With the issuance of the “Dobbs V. Jackson”
ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back “Roe V. Wade” and the ensuing series
of decisions that sustained it. Anti-abortion activists heralded this as a
great victory. But is the fight for life and family values over? Can those of
us who claim to embrace the sanctity of life and support the family stop and
rest now? Is that struggle over? I do not think so. I do not think our
responsibility as a civilization and nation ends once a child is born. We ought
to set the conditions for long-term success. The more of us who excel and reach
our full potential the better off we will all be. So, here are a few things
that those of us who fall into the “sanctity of life” and “family values” might
turn our energies toward.
1.
Wage
Disparity: Far too many
men and women must work multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. A man or
woman ought to be able to work a forty hour a week job and support their
family. They should make enough so that both partners do not have to work.
While both parents working is viable, it ought not to be necessary to enjoy a
decent standard of living for a family. We need to support those practices and
policies that lead to better wage distribution.
2.
Access
to Healthcare: We should
be ashamed that we’re the only industrialized nation that does not provide
healthcare for all of its citizens. While challenging, this is not in the too
hard to do box. We can develop a system that provides for all citizens and
supports a thriving medical community/industry. No one should have to choose
between paying their bills and getting adequate healthcare.
3.
Access
to Quality Education: We
need to elevate the societal resources we direct toward education. Too many of
our programs bleed much needed funds from public schools. We need to address
the excessive costs of public university education. Monies spent on education
are an investment in the health of our nation and society. We should seriously
consider backing away from high stakes testing and return professional
development and management of teachers to principals. As part of this effort,
we need to stop the endless criticism of teachers and instead elevate them as
professionals who dedicate their lives to educating future doctors, lawyers, engineers,
plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and other professionals we need for our
society to function. The majority of teachers maintain a razor focus on their
content area. Contrary to popular opinion, they do not have time for extraneous
material. We should let them teach and stop berating them.
4.
Access
to Housing: We should work
hard to address the lack of adequate housing in our country. We need to build
more homes and find ways to help first time buyers. We need to push back
against the sad proclivity towards NIMBY, or not in my back yard. A benefit of programs
that create more housing is that they would also create more jobs in
construction and other trades. Growing up and living in a decent neighborhood should
be the expectation of all, not the experience of a privileged few.
5.
Access
to the Arts: I grew up in
a situation which afforded me access to the arts. Naturally, my parents exerted
profound influence on that consumption, often requiring my participation. But
that access opened my mind to new possibilities and broadened my horizons past
the West Texas that surrounded me. Of course, they ensured that I imbibed in
the rich culture and arts of West Texas as well. When we invest in arts,
ensuring public access to beauty, we enrich all our population and elevate our
society. Of course, this comes with a certain tension; after all, what I
consider art may not pass your scrutiny, and that is okay. Through the
corporate support of the creation of beauty we elevate our culture and
citizenry.
Those of us who consider Family Values and
the Right to Life as critical might consider taking up these challenges. We
want to create a culture that not only embraces the sanctity of life but also promotes
a high quality of life for all its citizens. Some might argue that these things
are too expensive; however, I would point out that a stratified culture with an
underclass that exists in perpetual poverty and squalor comes with its own expenses.
A society should protect the most vulnerable of its members and enable them to grow
and thrive throughout their lives. Those of us who value life and the family
ought to agitate for the policies mentioned above as they directly impact the
quality of life of the individuals and families that make up our society. When
all of us prosper and reach our full potential as citizens our entire nation
will prosper.
