Consider women when you vote
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Editor,
Do you care about the women and girls in your lives? In this particular election, voting for Republican candidates will have far-reaching consequences for women of all ages.
Title X (family planning), and Planned Parenthood (preventative care for thousands of women including health screenings), the Affordable Health Care Act, and Medicare/Medicaid (the only access to health care for many of the elderly and low-income families), are all in danger from Republicans. They define rape as “legitimate” with no victim, and want to deny access to birth control for women and reproductive choice.
Republicans threaten PBS (“Sesame Street” and educational programs), safety nets like Head Start, aid to vulnerable women and children, welfare, and low-income housing. They malign single parenthood (about 50 percent of American families), tried to block reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (31 senators voted against it – all Republicans), and want to eliminate Social Security itself.
They would cut Pell Grants and access to educational loans, replace or eliminate public education, eliminate Title IX (equal opportunities in sports for girls) and Affirmative Action. They would eliminate free school lunches for poor students.
Finally, for working women, Republicans threaten to repeal the Lilly Leadbetter Act of 2009 - equal pay for equal work, and to deny equal opportunities in the work place and in the military.
Republicans in 2010 campaigned to create jobs and to improve the economy, but instead of addressing the real causes of the economic problems, they have spent the last two years waging war against the poor, the elderly and especially women. They do not recognize women’s contributions to the economy and to the society as a whole.
Democrats have consistently instituted programs that celebrate the value of all Americans, especially women. This election, vote for the party that respects the women in your lives and embraces their needs and those of their children. Vote Democrat.
Jackie Ladner
Polson
