Republicans Redefine Dignity

From an LCYD member:

The home page of the Republican Party of Florida reads "Good government is based upon the individual and that each person's ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility must be honored and recognized". One must wonder, then, what the Republican Party considers as an individual, or if they know the definitions of the words "ability", "dignity", "freedom", or "responsibility". Twice in the last few months the Republican Party through the tool of state government has tried to directly interfere in the lives of the individual.
We all remember the Terri Schiavo case. A woman, who had been in a permanent vegetative state for 15 years, was not allowed the dignity to die as she had wished. This was a woman who had anticipated such an event and had personally asked her husband to remove life support in such an occurrence. Such decrees are known as a living will, and under Florida statutes her wishes should never have been disputed. However, the Republican owned Florida government had other ideas. Using power never granted to them under any constitution or law the Florida executive and legislative branch Republicans, as well as the national executive and legislative branch Republicans, attempted to stop the removal of a feeding tube that would have allowed Terri Schiavo's wishes to be granted.
However, the Republican Party's "recognition" and "honor" of Schiavo's dignity and freedom did not stop there. Not only was the efficacy of her living will turned into a circus of illegitimate political power, it was turned into a circus the entire world could see. For weeks it was difficult to turn on the news or look at a paper without seeing a headline about some new power ploy. Eventually, thanks to the relative neutrality of the judicial system in the U.S. (the one branch that Republican leaders are constantly attacking) the feeding tube was removed and Terri Schiavo's dignity and personal freedom were respected.
Now a new case of personal freedom is being tried by the Florida government. A 13 year old girl in state custody attempted to have an abortion procedure on April 26. The girl did so through all of the proper channels -- she was well informed by a counselor, discussed the physical and mental harm it might incur, and had a trained adult discuss all the options with her and her caseworker. According to Florida law a minor does not need to seek parental permission in order to have an abortion (though, unfortunately, this will soon change thanks to a ballot initiative). However, even though it was well out of its range of powers, the Department of Children and Families had a court issue a stay to the abortion. In essence, the DCF wished to force the minor to have the child. It is a well known fact that Republican governor Jeb Bush has enormous amounts of pull within the Department. Once again the Republicans wished to interfere with personal freedom.
Thanks to our GOP deemed “activist judges” the girl was allowed to go ahead with the abortion, but not until after the media and legal attention that caused undue psychological harm. For reference, the stalled abortion also placed the girl at further risk of physical harm, but the abortion was still safer than childbirth would have been.
For what the Republican party claims to be it is amazing what they are not. Repetitively they have attempted to destroy a person’s claim to freedom, dignity, and responsibility. We, as citizens of Florida, can no longer allow the unchecked hypocrisy of a government party that’s apparent main goal is to undermine us as individuals. Perhaps it is time for the Republican website to cite the party’s true stance. "Good government is based upon the disregard of the individual and that each person's ability, dignity, freedom, and responsibility must be ignored".