By Tim Rohr
Attorney Vanessa Williams, who supports abortion rights, while not fully on board with an islandwide vote on abortion, agreed with the legislative intent of the bill that states "many of our citizens believe that abortion services are essential health care."
"Abortion is health care. It shouldn't take a referendum for Guam to protect health care for people who can get pregnant," Williams said.
But if lawmakers approve giving voters the power to decide the legality of abortion, Williams predicts the election will favor access to abortions.
There are some solid arguments, pro and con, against referendums. One of the "cons" is that referendums are a default to direct-democracy and an open door to "tyranny of the majority."
Our nation's founders specifically sought to insulate the nation they intended to found from tyranny, of the majority or otherwise, by hammering out the parameters of a republican form of government which may be otherwise referred to as a representative democracy.
The key word is "representative," and it's why we go through this crazy exercise every two years with signs and ads and signs and ads and signs and ads... We elect these people (our legislature) for a reason. We elect them AND PAY THEM to do the tough stuff of government, for better or worse, until the next election do we part.
A referendum is a cop out, a real run and hide by the people we elect and pay - especially on this issue. In fact, it can be said that there has already been a referendum. That's what the legislative election is every two years. It is the people's referendum on who they trust to make and unmake laws.
So, I agree with Vanessa. It shouldn't take a referendum. In fact, at this point not only is no referendum needed, but for the pro-aborts, no legislation of any sort is needed.
Abortion is completely legal in Guam save for a very few limits: 1) you can't kill a mostly-born baby by sticking a knife into the back of her head as she comes down the birth canal (partial-birth abortion); 2) minors need parental consent (but not always); 3) women seeking abortion are required to be informed of the abortion's risks and alternatives; and 4) abortion stats must be reported. That's it.
Oh, there's one more. You can't kill a baby who survives an abortion - even if the current governor says "do it." (Listen to Tall Tales every Friday after the half-time show to hear LLG's public testimony as to why these babies should be left to die...or ask her yourself the next time you see her receive communion at the Cathedral.)
So I agree with Vanessa on the referendum thing, but I also agree with her that "the election will favor abortion." I agree with her because CHamoru's - at least the majority - apparently have a self-extinction wish. And I don't know how to reverse it.
Even though the CHamoru population in Guam has been grievously declining for years, the majority of CHamoru's twice elected as their governor the most ardent, vociferous, and vicious proponent of CHamoru self-extinction to ever run for office.
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