Political Angst and New Clarity
Dear Leading Ladies,
We’ve lost a lot of sleep during the last few days. Our anxiety levels have been high as we’ve struggled with feelings of helplessness about our country’s political situation. The post-debate angst and confusion made us even more frightened and nervous about our future.
Yet, we have now found some clarity.
As two years have passed since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, we are confronted with the vast number of states that now make it illegal for women to decide what to do about an unwanted pregnancy, even if it is the result of rape or involves a fetus too damaged to survive or threatens the life of the mother. Even ordering mifepristone from another state for a medical abortion (as is used in half of abortions in the US), can land a woman in jail.
And then this week came the Supreme Court decision that a US president can be granted extensive immunity to commit acts that would be considered illegal by others and would extend his or her power to that of a monarch or dictator! Our country was founded with three divisions of government — executive, legislative, and judicial — and a system of checks and balances to keep any one from having too much power. This decision gives the executive branch — the president — too much power and shows the judicial branch — the Supreme Court — to be a tool of the president rather than an independent interpreter of the Constitution. The fact that two Chief Justices with conflicts of interest did not recuse themselves from the recent decisions only confirms this.
We know full well that gas and grocery prices are higher, although that could be fixed with a tax on the very wealthy. We know that the immigration situation needs attention, but it’s not impossible to fix. We know that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are complicated and heart wrenching, but when have wars not been? We know that climate change is a real thing, but there are solutions that can be employed.
So where is our clarity?
It is here. All that truly matters is that in November we vote for freedom over autocracy, for democracy over the very real threat of totalitarianism. The choice is that serious but also that simple. All the rest is noise.
Spread the word.
Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team