getty
Unless youve been living under a rock for the last 6 months, you likely know that we have an important presidential election coming up on Tuesday, November 3rd. We are constantly being inundated with political ads and told about the important issues. But with all the noise, it can be difficult to understand what is truly at stake.
I recently interviewed Kelley Robinson, who is currently the Executive Director ofPlanned Parenthood Action Fundand as the Vice President of Advocacy and Organizing atPlanned Parenthood Federation of America. We talked about what is at stake with this 2020 presidential election, especially related to our healthcare, finances, reproductive rights, and beyond.
So, whats really at stake for all of us this November? Here are just a few things:
Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, Republicans in Congress have been trying to have it overturned. It has repeatedly been upheld by the Supreme Court, but that hasnt stopped the Republicans from continuing to try to get rid of it. In case you dont remember (since its been over a decade), before the Affordable Care Act was law of the land, health insurance was only available through your employer or from expensive private insurance companies. Pre-existing conditions (which can be pretty much anything) were not covered by insurance, so you could be denied coverage if you have any history with illness or injury, which most of us have. Children would also get kicked off their parents insurance when they turned 18 - now, they can stay on until they are 26 years old. We are currently in the middle of a global pandemic, which means health care coverage is more important than ever. And remember, medical costs are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States. If thats still true even with the Affordable Care Act in place, imagine how much worse things will get without it.
Another issue that Republicans have been relentless about is to make abortion illegal across the board in the United States. Despite what you might think based on the political rhetoric, the majority of Americans actually support the decision in Roe v. Wade. In fact, 61% of Americans say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Regardless, there is legislation introduced seemingly everyday that seeks to restrict abortion access and reproductive rights overall. Many of these bills are already being challenged and are set to be heard by the Supreme Court any day. I will discuss what is at stake when it comes to the Supreme Court further down in this piece, but we need politicians that will protect reproductive health and access.
A number of studies have established connections between abortion access and economic outcomes. And it seems like common sense; if you have control over your reproduction, you will have more control over and access to financial security. This paper from the Institute for Womens Policy Research outlines the ways that reproductive rights influences educational attainment, workforce participation, and more.
In September, there was widespread flash flooding in my town. Many of my neighbors homes and cars were damaged or destroyed. On the same day, wildfires were raging in Northern California. These are just two examples of ways climate change will continue to impact our lives. And it will get worse if we dont mitigate the damage. When it comes to climate change, one political party denies that it is a problem or they say it is not caused by human behaviors. The other party acknowledges that climate change is a massive problem and accepts the proven science that shows what is causing it - burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. We need a national commitment to fighting climate change and a strategy for embracing clean energy solutions. Otherwise, people will continue to suffer and die in rampant wildfires, floods, stronger and more frequent storms, and droughts.
If youre paying attention this week, you know that the Senate is currently holding hearings regarding the Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Regardless of your political views, this process is being forced through, much faster than ever before, while were in the middle of a pandemic and just weeks away from a presidential election. It makes it impossible for our voices to be heard and impossible for the necessary vetting to be done in time. But on top of that, this nominee is someone who is seemingly against any and all progressive strides weve made in the past several decades.
This week, she even said she could not immediately say whether or not she thinks Medicare is constitutional. Medicare is massively important for Americans over the age of 65. People who are retired or living on a fixed income would not have many options for their health care if Medicare were to be somehow eliminated in the future. Plus, she is on record opposing Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act. And remember, a Supreme Court appointment is a lifetime job. Coney Barrett is only 48 years old. She could be on the Court for at least the next 40 years.
All of that being said, its easy to feel hopeless and overwhelmed when you consider everything that is at stake right now. And there are many things at stake beyond what I outlined above, including LGBTQ+ rights and racial equality. But in my conversation with her, Kelley Robinson said something incredibly inspiring: This is not a moment to be afraid. This is a moment for us to lean in and know that we've got some important decisions to make to ensure that we achieve change that makes lives better at the end of the day.
There are things we can all do to make a difference during this election and ensure that our trajectory starts going in the right direction. So, what are some of those things?
Even if you voted in the last election, its important that you make sure that you are registered to vote at your current address, under your current name. You never know if the voter rolls in your state have been purged, so err on the side of caution and double check your voter registration. Visit vote.org to see if your voter registration is up to date. To find out if you still have time to register to vote in your state, go here.
