Ultrasound Bill "Invasive"

This editorial about the Ultrasound bill in Texas was written under the Austin American Statesman, "Ultrasound Bill is an outrageous intrusion by the Texas Legislature." The author is writing to pro-choice readers and the argument frames Republican leaders as those who want to humiliate women in the process of getting an abortion. In the introduction the writer is clear that women are going to be forced to receive "information designed to humiliate them." Interestingly, the slightest bit of research on this bill reveals this as a dramatization. Jim Vertuno of the Houston Chronicle writes in his article, Senate panel hears ultrasound bill, that it only gives a woman the option to see the results of the ultrasound and gives her the opportunity to ask newly discovered questions.  In fact, it is in the interest of women's health and rights that this bill is presented. How is giving information to a patient before a major procedure designed to humiliate anyone? Women should be presented with a choice, especially the young mothers who may have been pressured into having an abortion over adoption. Resisting this bill denies a woman the right to choose.   It is ironic that we can call an ultrasound inhumane and support abortion procedures.  The author further exaggerates the argument by stating, 

"It is an incredibly invasive requirement forced on women, many already traumatized by an unexpected pregnancy and the decision to have an abortion."

I find it hard to believe that a woman will feel ashamed or invaded if a doctor asks her if she wants to see the ultrasound.  You aren't pro-choice if you refuse to fully inform women of the choice they are making. Those who make a fuss about republicans "shaming" women out of abortions are using that argument to cover for their true agenda. They don't want the woman's conscience to play any part in the "choice" she is making. God forbid a woman hears the heart beat of her baby because she may decide it is a life after all.  In the end, this bill is bad for business because it appeals to conscience and life in the womb.  

CHANGING THE TOP 10% LAW

A new law on it's way to the Senate will influence UT, bringing the top 10% of high school graduates allowed automatic entry down to only the top 6 to 8 percent.  An article called "Top 10 Percent Law Heads to Senate" can be found at www.myfoxaustin.com/subindex/news/politics and discuses the positive and negative effects the law will have on Universities in Texas.  Lawmakers want to solve the problem of overcrowded schools like UT, who take in 80% of their students automatically from the top 10%.  A concern many have is that this will bring down the number of minorities accepted while some argue that schools will ignore white students, who do not qualify automatically, in order to maintain diversity.  All in all, it may hurt a wide variety of students competing to get into UT.  I thought this article was interesting because of its objective style, strictly stating the facts and different arguments. That's what news articles are supposed to do in the first place, but more times than not they defend their own bias and criticize the differing views without much evidence.  I try to avoid the name-calling and finger pointing.  If you prefer to decide for yourself on political issues, this article is worth your time.