...to protect life...

“Government’s role should be to protect life from the beginning to the end.”

(Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, upon signing the “heartbeat” abortion restriction bill)

Dear Governor DeWine,

I truly appreciate your passion for the role of government in the protection of life. I say this despite the fact that you eagerly signed the so-called “heartbeat bill.” Your signature on that legislation gives evidence of a lack of understanding of and compassion for the agony many women experience when they discover they are carrying a fetus they did not plan for and may not be able to provide for.

That said, I look forward to your continuing to keep alive the ideal you have put before the people of Ohio, and before your own political party. The Republican party has become quite adept at creating legislation and promoting rules that are antithetical to the protection of life at almost any stage. It seems more committed to protecting the life–the health and well-being–of corporations than of human beings.

It begins with health care: does not the protection of life mean, above all else, access to needed health care for every American? How can such access be limited by lack of money?

How about income inequality? Every study confirms the common sense assumption that those who are poor or even just surviving marginally do not enjoy the quality and length of life of those who are better off. Does your party commit itself to monetary policy, including tax law, that at least makes it possible for all Americans to secure adequate resources to meet basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter?

How about the administration of justice? From our police departments to our prison systems, is everyone given a chance to be heard fairly in a court of law and, if sent to prison, to be not only corrected but also rehabilitated?

And what about guns and all the forms of violence that plague our communities? It is quite clear that we could enact a number of controls on access to guns that would not “take away” our Second Amendment rights. You cannot claim that government’s job is to protect life from beginning to end and then not even be willing to study gun violence.

Climate change? There’s a threat to the lives of millions, maybe billions, maybe every last one of us and our descendants that your party studiously ignores. It’s a threat that can be met with new technologies, and with new jobs. The Republican party cannot continue to pretend climate change is not a grave threat to us all and expect anyone to think it is concerned with the protection of life, human and non-human alike.

Governor DeWine, you have articulated up a lofty role for government. I have given you few of the many areas where your sincerity regarding it will be tested. I wish you well as you lead your party to help Ohio’s government live up to it.

Sincerely,

KDM