Up the Spout

 I only mention it but bringing new life into this world is a danger-packed undertaking, especially if you live in a state that considers women to be nothing but possessions, undeserving of self-determination or equality on any level.

Let’s first look at maternal mortality rates.
Here are 12 states with the highest maternal death rates as of May 2023 (per 100k live births):

Arkansas—43.50
Mississippi—43
Tennessee—41.70
Alabama—41.40
Louisiana—39
Kentucky—38.40
Georgia—33.90
South Carolina—32.70
Arizona—31.40
Indiana—31.10
Oklahoma—30.30
New Mexico—30.20
(source)

And unsurprisingly, here are 12 states where abortion is banned, most with no exceptions for rape or incest. Note the overlap (in boldface) with the the top 12 dead-mother states.

Alabama
Arkansas
Idaho *
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
North Dakota**
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Tennessee

* Abortion is banned with exceptions for rape and incest. In January, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled there is no constitutional right to abortion. A federal judge ruled in August 2022 that doctors cannot be punished for performing an abortion to protect a patient’s health.
** Abortion is banned with exceptions for rape or incest only in the first six weeks of pregnancy. A separate ban on most abortions was indefinitely blocked by a judge. (source)

In Texas:

Abortion is banned with no exceptions for rape or incest. Private citizens can sue abortion providers and those who assist patients seeking an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. (source)

How astoundingly barbaric but what else can be expected of Governor Greg Abottoir? Interestingly, a study done at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center:

...looked at 28 women whose water broke before 23 weeks into their pregnancies, too early for the fetuses to be viable. The women were made to wait nine days on average before doctors would intervene and terminate the pregnancies. Nearly 60 percent of the women experienced serious complications, including infection and hemorrhaging — nearly double the proportion of those in states without bans. (source)

Just FYI abortion is healthcare. Given these insane laws (made by on-the-take politicians NOT OB-GYNs) and utter disregard for women’s lives, WHY would anyone risk their life to have a child?

Also, with the way we humans are destroying our own home—Earth—WHY would anyone even want to bring innocents into this horror show?

Why not get a dog, a cat, a family of squirrels—their birth won’t kill or maim you. Furthermore, a kitten isn’t going to break your heart by becoming an artist instead of a lawyer. A puppy isn’t going to cost you mega bucks to send to college. That squirrel family just wants nuts, seeds and a few Oreos versus expensive trips to Disney and Caribbean beaches.

And then we have the state of Georgia with its $5B budget surplus. The Republican governor and his equally fascistic, elected shitbuckets are axing funds for sexual assault centers and other agencies which their constituents need.

So much for government of the people, by the people, for the people—ya know, democracy. By the by, us Vagina Americans are people too. Why is it that the so-called pro-lifers never seem to remember that?