'.
Rather than blaming us dumb Texans for not knowing this in perfect datil it would be far far better to find a mechanism for publicly boiling it all down and explaining all the details and all the horrors and inconsistencies and from that a call to action - clear, precise action.
And part of their strategy is chaos and confusion. They throw so much at the wall, it's hard to keep it all straight. Which bills actually passed and what they actually say and which bills are on hold for appeals...as you say, it's hard for US to keep up and we're deeply engaged.
Also, I read Jessica Valenti Abortion Every day emails every day - and it is hard to keep it all straight since each state has its own situation -
Are there no spreadsheets?
I also assume that most women assume since they're not dirty sluts and they're not planning on having an abortion none of this applies to them. Won't they be surprised when they find themselves in a potentially life threatening situation.
You would think what happened to Kate Cox would have woken some of them up.
"73 percent of those surveyed incorrectly believed that abortions were still available at abortion clinics in the state. ... (24%) of survey respondents incorrectly believed that Texas had passed a law prohibiting travel to another state to get an abortion.”
Not sure about the 3% difference (probably the ever with us "don't know"s), but this kinda tracks. If abortion is thought to be still available in state, then that nearly 75% thinks TX wants to keep those tasty abortionplex dollars at home, else why would they ban leaving? Or the ~24% who know abortion isn't available in state, also know the state wants to keep abortion-seekers from leaving to get one, whether or not the state has technically banned that.
Most people, men and women, have no clue what either party stands for, and no idea what either party has done for them. Example: the majority of Americans think that Republicans are "better with the economy." If you look at the last 43 years of deficit spending, it's about 80% Republicans tax cutting our way to the poor house, and Republican wars and recessions, and bank collapses (thanks, deregulation!).
Middle class people know they're getting poorer, but they blame their downward slide on immigrants. They're clueless that shifting all the money to the 1% allows us all to have much smaller SS payment, and a whole other host of projects that will never get funded due to lack of revenue. They blame Democrats for their downward economic slide.
You know what would get a lot of people's attention and possibly move the needle, both for abortion and gun control? Showing actual uncensored footage of babies with fetal abnormalities and gunshot victims.
The squeamish need to be jolted into action.
I've always thought we should show the aftermath of mass shootings. I remember one cop describing going into that Baptist church in Texas where 20 some odd people were murdered. He described how sick to his stomach he felt when he was sloshing through blood on the floor. Let people see that shit.
Up next: Women say the darndest things!
Are the women in Texas just particularly stupid? They really believe there is a special exception just for them, or if there *is* a rule it wouldn't apply to *them," right?
Pretty much everyone thinks they're an exception to the rule.
True depending upon who your parents are or your position life.
A brick in the Wall?
Nevermind...
I think that's less of a "Texas thing" and more of a "human nature thing" where this is concerned. Other states have these laws too, and is there survey data from the other states regarding these types of questions?
In my experience though, most people think the rules won't apply to them if/when the time comes. (EDIT: Especially where conservatives are concerned.)
I live in South Carolina, and always thought my state was the stupidest state in the Union, after Alabama and Mississippi. SOOOOO many states are now way dumber than my dumb state. I'm looking at you, TX and FL.
Yeah, this syncs right up with something those of us who've worked at clinic offering abortion often see: the very people protesting against abortion in front of the clinic will suddenly see the righteousness of THEIR unwanted pregnancy (typically a man with an unwed daughter, or a mistress), and fully expect the clinic to step up. And we usually would, other than the times it was clear the pregnant person actually wanted to carry to term, which we would also support.
Abortions for me, but not for thee, is quite the common thinking on the far right.
"...the information is out there if people want it. The problem is when they don’t."
That applies to so many aspects of our country's issues - for the most part, Americans don't wanna know jackshit.
"Fat, drunk and stupid" may be no way to go through life ... but its how many choose to live.
This is essentially what you get with the post-truth environment, furthered by the right wing media human centipede. There really isn't a good answer for this.
We need to bring truth back into the media. Allowing Fox News to spew their bullshit into the minds of gullible rubes for the past 30 years has led us into our current state.
Rupert's home country wants to limit his ownership of media properties because they don't want to be like...us. They see what he's done to America, and they're like "yeah, we don't want a bunch of violent incel thugs running around shooting people, while the other half doesn't believe in vaccines or science."
There is so much about this that is just profoundly sad 😢
I think you would find a similar percentage of the population who do not know what Trump's promise to suspend the constitution really means. They think it just means Antifa and BLM can't burn down entire cities and unqualified brown people will not be able to enslave whites. But the constitution is the source of every right Americans have. From property rights to voting rights to the right to a trial by a jury of your peers to being told what you are being charged with, and yes gun nuts, your right to own a gun. Without the constitution citizens have no rights. You can be rounded up by the military for criticizing the supreme leader, put in a detention camp indefinitely, your property confiscated, and no opportunity to defend yourself in court.
Yep. Once you've taken away one right, the rest are very easy to take away.
I'm currently reading the book Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. It's set in Dublin, just at the very start of when the country falls into totalitarianism (the book starts after the new government has taken power). In it we see the gradual erosion of people's rights/liberties. It's a great read, while at the same time it's quite scary b/c I can see this happening here in the States.
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/prophet-song
I just ordered this based on the sample from Amazon. Thanks!
I remember reading the Handmaid's Tale in the early 1990s, and thinking how easily America could become that place, and we're well on our way!
I strongly recommend Prophet Song. It's very stream of consciousness. Though it could hit a bit too close to the bone in these times, I suppose.
Having spent my teenage years in Dallas all I can say is: No shit Texans are unaware. Every year I see Democrats say that this year Texas is voting blue. And every election they continue to vote in Republican assholes. I have zero hope these dumasses will ever see the light.
I've been hearing "this is the year Texas turns blue, just you see" for like thirty years.
My Southern Baptist sister and her husband who live in Dallas have been bemoaning the fact that their eldest daughter told them that she and her new husband will be moving back to the East Coast once they decide to start having kids become my niece doesn't want to risk being pregnant while living in Texas. I told her that is too fucking bad and she should welcome the consequences of voting a straight GOP ticket for the past 35 years.
I would not feel guilty in the least telling them this is what they've been voting for so enjoy it.
Yuuuuup.
Well done on your niece & her husband for their clearheaded view of things.
Texans gonna Tex.....