Shaylee Ulledahl, Minot
With the 2012 election around the corner, we need to address an issue that hasn't received much attention. As of today, there are 17 women serving in the United States Senate. This means that 83 men are dictating the very personal lives of women. Rick Berg hopes to be one of these men.
In 2007, Rick Berg voted in support of a North Dakota bill that would imprison a woman for life if she received an abortion in the instance of rape. To me, this is disgusting. Rick Berg has no right to make these decisions on behalf of women. What's worse, is that there are currently 83 men making these decisions with few women having any say on their futures.
North Dakota needs to support Heidi Heitkamp in the race for Senate so we can move toward equal representation in Congress. Last month she spoke at North Dakota State University regarding the importance of renewing the Violence Against Women Act. This act provided over $1 billion toward the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. The 2012 renewal of this Act is largely opposed by conservative republicans.
Heidi Heitkamp's support for this act will provide continued grant money for domestic violence and abuse centers. We need to elect more women into Congress so men will stop making important decisions regarding rape, birth control, and abortion on our behalf.
Imagine if the situation were reversed and 83 women decided to end all men's child visitation rights in the event of a divorce. This would be absurd.
When placing your vote this November, think of your mother, your sister, your daughter, or even yourself and know the importance of electing Heidi Heitkamp into the U.S. Senate.