By Zamboni
The raging bonfire over the awful transgender legislation in Arkansas reminds us cats of the abortion debate: If Republicans are so against government interference in people's lives, why do they insist on politicians butting into personal decisions? We can't think of anything more private than trans kids' treatments for gender dysphoria or a woman's right to choose.
Governor Asa Hutchinson didn't make this comparison himself (he's wildly anti-choice). But in a surprise move, he vetoed the state legislature's ban on gender-affirming medical care today. Chances are his veto will be overridden — but trans rights leaders are thrilled. "This is a powerful rebuke of this nightmare legislation," said one.
Who got to Hutchinson, and convinced him to do the right thing? Or maybe the better question is, what company?
You've probably noticed that big business isn't being particularly shy about criticizing the draconian legislation that Republicans are enacting across the country. (The GOP has declared war on so many sports leagues, airlines and beverage manufacturers that you wonder if they'll have anything left to cheer for, fly on or drink.) So it's easy to imagine Walmart, Tyson Foods, Arkansas-based healthcare providers, or any one of the state's 25 largest employers contacting Hutchinson and saying, "Asa, we still need to recruit talented people to come live and work here. You sign this bill, you'd be making it very tough."
Maybe the Republicans will wake up someday to the fact that hate, suppression and cruelty are hard sells to most clear-thinking Americans, and make no economic sense. If that happens, the shame will be that it will be their love of the almighty dollar — not simple decency — that will carry the day. We cats HISS.
No comments:
Post a Comment