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Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

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Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#71

Post by gjsman-1000 »

flailingroof wrote: post #69
gjsman-1000 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This law accomplishes a few things that people are missing: 1. A stark reminder that pro-lifers aren't giving up, and that 48 years of fighting later, they are stronger and getting stronger over time. And that the pro-abortion side should take notice. 2. A law that, even though it will almost inevitably fail, in the eyes of pro-lifers, several dozen children will be saved (due to inability to get abortions) and thus…

2. Or it will just cause the women to get abortions elsewhere, or let the kids grow up in homes that can't support them. Not to mention the extra loads of single moms (or dads). No one will be "saved". What it's more likely to accomplish is to make Texas even more republican, and to make the US appear even more crazy to the outside world.

Adoption is an option, and you have no idea who that child could become. Steve Jobs was given up for adoption because abortion wasn’t legal at the time.

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#72

Post by cforrester »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #57
belltaco wrote: post #18

> Sec. 171.208. CIVIL LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION OR AIDING OR ABETTING VIOLATION. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who: (1) performs or induces an abortion in violation of this subchapter; (2) knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for…

This law accomplishes a few things that people are missing: 1. A stark reminder that pro-lifers aren't giving up, and that 48 years of fighting later, they are stronger and getting stronger over time. And that the pro-abortion side should take notice. 2. A law that, even though it will almost inevitably fail, in the eyes of pro-lifers, several dozen children will be saved (due to inability to get abortions) and thus…

This shot across the bow certainly is a good reminder for advocates of abortion access rights not to become complacent, as progress can be undone. I'm hopeful that it can act as a catalyst for advocates in the region. Extremist actions like this often create new advocates, as well as drawing external attention. There are already groups mobilizing from without and within to help Texan women who want or need an abortion, and conversely, groups hoping to take advantage of this law to target those women for what I would consider to be legal harassment. It seems like more of a gamble than you might be thinking.

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#73

Post by [deleted] »

da39a3ee wrote: post #46

Might be nice to see major airlines, and airbnb (and competitors) offering free travel and accommodation to texan women traveling to other states for abortion-related procedures, and similar legal protection for participating airbnb hosts. Sure, it's partly lame for companies to take this as an opportunity for good PR, but free travel and accommodation might actually help, and it would be nice for republican texas to…

[deleted]

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#74

Post by goatherders »

NotACop182 wrote: post #67
goatherders wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I literally drew the Texas congressional lines in 2000 that set all this in motion and the primary goal of everything the state party does is to purge the state of people that don't vote Republican.

Whooo! Hold my beer! You literally were part of the group to draw the lines. Imagine looking back and seeing the damage it has caused in the long run. I couldn’t even imagine.

Yes. I was an intern for the ranking republican in the Texas state house (Tom craddick) at the time. I was the only person who knew how to use a computer at more than a basic level so I had my hand on the mouse as we used a brand new map program loaded with voter data. Others in the room at various points included Tom Delay, Mike Baselice (disgraced Trump consultant) Governor George W Bush, Ted Deleese, and some guy named Scott. But I'm being literal: I had my hand on the mouse and drew the map.

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#75

Post by alecst »

goatherders wrote: post #14
marcinzm wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if that's a partial goal of this law. Keep the state red and have those who are more liberal leave. Ensures a nice voting block for national elections and ensures local officials do not get voted out in the future.

Yes. I literally drew the Texas congressional lines in 2000 that set all this in motion and the primary goal of everything the state party does is to purge the state of people that don't vote Republican.

Wait what -- is this for real?

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#76

Post by paulgb »

commoner wrote: post #62
MisterSandman wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious, though, can an Uber driver be sued if they happen to take a passenger to a school and the passenger commits a mass shooting? How would the driver even know the women is pregnant or going to get an abortion? It's not like there are clinics that ONLY do abortions.

Anyone can be sued for any infraction of the law, but to establish that a defendant is "aiding and abetting", it needs to be shown that the defendant was aware that the offense would be committed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiding_and_abetting#United_Sta... However, since this law leaves the defendant liable for legal fees, it could be used to financially harm any defendant whether or not the allegation has merit.

That's for a specific provision of criminal law, but SB8 creates a civil liability even when the person did not know that the abortion being performed is illegal:

“regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the abortion would be performed or induced in violation of this subchapter”

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#77

Post by goatherders »

xxpor wrote: post #33
goatherders wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I literally drew the Texas congressional lines in 2000 that set all this in motion and the primary goal of everything the state party does is to purge the state of people that don't vote Republican.

Woah woah woah hold up. You're the person who actually drew the lines? Sorry if this is rude, but what the hell were you thinking?

I was a 22 year old republican given something important to do. I had no idea at the time that we were setting the country on an irredeemable path. It was as exciting at the time as it is shameful now.

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#78

Post by novok »

philipov wrote: post #22
fabian2k wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I understand that's one of the more insane parts of this law. You don't need to show you suffered any harm or loss, absolutely anyone can sue under this law.

It's probably using some twisted justification like saying that abortions cause harm to society as a whole, and that gives any member of society standing.

AFAIK that is the definition of a crime, and is enforced by the state accordingly.

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#79

Post by flailingroof »

marcinzm wrote: post #68
flailingroof wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's certainly a failing of the flawed US democracy, but fortunately there are much better ways to implement democracies.

They all have their flaws. Parliamentary democracies, for example, are susceptible to minority extreme views having massive weight if they are needed to keep a coalition in power. Direct democracies are the opposite with minority views being ignored. edit: Also, one needs to separate the impact of the democratic system from that of the social/cultural system. A country with a very homogenous population tends to have…

Yes, but "no perfect option" doesn't imply "no better option".

I could also counter that the extra weight to "minority extreme views" is much less of an issue than most votes in most US states being meaningless because of the first past the post system on a state basis. But I don't really see this as a meaningful discussion, it's undebatable that the US system is flawed to the point where it can't be called a real democracy.

Re: Lyft, Uber lash out at legal threat from strict Texas abortion law

#80

Post by pkulak »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #57
belltaco wrote: post #18

> Sec. 171.208. CIVIL LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION OR AIDING OR ABETTING VIOLATION. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who: (1) performs or induces an abortion in violation of this subchapter; (2) knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for…

This law accomplishes a few things that people are missing: 1. A stark reminder that pro-lifers aren't giving up, and that 48 years of fighting later, they are stronger and getting stronger over time. And that the pro-abortion side should take notice. 2. A law that, even though it will almost inevitably fail, in the eyes of pro-lifers, several dozen children will be saved (due to inability to get abortions) and thus…

No one is pro abortion.
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