I’ve been around for 89 years and for most of my voting years, I have been leaning to the right more than to the left. I can even say, without emotion, that I voted for Donald Trump in the last two elections. However, I’m not so sure that he will get my vote this time around. On the other hand, Joe Biden has absolutely no chance for my vote! What a terrible situation to be in.

The Republicans have been on very thin ice with me ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court. Now the right for women to have an abortion is under attack in so-called red states. I’m not an advocate for anyone to be able to abort at any time for any convenient reason, but there are some legitimate reasons for not going forward with childbirth.

For example, what if your 14-year-old daughter told mom and dad she was expecting? Just think about that for a moment. Do you really want your special little girl to become a mother at 15 years of age? How could she finish schooling? How could she care for and support her child? What about college?

Which brings up another problem with the GOP. Some of those red states (and their members in Congress) are now moving to outlaw all forms of contraception. Now that’s a real winner, isn’t it? Youngsters are going to engage in sex no matter how well they are brought up. It’s natural that kids will do it. They always have and will continue to do so into the future, no matter what mom and dad or their pastor/priest say about it being a sin, etc., etc.,etc.

What parents should be doing (and many already are) is take their innocent girl to her doctor or clinic to be put on the pill at the age of 13 or 14. That would be a really smart move.

These really aren’t political party issues. These are serious family problems that must be dealt with at home, not by the government at any level. The medical community should be the unrestricted source for help.

In a perfect society none of this would be happening. Early abortions need to be allowed and assisted safely up to the first trimester or so. Costs of the abortion should be born by the parents of both.

Now, let’s look at the mess at the southern border … But that’s another issue!

Don LaShier is a retired tire dealer who lives  in Greenfield.