[somerfrost]

I hesitate to speak to the Dakota bill, I can see the concern from those who are pro-choice, the wording can be taken a couple ways and it's not unreasonable that some nut job will read it as giving him/her open season on abortion providers even though that is clearly not the intent. I am troubled by the suggestion that sterilizing folks is an answer. It takes me back to the 60's and a song written by Phil Ochs, "Here's To The State Of Mississippi" in which he touches on the immorality of forced sterilization. I thought that was an idea who's time had come and (thankfully) gone with the success of the civil rights movement...guess not. There is no question that a lot of folks are simply not ready to be parents due to a variety of reasons (immaturity, drug use, ignorance of basics and a variety of mental health/character issues) but who would make that decision? How can one justify punishing folks for what may happen in the future? No, the answer, as always lies in increased education, greater access to drug treatment/ mental health/ basic health facilities along with certain basic cultural changes...and that won't happen over night. One thing for sure, trying to balance budgets by denying the above to those who need them most won't result in a positive result.