ProgressOhio

If you thought government in the bedroom was bad, just wait until they start inspecting your toilet bowl. That could happen if right-to-life zealots in Colorado get their way. Washington Post:

LOS ANGELES -- A proposal to define a fertilized human egg as a person will land on Colorado's ballot this November, marking the first time that the question of when life begins will go before voters anywhere in the nation.

The Human Life Amendment, also known as the personhood amendment, says the words "person" or "persons" in the state constitution should "include any human being from the moment of fertilization." If voters agreed, legal experts say, it would give fertilized eggs the same legal rights and protections to which people are entitled.

The ballot initiative is funded by Colorado for Equal Rights, a grass-roots antiabortion organization. Its purpose, initiative sponsor Kristi Burton said, is to lay a legal and legislative basis for protecting the unborn. Its passage would also open the door to modifying other laws for the same purpose, she said.

As to what laws could then be modified, Burton would not elaborate. "We try not to focus on some of the issues that will be taken care of later on," she said, repeatedly saying that the amendment is not aimed at outlawing abortion....

"If we give fertilized eggs legal rights, abortion could be considered murder and a woman could be sent to jail for making the difficult life decision to terminate a pregnancy," said Crystal Clinkenbeard, spokeswoman for Protect Families, Protect Choice, a coalition of medical professionals, community groups and religious leaders who oppose the amendment.

The measure also could expand the reach of the law into other arenas, legal experts say. For instance, if a woman miscarries, she could be held responsible if it were found she caused it, even unintentionally. If she smoked or drank while pregnant, her behavior might be considered negligence. Damaged eggs might be eligible for monetary damages. The use of fertilized eggs at fertility clinics or in medical research labs would come into question because the disposal of unused eggs could be considered homicide.***

This Colorado ballot initiative is so absurd, it's bizarre. Putting something as deeply personal as family planning in the hands of voters is just dumb. Like John McCain says, people don't like government making decisions for them. This is like Big Brother watching you, except he's a control freak and misogynist.

As many as 40% of pregnancies end in miscarriage -- natural abortions. How is the government going to sort out which miscarriages are unintentional and which are induced abortions? Body Fluid Police?

That's only the beginning of the legal morass this legislation would cause if passed. If a pregnant woman is legally two people can she vote twice? Would Angelina Jolie get to vote three times?

Get a grip, Colorado.

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