View From The Handlebars: A Question of Values

I have to admit I’m a little surprised at the number of states tightly limiting abortion.

Call it a rebellion or whatever you like, but there is a trend against allowing abortions when a heartbeat can be detected in the child.

The debate should be looked at below the headlines. We have two sides embattled with the dollar as the primary weapon. Argue if abortion is proper or not. Explain how it is Constitutionally guaranteed if you wish. But before you do this, answer one question: what are your values worth? In the example of scripts like “Indecent Proposal” what the price for something you believe in?

I’ve heard it said “everything is for sale, if the price is high enough,” and likewise “everyone has their price.”

I’m not talking about your house, car or even your favorite pair of hikers. I’m talking about your values. How big of a check would it take to steal a car, assault another person without regard to consequences? Pick your sin. If someone proposed paying you to do something contrary to your beliefs, how many numbers would be on the check?

If you watch closely, that is what is happening. A few years ago, there was a proposal to tax each bullet purchased. The story said if opponents can’t remove guns, they will tax use of guns to the point most people can’t afford one.

Now with the increasing opposition to abortion, specifically abortion when a heartbeat is detected, Hollywood agencies, actors/actresses and producers are threatening to walk wide around states limiting access to abortion. They are in effect saying you want our dollars, you guarantee abortion. The side not so obvious is the opposition believes they can buy the personal values of people, the social values of communities and states.

The abortion issue is both straight-forward and convoluted. We have an awkward intersection of biology, social values, spiritual values and quality of life surrounding person views on when life begins. What is clear is there are people who believe they can pimp an entire state; fall in line or lose the dollar thrown on the stage. Another thought just brought to mind: the companies who are threatening to withdraw, are they also withdrawing their retail presence or just their potential projects and name reference? Are they asking the citizenry to surrender for what might happen or for what will happen?

When values can be exchanged for a handful of greenbacks like a purchase at the grocery store we need to ask how important they are. We need to look inside ourselves and determine if we truly treasure the set of values or if they are a commodity. We are in a world where social values are not just relative, they are often contingent on who is controlling the purse strings.

Watch what happens when someone deliberately or accidentally steps off script on a well-advertised cause. That person goes from daily headlines like a homegrown hero to a down and out at the local retail.

When someone threatens to remove their projects and their money, ask yourself if the string was always attached to what dollars were coming into the community.