Reply #56: good points, except "virtually illegal" [View All]

[bonzotex]

How about virtually unnecessary? It shouldn't be hard to get contraception or if necessary an abortion. Dr Dean has always been clear and smart on this odd debate. The progressive stance here doesn't require mental or moral gymnastics.
Essentially, The abortion debate at heart is a civil liberties and health care issue. You can't get any more personally invasive than government taking away control over your own body. That's pro-choice. Simple. Women have the right to control their body. Period.
With personal liberty also comes some personal responsibility, but we have a social responsibility too. It may be irresponsible to "accidentally" get pregnant but how responsible is it to bear and raise a child with no realistic expectation that that child will have health care, education and an environment where he or she can thrive?
The debate should be easy, "Abortion, safe legal and rare". We keep it rare by providing at least a minimum of education and resources. You can't love the fetus more than the resulting child.
Pro-choice is pro-life.
The moral issue for Progressives is to work for a country in which sexuality is not demonized, sex and sexual health education is sane and universal, good health care is provided for potential parents, parents and children. When Americans have access to reality based education, health care, contraception and reasonable resources for women who choose to bear unexpected children, then abortion rates will plummet. This is Dean's point and should be a no-brainer.
Forget trying to make anti-choice fanatics accept open discussions about sexuality. The fundies will never accept a culture that embraces sexuality as natural and good. Nor will they ever accept that women have an inherent right to make the decision whether to carry a child or not. The anti-choice position is mainly religious in nature and based on a repressive idea of sexuality. Progressives should simply ignore christo-fascist whining about sexuality and morals. Point out it's irrelevant until they are willing to support realistic education and health care for our children. Carrying a healthy child to term and raising the child to be a healthy responsible adult is pro-life. Until America provides the resources to all Americans to make birth and child rearing less of a crap-shoot, there's no point in even considering any restrictions on abortion.