Newspaper stands up against ideological extremism
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Jan 30, 2007 Posted by Bill Luckett
Slithering their way through the legislative process this week are two bills we can all do without. House Bill 144, misleadingly labeled "women's right to know," would require Wyoming doctors who perform abortions to tell their patients about alternatives and inform them of potential risks and side effects before performing the procedure. I don't know very many people who think politicians should make it their business to decide what kinds of conversations they are going to have with their doctors, but apparently, some politicians think it's their business. Meanwhile, Senate File 13, "same sex marriages," would give Wyoming the authority to void other states' gay marriages, this year's attempt to legalize discrimination against gay people.
The Casper Star-Tribune chimed in on these issues in this editorial, wisely suggesting that we expect our legislators to work on issues of real importance instead of engaging in this kind of divisive culture war. "If lawmakers truly want to play doctor, they should focus on making more affordable health care services available in Wyoming," the newspaper states. It rightly concludes that, "If legislators insist on enlisting in the culture wars, they should bear the voters' displeasure for the real accomplishments that will be sacrificed." Amen to that!