Abortion: the denial of democracy | Montreal Magazine

The Supreme Court’s decision is well known. Pro-life supporters see the culmination of 50 years of struggle, while pro-chosenists take to the streets to demonstrate.

If I don’t dare compare the values ​​of the two camps, I’d like to go back to how we got here. my note? The system imagined in 1787 was manipulated and intent was betrayed.

If the Republicans succeed in appointing six justices to the Supreme Court, it is because of a brilliant long-term strategy, incredible flexibility and a blatant disregard for the rules.

System bias

Let’s remember first that the last two Republican presidents were elected by losing the popular vote. The Electoral College was supposed to avoid the dominance of the most populous states, and it created an opposite problem with time and changes.

The same phenomenon in the Senate, stemming from the so-called great compromise. Here again, lawmakers have gradually instituted rules that now allow states with small populations to rein in many of the dominant party’s initiatives.

Evolution of the electoral process and the institution of the Senate to the benefit of Republican voters. If you add electoral remapping and manipulations to reduce the impact of minority voting, you give more weight to voters in less densely populated states, you favor white and conservative voters.

Cheating and lying when necessary

For Republicans and conservatives, that wasn’t enough. When Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, Republicans relied on a rule that doesn’t exist: You can’t decide during an election year. Shameful decision contrary to the duty conferred by the Constitution.

During his presidency, Donald Trump had the opportunity to appoint three justices to the Supreme Court. Not surprisingly, he favored three particularly conservative candidates. Shockingly, during the hearing, these three judges allowed the understanding that the right to abortion was not threatened. If this isn’t a partisan politics game…

It should be noted that the decision announced Friday comes at a time when the investigation committee into the January 6 attack showed that Donald Trump and his relatives attempted to cheat and invalidate the legitimate results of the November 2020 election.

If you are still wondering how the Supreme Court can decide to go against the will of 66% of the population (men and women), then think again about the complexity of the American system, but also the complete absence of concern from those who deal with it.

We must remember and condemn this decline in American democracy, because it is the history books – which are increasingly censored in conservative countries – that will do it.