Its much easier to follow through with something if you have thought out and planned out what you are actually going to do. Whether youre requesting a mail-in ballot, voting early, or showing up on Election Day, its important that you identify that plan now. That way, you can rearrange your schedule or take other actions that will allow voting to be easier. For me, my original plan was to vote by mail, but my ballot seems to be lost in the mail somewhere! So my backup plan, after speaking to the state board of elections, is to vote early, in-person, via a provisional ballot. Once they confirm that I didnt send in my mail-in ballot, they will count my in-person vote.
Whats your plan?
As I said above, its easier to follow through with something if there is a plan in place. That applies to the people you know too! So start asking your friends and family members what their voting plan is. If they dont have an answer right away, ask them if they need help or suggestions. Check back in later if they need a little time to think about it.
Everything is more fun with a buddy. Of course, during a global pandemic, you might not be able to drive together, and you might have to keep your physical distance, but get a friend to join you while you vote! You can meet up at the polls at the same time or you can even vote together from afar, if your polling places are different.
We are still in the midst of a global pandemic, even if a major presidential election is coming up. If youre worried about staying safe while still getting out the vote, consider voting early. In many states, you can still request a mail-in or absentee ballot so that you can vote by mail. If youre uncomfortable with that, or if you already missed the deadline, many states also allow for early voting. Find out if and when early voting begins in your state and make a plan to get there to vote. And dont forget to wear your mask and keep your physical distance from others.
Already registered to vote and have a voting plan, but you still want to be involved? You can volunteer with an organization that fights for the things you most believe in. For example, I have been volunteering to do text banking with RAICES, which is an immigrants rights organization. There are many other organizations doing the same to get out the vote and encourage folks to vote for human rights, immigrant rights, reproductive rights, and more.
Lets do this! Make sure you get out and vote on November 3rd!
Read the original:
Whats At Stake This November And How You Can Get Out The Vote - Forbes
- World Health Organization reference values for human semen characteristics [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Economic consequences of overweight and obesity in infertility: a framework for evaluating the costs and outcomes of fertility care [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Maternal metabolism and obesity: modifiable determinants of pregnancy outcome [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Brain imaging studies of appetite in the context of obesity and the menstrual cycle [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- The impact of body mass index on semen parameters and reproductive hormones in human males: a systematic review with meta-analysis [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Options for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Xenografting of testicular tissue from an infant human donor results in accelerated testicular maturation [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Karyotype of miscarriages in relation to maternal weight [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Endoglandular trophoblast, an alternative route of trophoblast invasion? Analysis with novel confrontation co-culture models [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Regulation of extravillous trophoblast invasion by uterine natural killer cells is dependent on gestational age [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Functional regulation of thymic stromal lymphopoietin on proliferation and invasion of trophoblasts in human first-trimester pregnancy [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Home self-administration of vaginal misoprostol for medical abortion at 50-63 days compared with gestation of below 50 days [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Prospective study of the forearm bone mineral density of long-term users of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Functional attenuation of human sperm by novel, non-surfactant spermicides: precise targeting of membrane physiology without affecting structure [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Characteristics indicating adenomyosis coexisting with leiomyomas: a case-control study [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- The risk of post-molar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is higher in heterozygous than in homozygous complete hydatidiform moles [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate achieved with oocyte vitrification and cleavage stage transfer without embryo selection in a standard infertility program [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Pregnancy outcome in female childhood cancer survivors [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Offering excess oocyte aspiration and vitrification to patients undergoing stimulated artificial insemination cycles can reduce the multiple pregnancy risk and accumulate oocytes for later use [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Avoidance of weekend oocyte retrievals during GnRH antagonist treatment by simple advancement or delay of hCG administration does not adversely affect IVF live birth outcomes [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Who should pay for assisted reproductive techniques? Answers from patients, professionals and the general public in Germany [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Sperm donor limits that control for the 'relative' risk associated with the use of open-identity donors [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Long-term cryostorage of sperm in a human sperm bank does not damage progressive motility concentration [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Screening for biomarkers of spermatogonia within the human testis: a whole genome approach [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- Avoiding transgenerational risks of mitochondrial DNA disorders: a morally acceptable reason for sex selection? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Cross border reproductive care in six European countries [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Morphometric dimensions of the human sperm head depend on the staining method used [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- ESX1 gene expression as a robust marker of residual spermatogenesis in azoospermic men [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Innovative virtual reality measurements for embryonic growth and development [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Consecutive or non-consecutive recurrent miscarriage: is there any difference in carrier status? