52 votes

US survey shows abortion bans drive away young talent

10 comments

  1. [10]
    first-must-burn
    Link
    I worry that things like this will depress the economy in these states and push people there further into the far right / Christian nationalism / fascism narratives. And of course, it sucks the...

    I worry that things like this will depress the economy in these states and push people there further into the far right / Christian nationalism / fascism narratives.

    And of course, it sucks the most for people who can become pregnant but don't have the financial resource to relocate to another state. Lower income and minority communities are already very vulnerable in terms of lack of access to healthcare and social services. Losing more progressive voices that might balance things out or advocate for these communities has the potential to make it worse.

    30 votes
    1. [6]
      norb
      Link Parent
      I may be very far to the cynical side of thinking, especially related to US politics and the GOP, but I think this is all part of a coordinated plan. Keep people poor Lock people into certain...

      I may be very far to the cynical side of thinking, especially related to US politics and the GOP, but I think this is all part of a coordinated plan.

      1. Keep people poor
      2. Lock people into certain communities where control can be exerted
      3. Keep people reliant on employment for basic necessities (healthcare especially)
      4. Force people to have children to reinforce 1, 2, and 3
      5. Repeat cycle to generate a never ending supply of workers/consumers that can't think past their next meal
      21 votes
      1. [4]
        Promonk
        Link Parent
        I think it's unlikely this is a conscious, concerted effort to produce this cycle you've outlined. I think it's more likely that disparate groups are pursuing individual elements, and these groups...
        • Exemplary

        I think it's unlikely this is a conscious, concerted effort to produce this cycle you've outlined. I think it's more likely that disparate groups are pursuing individual elements, and these groups are natural bedfellows, at least for the time being.

        I think it's important to distinguish that there isn't some cabal somewhere greedily rubbing their palms together as they usher in their ultra-capitalist fascist dystopia. That sort of thinking is not only uncomfortably similar to the conspiracist mindset, it distracts people from taking actually effective steps to combat the process. It's much easier cognitively and practically to invent an enemy with sinister motives than it is to acknowledge that we have systemic problems that are leading toward regression.

        27 votes
        1. [2]
          norb
          Link Parent
          Yeah I didn't really mean there's some secret group of people making these choices (but I see how you could make that connection based on the way I worded my comment). I agree it is the product of...

          Yeah I didn't really mean there's some secret group of people making these choices (but I see how you could make that connection based on the way I worded my comment).

          I agree it is the product of a number of different groups that have a certain kind of symbiosis where their goals align in such a way to produce this outcome. That said, I do think that the 0.01%-ers DO exert a certain level of control when it comes to guiding the other groups that align with what they want. Again, not a cabal type coordination, but rather a thumb on the scales type of thing where they can keep things the way they are and push them a certain direction to get the outcomes they want (less regulation, less taxes on themselves, etc.).

          Honestly, it would be an easier problem to fix if there were just one group of people playing puppet master.

          7 votes
          1. Promonk
            Link Parent
            I suspect that's one of the reasons conspiracist thinking is attractive to people. That, and it's oddly comforting to believe everything only happens because some agent somewhere willed it. I...

            Honestly, it would be an easier problem to fix if there were just one group of people playing puppet master.

            I suspect that's one of the reasons conspiracist thinking is attractive to people. That, and it's oddly comforting to believe everything only happens because some agent somewhere willed it. I don't think it's a coincidence that American fundamentalists seem especially susceptible to the mindset.

            7 votes
        2. Dr_Amazing
          Link Parent
          The whole conspiracy cycle is a bit much. But I absolutely believe some of these policies are designed to simply drive away progressive voters. Florida and Texas were starting to look like they...

          The whole conspiracy cycle is a bit much. But I absolutely believe some of these policies are designed to simply drive away progressive voters. Florida and Texas were starting to look like they might go blue and both come out with a wave of policies that don't really benefit anyone but make any non Maga type want to flee the state.

      2. first-must-burn
        Link Parent
        Not just keep people poor, also push women out of the workforce and "keep them in their place". They seem hell bent on undoing so much progress. But it is a testament to how much these ideas can...

        Not just keep people poor, also push women out of the workforce and "keep them in their place". They seem hell bent on undoing so much progress. But it is a testament to how much these ideas can really indoctrinate people and the power they have to create a certain kind of patriarchal order that the women in these states don't just go burn down the governor's mansion.

        5 votes
    2. infpossibilityspace
      Link Parent
      More worryingly, it increases the risk of brain-drain for healthcare professionals moving to other states/countries that listen to them.

      More worryingly, it increases the risk of brain-drain for healthcare professionals moving to other states/countries that listen to them.

      10 votes
    3. [2]
      RNG
      Link Parent
      These bans also carry an entailment that pro-choice people will have children that wouldn't have otherwise. I wonder what effect that may have on the political make-up of a state in a generation.

      and push people there further into the far right / Christian nationalism / fascism narratives.

      These bans also carry an entailment that pro-choice people will have children that wouldn't have otherwise. I wonder what effect that may have on the political make-up of a state in a generation.

      4 votes
      1. first-must-burn
        Link Parent
        I never thought about that. It would be an ironic outcome, but to have so many people suffer for it needlessly is a shame.

        I never thought about that. It would be an ironic outcome, but to have so many people suffer for it needlessly is a shame.

        1 vote