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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missyann · 56-60

It will save millions of human lives. Pro life advocates. Don’t want to see one woman die with complications from pregnancy. Although they are so rare that they are almost never today Doctors in every state in the country know that it is legal to treat life-threatening emergencies with using any means they need to. Yes , occasionally a woman dies in childbirth, even when she has had an uneventful wanted pregnancy. Example from an aneurysm.

Oh, I admit that pro life advocates must do more to ensure protection for women in the workplace and public assistance. When it comes to public assistance, yes the government should cover one unplanned pregnancy but a woman knows how pregnancy occurs and the taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to cover multiple pregnancies. If a woman cannot afford to raise a child, there is adoption and there is help with anything a woman and a family needs.

Rape and incest accounts for less than 0.05% of abortions performed in the US. Pro life and pro abortion need to stand together to ensure that the men who rape get the harshest punishment.. I believe they need to be medically castrated and put in the highest security woman’s prison. But we cannot support punishing the innocent baby, who had nothing to do with the way it was conceived, and that baby is no different than a baby conceived in love, and is wanted. It is no less human. The woman who was raped has the opportunity to heal but once ab innocent life is ended, it cannot be brought back.

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Adeptlinguist · M

@missyann Forcing a woman to give birth is unacceptable.

missyann · 56-60

@Adeptlinguist Then they should be using contraception

Adeptlinguist · M

@missyann Absurdly facile answer. Abortion is never desirable, but obviously should not be prohibited. Do you have no humanity?

missyann · 56-60

@Adeptlinguist Of course I do. There are groups whose only purpose is to help women and there are.Drs who would never deny life-saving treatment, but it is so rare that it’s almost never that abortion is the treatment

Adeptlinguist · M

@missyann You clearly don’t. Blocking you now.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@missyann

Pro life advocates. Don’t want to see one woman die with complications from pregnancy.

You're right. You want to see hundreds of women die from complications of pregnancy. That's why the law is written so poorly in places where it's being banned.

Punches · 46-50, F

@missyann The problem though, the women who get abortions - if they are forced to have the baby, what kind of upbringing would the child face, being an unwanted child?

I mean yeah they could hand the baby over to the state but what happens when there is more supply than demand?

I will agree that having an abortion is a horrible choice to have to make but would the situation be any better if the child is born, faces a rough upbringing, and as an adult ends up being a burden on society?

missyann · 56-60

@Punches Where is it written that all unwanted pregnancies end in child abuse And bad upbringing and burden on society? There is no guarantee that these children will be any of the things that you mentioned.. there have been children born in poor situation, who are now some of the most successful people

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@missyann the problem is you use superlatives like all or none. There is often a correlation between the way one is raised and how one develops into an adult. Nature vs. nurture. Not to mention drug and alcohol use, poor medical care, etc. during an unwanted pregnancy. Or will that be monitored also? And enforced? Again, where will it end?

This comment is hidden. Show Comment

missyann · 56-60

@Handfull1 sure but where is the guarantee ?

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@missyann there are no guarantees in life! None! Either way.

missyann · 56-60

@LordShadowfire oh, how I love you. You start to get pissed off when you have no logical comment in reply.

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@missyann

oh, how I love you. You start to get pissed off when you have no logical comment in reply.

She said to the mirror.

missyann · 56-60

@Handfull1 Exactly. We need to work to change the circumstances, not eliminate the life

missyann · 56-60

@LordShadowfire Can you simply just answer a question with owl, one of these fallacy post. No, you can’t because you have no reply..

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@missyann I'm sorry, but I can't give a truthful answer to a lying question.

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@missyann how do you suggest that?

missyann · 56-60

@LordShadowfire Whether you like it or not, there are some things that are black and white and right and wrong

missyann · 56-60

@LordShadowfire What was lying in the question?

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@missyann

What was lying in the question?

You lie about things being black and white.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@missyann Consider all of the really evil people who are walking the world right now. Would society be better off if they had been aborted?

We have no idea what kind of a person a baby will eventually become. He could live a good life for decades and then one day become a mass murderer or a thief who steals people's life savings. But, generally speaking, if a woman is forced to have a baby she doesn't want and love, she will abuse and maybe even kill the child. That is basic human nature and it happens all around the world. So, if a woman wants to abort the baby what concern is it of ours? Chances are we wouldn't give her a penny or a grain of rice to help support her and the baby. Our favorite whine would be that she's just a lazy welfare queen.

newjaninev2 · 56-60, F

@missyann You need to begin by defining 'life'. Until you do that nothing you write in that comment has any meaning.

newjaninev2 · 56-60, F

@missyann Around a third of first pregnancies spontaneously abort, often without the woman even being aware she was pregnant. Mother Nature is the most prolific abortionist of all.

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@newjaninev2 and heartbreaking as well!

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