Struggles & Identity > Life

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Can someone explain the benefits of outlawing abortion?

In the 49 years Roe v. Wade was in place, the crime rate in the U.S. plummeted, the overall standard of living went up, more people were educated, technology advanced, and women and minorities enjoyed greater equality. The U.S. also became the sole superpower. You can argue that none of these were related to abortion, but that suggests abortion has no effect on anything. Some of the negative outcomes of outlawing abortion could be:

Increase in the maternal death rate for women who needed abortions for their own health-related reasons
Increase in the infant death rate for children with genetic defects who otherwise would have been aborted
increase in abandoned children and "dumpster babies"
Increase in poverty and child abuse of unwanted children
Growth of a black market in abortion, from "back alley" clinics, drug dealers selling abortion pills, and legitimate doctors performing abortions for their patients
Lower birth rates as more women opt for sterilization out of fear that they won't be able to have an abortion if they need one

So what are the benefits? I'm not looking for abstract platitudes like "increased respect for life" or other vague pronouncements. Abortion is illegal in Guatemala, but I wouldn't point to that country as one where life is respected. I'm asking for specific, concrete benefits. This may be difficult as countries where abortion is illegal tend to have less individual liberty and prosperity than countries where it's legal or at least easily accessible (for example, abortion is illegal in Malta, but Maltese women have an abortion rate similar to other EU countries because they simply go to Italy for their abortions).

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EPreject · 36-40, F

IDK why its hard for ppl to understand that abortion isnt being outlawed, its being left at the hands of the state. The ppl choose what rules and regulations they want to approve surrounding that law/right.

Further more i think the conversation that should really be had should be had by women and be honest about how abortion is abused.

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BohemianBabe · M

@EPreject It's being outlawed in certain states. And obviously, this is just the beginning. Republicans are already talking about how to ban abortion at the national level. If Trump wins, that will probably happen.

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Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@EPreject Can you list states where it’s been on the ballot?

AbbySvenz · F

They want each state to decide? Then each state should put it on the ballot. Put up or shut up.

JPWhoo · 36-40, M

@EPreject If the voters in my state choose to put restrictions on it such that it’s practically outlawed in my case, then I must either pay to go to another state to have it or I’m screwed. I don’t know why it’s hard for people to understand, if you think abortion is wrong, then just don’t get one! That’s how you let the people choose.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@EPreject Yeah, okay. Tell that to the parents of the dead girl in Texas. Or the families of the little 10-year-old girls being rаped and left with no options, because they live in a state where abortion carries a heavier penalty than impregnating a child.

Ontheroad · M

@EPreject That isn't true/right. Nearly half of the states (24) do not provide for statewide citizen-initiated ballot measures. In other words, the people do not get a say or even the chance to have a vote on the issue.

Polls, recent polls show over 69% of the voters of U.S. adults said the practice should be legal in all or most cases.

If the people were allowed to vote, then women would have access to abortions in all or most all cases. End of.

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EPreject · 36-40, F

@LordShadowfire Recipets or GTFO , BS misleading stories dont persuade me ,NXT

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Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@EPreject you have yet to give me a list??

EPreject · 36-40, F

@BohemianBabe I respect your opinions even though i dont agree with them and respectfully the second part to your statement is a convo to be had amongst WOMEN. Becuase as females we need to have an honest conversation about abortion , and sex and accountability.

EPreject · 36-40, F

@BohemianBabe i just think the concersation transcends into a place men have no business in.

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BohemianBabe · M

@EPreject

i just think the concersation transcends into a place men have no business in.

Identity politics?! What are you, a liberal snowflake? 😆😝

JPWhoo · 36-40, M

@EPreject Abortion is contraception, always. And just because a woman who wants an abortion was not a victim of rape or incest does not mean she acted irresponsibly. Lots of abortions started out as wanted pregnancies, and then something went wrong. Maybe the fetus didn’t develop right, maybe it won’t ever be able to live outside the womb, maybe the pregnancy doesn’t put the woman’s life in danger yet but it threatens her health and/or wellbeing in some other way, threatening to cause irreversible damage. Lots of possibilities. And maybe abortion isn’t always the most ethical choice in all those cases; the issue here is, what makes you think the politicians in the state capital know what’s best for the woman and the fetus better than her and her doctor?

LeopoldBloom · M

@EPreject Since the Dobbs decision, several states have outlawed abortion, and the Republicans are talking about outlawing it nationwide.

How is abortion being "abused?" There's no scenario where women should be forced to give birth against their will. It's no one's business why a woman wants an abortion any more than it's anyone's business why a woman wants a boob job. Abortion is health care.

LeopoldBloom · M

@Handfull1 Abortion was on the ballot in Ohio and Kansas (I'd have to look up if it was voted on in other states). Also, in Wisconsin, Judge Protasiewicz was elected on a pro-choice platform. The failure of the "red wave" in 2022 was very likely due to the Dobbs decision. There have not been any elections since then where abortion was an issue and the pro-life side won.

LeopoldBloom · M

@EPreject What business is it of yours why a woman has an abortion? The problem with the so-called exceptions for rape or the mother's life is that in practice, they amount to total bans. Several women are suing the state of Texas because their doctors were afraid to give them abortions to save their lives, forcing them to flee the state to have them elsewhere. My own state of Georgia has a law forbidding women from leaving the state for abortions. You're putting doctors in the position of having to choose between a malpractice suit and a prison sentence.

The Dobbs decision was a disaster for the anti-abortion forces because it allowed the crazies out who want to outlaw all abortion and execute women who have them. The result is going to be a Democratic wave in November and a federal law legalizing abortion nationwide.

If you don't like abortion, don't have one.

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@EPreject I’m lazy because I asked you to back up what you stated?? Then don’t state something you can’t back up!

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@LeopoldBloom thank you. I live in WI and knew the platform but even here, it wasn’t on the ballot. I wanted EPreject to back up her statement as I figured it was very few states, if any.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@LeopoldBloom

Georgia has a law forbidding women from leaving the state for abortions

Has such a law been contested in court? Sounds like thought crime to me. How do you prove intent?

Or is the crime that of having the abortion regardless of where in the world it happens? But even that must be hard to prove, after all the doctors involved are hardly likely to turn up to give evidence.

basilfawlty89 · 36-40, M

@EPreject ratio

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