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- A longitudinal study of contraception and pregnancies in the same women followed for a quarter of a century [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Predictors of bleeding and user satisfaction during consecutive use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Direct proportional relationship between endometrioma size and ovarian parenchyma inadvertently removed during cystectomy, and its implication on the management of enlarged endometriomas [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Large prospective, pregnancy and infant follow-up trial assures the health of 1000 fetuses conceived after treatment with the GnRH antagonist ganirelix during controlled ovarian stimulation [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Altered aquaporin expression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: hyperandrogenism in follicular fluid inhibits aquaporin-9 in granulosa cells through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Fast-release orodispersible tramadol as analgesia in hysterosalpingography with a metal cannula or a balloon catheter [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Xenotransplantation of cryopreserved human ovarian tissue into murine back muscle [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Predictors of psychological distress in patients starting IVF treatment: infertility-specific versus general psychological characteristics [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Psychological adjustment, knowledge and unmet information needs in women undergoing PGD [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Mothers of IVF and spontaneously conceived twins: a comparison of prenatal maternal expectations, coping resources and maternal stress [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Psychological well-being and sexarche in women with polycystic ovary syndrome [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Is human fecundity declining in Western countries? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2010]
- Impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Current achievements and future research directions in ovarian tissue culture, in vitro follicle development and transplantation: implications for fertility preservation [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Human studies on genetics of the age at natural menopause: a systematic review [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Beyond oxygen: complex regulation and activity of hypoxia inducible factors in pregnancy [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Current knowledge of the aetiology of human tubal ectopic pregnancy [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Economic contraction and birth outcomes: an integrative review [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Teratogenic mechanisms of medical drugs [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2010]
- Levels of semenogelin in human spermatozoa decrease during capacitation: involvement of reactive oxygen species and zinc [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Apoptosis and meiotic segregation in ejaculated sperm from Robertsonian translocation carrier patients [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- In humans, zona pellucida glycoprotein-1 binds to spermatozoa and induces acrosomal exocytosis [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Variants of the EPPIN gene affect the risk of idiopathic male infertility in the Han-Chinese population [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Epidermal clitoral inclusion cysts: not a rare complication of female genital mutilation [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- PCOSMIC: a multi-centre randomized trial in women with PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome evaluating Metformin for Infertility with Clomiphene [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Single versus double intrauterine insemination in multi-follicular ovarian hyperstimulation cycles: a randomized trial [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Soluble HLA-G is an independent factor for the prediction of pregnancy outcome after ART: a German multi-centre study [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Obstetric outcomes after transfer of vitrified blastocysts [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Occasional involvement of the ovary in Ewing sarcoma [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Y chromosome microdeletions, sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm oxidative stress as causes of recurrent spontaneous abortion of unknown etiology [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Development and preliminary validation of the fertility status awareness tool: FertiSTAT [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Xenotransplantation of human ovarian tissue to nude mice: comparison between four grafting sites [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Involvement of CFTR in oviductal HCO3- secretion and its effect on soluble adenylate cyclase-dependent early embryo development [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Effect of endometriosis on the protein expression pattern of follicular fluid from patients submitted to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Activin A regulates trophoblast cell adhesive properties: implications for implantation failure in women with endometriosis-associated infertility [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Clinical significance of sperm DNA damage in assisted reproduction outcome [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Fall in implantation rates following ICSI with sperm with high DNA fragmentation [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- Prevalence of unsuspected uterine cavity abnormalities diagnosed by office hysteroscopy prior to in vitro fertilization [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Ultra-conservative fertility-sparing strategy for bilateral borderline ovarian tumours: an 11-year follow-up [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Fertility after autologous ovine uterine-tubal-ovarian transplantation by vascular anastomosis to the external iliac vessels [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Uterus transplantation in the baboon: methodology and long-term function after auto-transplantation [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Prestimulation parameters predicting live birth in anovulatory WHO Group II patients undergoing ovulation induction with gonadotrophins [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Transfer of a selected single blastocyst optimizes the chance of a healthy term baby: a retrospective population based study in Australia 2004-2007 [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Disclosure patterns of mode of conception among mothers and fathers-5-year follow-up of the Copenhagen Multi-centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) cohort [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2006: results generated from European registers by ESHRE [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- A decade of sperm washing: clinical correlates of successful insemination outcome [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Sperm DNA integrity in cancer patients before and after cytotoxic treatment [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Speriolin is a novel human and mouse sperm centrosome protein [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- No influence of body mass index on first trimester fetal growth [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- HLA sharing among couples appears unrelated to idiopathic recurrent fetal loss in Saudi Arabia [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]