Fact checking the fact checkers

The “Republican war on women” is a trope. It is a figurative use of language which does not literally mean that helmeted Tea Partiers are lobbing hand grenades into hair salons, pedicure spas, state and federal capitals, and corporate boardrooms. And thank goodness for that.

But the Associated Press, a staunch participant in the “fact checking” movement, has entered the fray in an attempt to sway your opinion.

In an article published widely on Sunday, 10/21/12, the AP claims that abortion “laws [are] more restrictive – even though it’s legal, many states set up new hurdles”.  Then the article describes the circumstances of abortion in South Dakota. The caption of a photo of Rapid City Dr. Marvin Buehner claims that “he can perform pregnancy terminations only when there is a risk to the mother’s life.”

Holy cow! What’s the matter with these South Dakota Republicans? In spite of Roe vs. Wade, have they made it illegal to perform abortions unless the life of the mother is threatened? Is it possible that women in South Dakota cannot obtain an abortion unless their life is threatened by the pregnancy?

It turns out the that AP has earned four Pinocchios… their fact checking is all wet.

The South Dakota legislature has recognized a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy under these conditions:

• In the 1^st through 24^th week, a woman has a right to an abortion following a 72 hour waiting period..
• After the 24^th month, if necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.

So what is the basis of Dr. Buenher's claim? Certainly, if in his judgment a termination is advisable in the first 24 weeks, he can perform a legal abortion. But the catch is that the state will not pay for it with Medicaid funding. (The federal Hyde Amendment, passed in 1977, prohibits the expenditure of Medicaid funds for abortions unless the life or health of the woman is at risk.)

Does this mean that, because taxpayer funds from Massachusetts and Rhode Island are not to be used for abortions in South Dakota, abortions are not obtainable there? Ridiculous.  Here are the options. 

1. The woman pays for the abortion herself  
2. The woman’s sex partner pays for the abortion (a much fairer outcome)  
3. The woman applies to a foundation (such as Planned Parenthood) for help

But in no case are Tea Partiers militantly prohibiting the abortion.

If you want to know what a real war on women looks like, consider Islamic extremists. The current prime example is the Taliban of Pakistan, who recently boarded a school bus and shot a fifteen year old girl in the head, repeatedly, for the high crime of promoting education for women.

The Pakistanis are our allies. Except that their Taliban hate our values, our women, and their rights. The Republicans look pretty darned fuzzy in comparison.

The dignity of work

Fisherman working on the Belize River.

Belize is the smallest of the Central American countries, approximately the size of Massachusetts. But with a population of 328,000, the interior of the state is largely empty, with a density more like that of Arizona.

Approaching Belize from the sea, one is struck by the beauty of the country. The Belize Barrier Reef, extending nearly 200 miles from the Yucatan Peninsula in the north to Honduras in the south, is one of the most significant coral reef systems in the world. Mangrove islands dot the coast, and manatees and dolphins roam the coastal waters and brackish rivers.

A former British colony, Belize is the only Central American country where English is the dominant language. The inhabitants are largely a mix of Mestizos, Creoles, Mayan, and an international blend of Chinese, Indians, and Anglos from Canada, England, and the United States.

It is impossible to describe Belize without mentioning the historically important Mayan ruins that bejewel the country. Impressive pyramids, temples, and tombs surround central plazas, built with construction techniques that are surprising even today. Mayan achievements in art, writing, architecture, and astronomy are impressive. If not for human sacrifice, this would have been a pretty cool era for a time traveler to visit.

In today’s Belize, the economy is a mixture of agriculture, forestry (logging), tourism, and manufacturing. Unemployment is estimated at 13% and there is a shortage of skilled laborers. That shortage may well be related to a literacy rate of only 77%.

But all of these facts and figures aside, what is it really like? Traveling the interior, one sees many small farms carved out of the forest. These are not the tidy farms of New England. The houses are small, raised on stilts to allow cooling air to circulate; there is no air conditioning. A few skinny goats populate the yard, keeping the vibrant jungle vegetation at bay. Piles of stones and rubble dot the perimeter and mounds of half-burnt logs smolder near the encroaching forest. A scatter of multicolored garments flutter on a line, drying in the sun.

This may seem a bit bleak, but that is our projection. We cannot imagine living in a tropical climate without air conditioning – how could we sleep at night? Could we possibly survive without washing machines and electric dryers?

But in fact, the people of Belize seem quite happy. A fisherman casting a net on the Belize River offers a broad smile and an affable wave. A construction crew laying hot asphalt on a steamy afternoon all beam and wave enthusiastically. A waitress in a back-country restaurant cheerfully serves wholesome chicken and beans and rice with a large smile. It must be something in the water – these folks are just downright friendly.

We ask our guide, of Mayan descent, to enlighten us. “Yes,” he explains, “the people are happy. You are seeing the dignity of work.”

The dignity of work. Indeed.