Vacation is over...

For the time being. In 5 days, Only Son and his family will arrive for a nice visit.

But for those 5 days, there is work to be done.

My first order of business is this. As I've said previously, those who would deny a pregnant woman choice in all cases (there are supposed exceptions for rape and incest, but they are so onerous that essentially there are no exceptions) have an initiated measure on the South Dakota ballot this fall. Anti-choice and pro-choice folks all over the country are watching this closely for obvious reasons. And our state AG admits that this law probably is unconstitutional (and he wrote the measure!).

This is not, for those of us who are capable of nuance, a fight for abortion. Rather it is a fight against extremism. Sarah Palin loves this proposed ban. Anyway, if this passes, extremists in other states will do the same. We cannot let this happen.

I know lots of organizations and causes are asking for money right now. Our brothers and sisters in LA and TX need it due to the hurricanes. Our brothers and sisters in TEC need it to wage legal battles. And we in South Dakota need it to educate the people here about what it would mean to all of us if this law passes.

The immediate effect will be that South Dakota no longer will have OB-GYN physicians. Most have said they will leave the state or scale down their practices due to government interference in their work. Another will be that all of our state money, in a very resource poor state, will be tied up in the constitutionality fights that will ensue. Other issues will abound.

So, if you can spare a few bucks, please help. There are several organizations collecting money; I belong to Democracy In Action, which is doing a good bit of work to attempt to defeat this bill. Make checks out to Democracy In Action PAC, and in the memo line put IM11. Please mail them to Democracy In Action, PO Box 123, Rapid City, SD 57709. Any amount, no matter how small, certainly will be appreciated! And thank you!