Been thinking about this.... So does the religious right consider the status quo on this issue to be "left-wing"? If banning all abortions except for rape and threats to the life of the mother is centrist, as someone suggested yesterday, it would seem so.
I think the only place feminists would compromise on this issue would be in late-term abortions. IF certain other measures were implemented. For example. Unrestricted abortion for the first two months rather that three, coupled with non-prescription access to the morning-after pill and increased research into contraceptive improvements. Improved services for victims of rape and incest coupled with access to second-trimester abortions. Second trimester abortions available for threats to the health of the mother, this to be determined by a doctor. In other words, in the second trimester, stretch marks don't count. Needing medication might, depending on the medication. On the other hand, abortion needs to be affordable so that those who need one don't get pushed into the second trimester due to financial reasons. Medicaid for example should cover it. I think what the right is missing is that nobody likes the idea of abortion. But it is frequently the only way to keep a terrible situation from getting much worse. If we step in sooner to protect young girls from incest, then we won't have to worry about what to do when they get pregnant, yanno? If rape were better prosecuted, if offenders were treated, the tragedy of innocent offspring would be avoided along with that of the victim's trauma. I had a couple of discussions last week with people who were voting Kerry over abortion. I suggested to one woman that condoms in schools were in fact a good way to avoid teenage pregnancy. She was incensed and told me that if condoms were available in schools these girls would just go out and have sex! Abortion and rape however were sufficient reasons for abortions, because these were not, and I quote, the girl's "fault." Somehow I suspect that at the root of this issue there is a perception that female sexuality is bad or even threatening. Surely this is unhealthy as public policy? Anyway, the above is my personal best at defining a middle of the road on this particular issue. I am sure neither NOW nor Phyllis Schafly would approve approve, but I am not looking for their approval, just for... the middle. Dana -- Diebold: It's a better way to deliver a state ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Gold Sponsor - CFHosting.net http://www.cfhosting.net Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:134162 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
