Let's protect women's health, safety
Jan. 22 marked the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that ruled the Constitution's implied right to privacy, which included a woman's right to choose to continue a pregnancy or have an abortion.
Two generations have since grown up with safe, legal abortion available, which Americans still strongly support. A recent Harris Research poll showed 62 percent of voters oppose overturning Roe.
In spite of this, women's health and rights are still under threat. In 2011, instead of focusing on jobs and the economy, Congress jumped at every chance to slash women's health and safety.
Let's not forgot that Oct. 13, the House of Representatives passed the "Let Women Die" bill (H.R. 358), which allows hospitals to deny women emergency, life-saving abortions.
If a woman is bleeding to death from a miscarriage, H.R. 358 protects health care workers who can't be bothered to help her.
So in other words, if H.R. 358 had become a law, abortion would no longer be the woman's choice, but the choice of whoever happens to be on duty in the emergency room.
H.R. 358 passed through the House because Americans took for granted that abortion would always be legal. As Roe v. Wade turned 39, let's protect women's health and safety. Vote for political candidates who support birth control, health insurance, sex education in public schools, and safe, legal abortion. Your life could depend on it.
Dan Clark
Afton
When a former mayor passes, show respect
On Dec. 31, former Cooperstown Mayor Jim Woolson was laid to rest. He was a man of good intent who served his village and its residents. Woolson was a strong, opinionated man, whom you needed not to agree with but to find respect for.
He often displayed his passion on community issues, which was fueled and emanated from the endless depth of the love that embodied Woolson. My empathy goes out to those who never knew this of the man.
Can I ask a simple question? How is it that our present-day village leadership has little understanding of the stewardship that has been asked of them? Does village leadership hold respect regarding the mayoral position?
When an individual passes away and has served the village of Cooperstown as its mayor, display some community respect and pay great honor, please!
Thomas Lieber
Fly Creek
