To the editor:
Conservatives do not want the government in their life, until they want the government in their life. Today’s Supreme Court decision confirms that statement. Despite a vast majority in this country that are not in favor of abolishing the right to abortion, the Supreme Court followed the wishes of the religious right and voted to strike down Roe.
The irony of this: In 1928, Al Smith, popular four-time governor of New York known as the “Happy Warrior”, was the Democrat nominee to run for President. He was defeated by Calvin Coolidge in large part due to Republicans claiming that Smith, a practicing Catholic, would be controlled by the Pope. (That strategy was tried again when JFK ran for President, but it failed.)
So now we have six Catholics on the Supreme Court. With this decision, one could claim that their religion, i.e. the Pope, is influencing the Court against the will of the people.
As for a state like Missouri, which will not only immediately ban any abortion, but also announced they intend to pass a law banning contraception, I can see two results: a flood of unwanted children overpopulating orphanages and women deciding to abstain for fear of becoming pregnant. Of course, politicians and those with money will figure out a way to get around the law.
Frank Gunsberg
26 Hemlock Hill Rd.
Great Barrington
