I guess the absolute bedrock level low expectations I had of Democrats was still too high. You'd expect this leak to be the one line in the sand that they'd defend since it's been part of their messaging for decades, but like literally everything else those at the top are just doing the :maybe-later-kiddo: shit. I still fear what a fully Republican controlled House, Senate, and Presidency would bring for marginalized groups around the country but the fact that abortion rights are set to be destroyed under a Democrat is probably the biggest evidence that there is no difference between the parties. Republicans may not be able to create a law forcing people to detransition nationally, but they'll do it everywhere they can with no resistance, they'll end abortion rights with no resistance. The absolute fear I have of the coming wave of hate-laws was enough to keep me voting out of just self preservation but at this point what's the difference, the same shit will happen under either party. Maybe some riots and civil unrest will force some hands, but we're already seeing the rollout of police brutality, Democrats continue to insist that they need to increase police budgets. I had zero expectations and somehow I'm still disappointed in how craven useless they are. Supreme court could come out tomorrow and say that all trans people needed to be jailed and Democrats would just sit there for a day and go "oh that's bad" and then enact it anyway because they need to be bipartisan and reach across the aisle. Fuck all of this.

  • InevitableSwing [none/use name]
    ·
    3 years ago

    I found a tweet thread that scared the crap out of me. It's based on the likely use of "right to privacy" by the GOP justices and judges. As petrifying as the thread list is - it's likely only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what horrible shit they're going to do.

    For brevity and clarity I edited the thread. If you want links - they are in the thread.

    Roe v. Wade is based on the "right to privacy." If the majority opinion by SCOTUS suggests that the constitution does not protect the right to privacy... that affects a WHOLE lot of other decisions. Buckle up - this is the beginning of a lot of potential ugliness.

    • Lawrence v. Texas: Decided in 2003, the court used the Right to Privacy to determine that it's unconstitutional to punish people for committing sodomy. The Roe ruling could open the door for criminalizing homosexuality.

    • Griswold v. Connecticut: Decided in 1965, this case protects the ability of married couples to buy contraceptives without government restriction. This isn't just about abortion. Next up, contraceptives.

    • Loving v. Virginia: This 1968 case, which threw out laws banning interracial marriages, was decided based on the right to privacy. If a state wanted to prohibit who people could marry -- there is no protection from that without a right to privacy.

    • Stanley v Georgia: This 1969 case found that there was a right to privacy around possession pornography. If a state wants to outlaw pornography or certain forms of adult pornography, it could do that without the right to privacy.

    • Obergefell v. Hodges: The 2015 opinion that legalized same sex marriage used the right to privacy and the equal protection clause to do so. This could open the door for a state to try to test same sex marriage laws.

    • Meyer v. Nebraska: This 1923 ruling allows families to decide for themselves if they want their children to learn a language other than English. This could open the door for racist states to try to outlaw learning their family's languages.

    • Skinner v Oklahoma: This 1942 ruling found that it's unconstitutional to forcibly sterilize people. The Roe ruling could open the door for criminals, disabled people or BIPOC folks to be forcibly sterilized.

    Okay. That's a quick overview of the judicial chaos that could occur in the aftermath of striking down Roe v Wade. All of these decisions might no longer be settled law and states could try to test them by creating laws designed to test the courts.

    Tweet

      • InevitableSwing [none/use name]
        ·
        3 years ago

        For a very long time I've been meaning to learn about the Nazi legal system starting in 1933. As I understand it - once Hitler become chancellor he kept demanding more and more power and judges kept giving it to him.

        It's crystal clear that the GOP justices (and judges) are going to give more and more power to the "states" aka the GOP. That will be a horrorshow but it's just a foretaste of the future starting with 2024 elections. I don't think they were be free or fair and I assume the GOP will then control everything of note on a federal level, everything of note in every red state and they'll pervert enough stuff in other states to make large (if not huge) gains.

        I think the libs are delusional to imagine that states like California will continue on their merry way as some sort of bulwark for democracy.