Indifference to election results is not something to be proud of
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The presidential election leaves millions of people on edge. People who utilize Planned Parenthood are in critical danger as Trump takes on the White House in January.
The presidential election results are in, and everyone in your life is talking about it. If they are not talking about it, it runs as an undercurrent in every conversation. Opinions on what happened are everywhere, and it can be difficult to navigate emotionally. Personally, the opinions that are the most upsetting to hear are those that communicate indifference, relying either on apathy and a sense of privilege or a fundamental misunderstanding of what the president can do.
Most frequently, I have encountered misrepresentations of the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, leaving abortion legislation to state governments. Many of those who discuss the decision either drastically undersell what it means for the individual or underplay President Donald Trump's role in facilitating the decision.
For individuals at SUNY Geneseo, this ruling might not have a significant impact; with the recent passing of the Equal Rights Amendment, or Proposition 1 on your ballot, reproductive rights have been formally protected under the New York state constitution. This is not the case in every state, though. 13 states have abortion bans, and 12 have expressed a desire to prohibit abortion entirely.
Those with the resources to travel to a state with abortion protections may do so in moments of crisis; many, however, do not have the resources to do so and will find themselves forced to carry the fetus or to entertain other dangerous and illegal methods of termination. Even the ability to travel to obtain an abortion is being investigated, though, and the proposed Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act, which would prohibit government officials from preventing or punishing those who travel across state lines “to receive or provide reproductive health care that is legal in that state,” was blocked by Senate Republicans. If you find yourself saying something along the lines of, “Your rights are not threatened; legislation is state by state,” consider that while your rights in New York may not be threatened, pregnant people’s reproductive rights across the country are.
Many have also argued that Donald Trump had nothing to do with the original ruling or that his election now does not affect reproductive rights. When Dobbs v. Jackson was decided, they argued that Trump was no longer president; surely, that meant he had no impact, right? In reality, Trump was instrumental in the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As much as we may like to pretend that the Supreme Court acts as an impartial body deciding important issues, it seems undeniable that the Court is, in fact, incredibly partisan; the alignment of the majority of justices leads to different decisions—why did the majority of justices in 1973 conclude that abortion before viability was a protected constitutional right, but the justices of 2022 did not?
In his first presidency, Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. These justices flipped the Supreme Court to a more conservative ruling record; it is clear that Republicans recognized the impact the nominations could have— when Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland, Republican Senate leadership “stonewalled the nomination to preserve the seat for a possible future Republican president.”
Democrats are not wrong to be concerned about what another Trump presidency will mean for their interests in the Supreme Court. It is certain that when the time comes for another nomination, Trump will ensure that the Court remains firmly conservative.
Those who invest in federal protection of reproductive rights, support of affirmative action, and any other issues that may face the Court should understand that the president is influential in those decisions. It means something.
Indifference towards the election is not something to be proud of; it only highlights ignorance of the impact this result will have on the lives of people across the country or apathy regarding that impact if you believe you and those you love will escape its effects.