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Prop 85 - 2nd letter to Pasadena Star News

Posted by RobertB on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 3:00:49 PM

Published Oct 4 in Pasadena Star News / SG Tribune

Parental rights issue

The Star-News' position against Proposition 85 is the media elite not "getting it" when passionate backers and the growing grassroots groundswell continues to press for basic parental rights. Without it, parents can't know of health complications or abuse.

Prop. 85 is crafted to the standard of a Supreme Court decision, allowing exceptions for life-threatening emergency (of course), pre-existing waiver or emancipation, or judicial waiver for family abuse or abandonment.

The president will sign a bill to cut off interstate minor abortions, and California may join 40 states with these laws. Should Planned Parenthood then rent a ship to offer it in international waters? How pathetic and unnecessary except to avoid accountability to offer real counseling and protection to minors.

Boys will be boys, but two-thirds are men who take opportunity without responsibility and seek a quiet way out. Now clinics may ask, but a girl filling out a form seeking a quick solution ratified by a self-serving boyfriend may not provide a full answer that she would to a parent with authority and the caring to follow through to end abuse.

Families are breaking down. How does the newspaper figure devaluing parental rights is a solution? Crisis pregnancy clinics sponsored by caring churches and individuals offer support to those who have nowhere else to turn, and they will be there regardless.

To me, either people want a solution that will help bring light and life for vulnerable girls and their unborn, or they don't. Vote "yes" on Prop. 85.

Robert Blundell

San Gabriel

This is the Pasadena Star News position on Prop 85

GIVEN how obscure, unnecessary, multi-pronged and even nefarious so many state ballot propositions continue to be, it's no wonder that those to be put before us in November are not exactly the talk of the town. The only place anyone can be heard discussing them is during paid television airtime - and those advertisements are not much of a discussion.
By our lights, only pressing economic or social issues that somehow cannot be solved by the governor, the courts and the Legislature ought to be brought to the ballot. If it's not something Californians are up in arms about, it ought not be put before us. A good example of the kind of issue we should not be voting on - and thus should vote "no" on - is mandatory parental notification of minors seeking an abortion, presented to us as Proposition85.
It does not belong in the state constitution. First off, California voters just turned down virtually the same measure - written and paid for by the same individual backer - only 11 months ago. Why is it here again? Most importantly, there is no clamor among Californians about this. Over 90 percent of teen girls considering abortion already talk to either parent or another adult authority figure - often a minister or family physician - before making any decision.
When teens can't talk to parents about such a crucial moral and medical matter, it's often because they are in an abusive situation at home already. What is clear in states with such regulations is that pregnant and desperate teens don't risk such confrontations - they go to states without them, often resulting in later-term abortions, or they dangerously attempt to self-induce abortion or seek illegal "backstreet" ones. In California, many teens would head for Tijuana. The fact is, both teen pregnancies and teen abortions show sharp downward trends in California in recent years - by 46 percent and about 50percent respectfully. This is a desperate measure in a time in which the trends are in a healthy direction. Vote "no" on Proposition 85.

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Prop 85 - first letter to Pasadena Star News

Posted by RobertB on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 2:59:26 PM

As Published 9/27

Prevention built in to Prop. 85

Re male values - let's talk Proposition 85. Let's focus not on girls' "choices," but guys, you know who you are, who hit on teenage girls. No one should be surprised that of Californian girls under 18 who become pregnant, 70 percent of those queried said the guy was over 18 with the average age 22.

However it started, these guys aren't ready to hook up permanently, and she's too young. So when pregnancy happens, hey, they treat it like a speeding ticket. Pay the fine; take her to the clinic, no questions asked.

How about if I tell you that when a state enforces parental notification, not only abortions but pregnancies of minors go down. After the yelling, what's the first question a parent asks? Who's the guy? If she keeps it, that guy's got responsibility. Or maybe they'll report him to the law. So now these guys will zip it up or whatever it takes to avoid these consequences again.

The rest of you - vote yes on Prop. 85 to deter abuse, bring truth to light and make clinics accountable.

Robert Blundell

San Gabriel

___________________________

As originally written 9/25 - I made it personal to the "guys" but the editor decided to tone it down a bit, mostly changing pronouns and verb tense to make it

Let’s focus not on girls’ “choices”, but some guys, you know who you are, that hit on teenage girls. That’s right – you’re not surprised that of California girls under 18 who became pregnant, 70% say the guy was over 18, average age 22.

However it started, you’re not ready to hook up permanently and she’s too young. So when it happens, hey, you treat it like a speeding ticket. Pay the fine; take her to the clinic, no questions asked.

How about if I tell you that when a state enforces parental notification, not only abortions but pregnancies of minors go down. After the yelling, what’s the 1^st question a parent asks? Who’s the guy? If she keeps it, you’ve got responsibility; anyhow, maybe they’ll report you. So now you'll zip it up or whatever it takes to avoid that.

The rest of you – vote yes on Prop 85 to deter abuse, bring truth to light and make clinics accountable.