The SCOTUS’ War on Women

It has become clear to me that the Supreme Court is (majority) occupied by slaves to corporate entities. Each major decision is a win for big business and a loss for everyone else. When given the chance to extend an obvious right (marriage) to all people, the Court ruled in the most narrow way possible. Yet, when it comes to the ridiculous notion that corporations are people that can hold religious beliefs, they opted for an expansive ruling that will open up a treasure trove of options for companies that wish to trample over workers’ rights, all in the name of religious freedom.

So, a handful of executives at Hobby Lobby have a stronger claim to religious freedom than the thousands of women they employ, apparently. What separates them? Oh, that’s right, money. Hobby Lobby’s argument is that any kind of contraceptive is the equivalent of abortion. Anybody that has ever taken a high school biology class understands the claim to be ludicrous. Still, if we were to take them on their word, then surely they wouldn’t do business in China, who continue to violate human rights, would they? I mean, forced abortions still happen there. That must be against their principled religious beliefs. Oh wait, they still do business in China. How else could they sell you crappity crap crap at such low low prices? You don’t have to pay children very much money, after all.

All of this points to how ridiculous our country’s employer-based health care system is.  It should never be the place of one’s employer to interfere with an employee’s medical decision. But it seems to fly with this court, especially if the employees in question are women.

This is the same court that reversed the Eleventh Circuit’s Court of Appeals in the Lilly Ledbetter case, finding that women could not sue for gender pay discrimination if 180 days had passed, even if the woman had no way of knowing that the discrimination was taking place. Another win for corporate America.

And further proof of the free market forcing companies to be benevolent employers, amirite?

A few days ago the SCOTUS struck down a Massachusetts law stating that protesters at abortion clinics must stand 35 feet away from the entrance. This law was passed in response to people being murdered at abortion clinics, which is to say nothing of the endless harassment endured by women using the clinics. The completely disingenuous John Roberts said, “Petitioners wish to converse with their fellow citizens about an important subject on the public streets and sidewalks — sites that have hosted discussions about the issues of the day throughout history.”

Give it a rest, Roberts. There is no “conversing with fellow citizens” in front of an abortion clinic. There is only harassment and violence.

If Roberts is so concerned about upholding the First Amendment on public sidewalks, then why does the Supreme Court have a buffer zone?

 

And when the Supreme Court struck down Chicago’s ban on handguns, Mayor Daley wryly pointed out that handguns are not allowed in the Supreme Court.

So what’s good for the Court is not good for the rest of America.

And for all of the conservative hand wringing over “judicial activism” around marriage equality, they sure don’t seem to making a peep when the Court overturns parts of the Affordable Care Act or even the Voting Rights Act.

Today’s ruling was just the latest in a string of rulings that favor corporations over regular people. The Court has come down on the side of actively harming regular people.

The SCOTUS is looking out for people, after all. Mitt Romney’s widely lambasted statement that “corporations are people” has been given legal backing now.

Chief Justice John Roberts’ tortured arguments are reminiscent of Melville Fuller (Plessy v. Ferguson.) Though, to be fair, Roberts is much more ambitious. Make no mistake, his court has gone after minorities with the same gusto.  But he’s also hell bent on eroding the rights of women.

It’s no wonder that Americans are losing confidence in all branches of government.

After all, we are all being made painfully aware of who the government works for.