fundamental rights

A recent NYTimes article discusses the complications of illegal abortions (pre-Roe days) with some graphic detail and reminds us that Roe v. Wade was not the begining of abortions, rather it was the begining of a safer medical environment. That is until abortion clinics came under attack by individuals claiming to be protecting the unborn or doing God's work. Today we stand at a precipice, the next President of the United States will likely appoint a number of Supreme Court judges. The presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain has very different views on abortion than that of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama. Our next President will shape American policy long after their term through the function of their Supreme Court appointees. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 the conservative right has tried everything to overturn this decision and force women to return to the days of back room practices, kitchen table procedures and coat hangers as medical tools. Jeffrey Toobin's The Nine discusses the inner workings of the Supreme Court through a series of cases and decisions, it is an excellent read and puts into focus just how important this election is, beyond the next four years.