Banning abortion is not "pro-life"
Conservatives fought the war to ban abortion under the 'pro-life' banner. “Oh, those poor suffering, little angels. We have to save them all.” It is a crock - from a practical point of view, morally and philosophically.
For almost 200 years, conservative churches did not speak much on the subject. And when they did, their usual belief was that life started at “the quickening” or “ensoulment”. This occurs at about 20 weeks into a pregnancy. Further, the Christian lawbook, the Bible, never mentions it.
Leviticus 20 promotes the death penalty for all kinds of behavior — adultery, gay sex, sassing your parents, sleeping with your stepmother, sacrificing children to Molek, bestiality, and being a medium or a spiritist — but not abortion. Lesser ‘crimes’ like having sex with a menstruating woman, an aunt, your brother’s widow, or your sister, subject the criminal to banishment — but still no punishment for abortion.
So why the furor around the Roe v. Wade decision? Hint, it had nothing to do with abortion.
From the age of federal civil rights legislation, when whites (especially Southern conservative whites) were appalled that the Supreme Court judged Blacks their legal equals — and not in a separate way — “states rights” became a euphemism for oppressing minorities. However, while that resonated locally among fearful, poor white populations locally, it was a poor election strategy nationally.
So how do you fight for state’s rights without saying you are? You look for a cause that is not overly racist. You demand the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. And that the legality of abortion becomes a state decision. Abortion opponents did not care what happened to the women who would be hurt. And the vast majority did not give a damn about the children who would be born into poverty.
How do we know? Because it is common knowledge that this concern for life stops at birth. Expand medicare for nearly-poor families? Fuggedaboudit. Hungry kids? Cut food stamps. Mothers have to work two jobs to support a child they cannot afford? Heaven forbid we raise the minimum wage. In every instance, conservatives support policies that hurt these “precious angels”.
There is more. From a practical point of view, banning abortion does not do much to prevent abortion. If there is a demand for something, there will be a supply. And a poor woman who already has a child — 59% of abortions are performed on women who are mothers — and who knows that child will suffer, will do what she has to protect that child. Even at the risk of her own life.
The math is damning. Eleven percent of Americans live in poverty. But 49% of abortions are performed on women living below the poverty line. If a woman or both parents can barely afford the child(ren) they already have, not only will another child be born into want, but the existing child(ren) will also suffer. And that is child abuse. It is as abusive as if someone physically beat that child. Women who make the tough choice often do so to protect existing lives.
Conservatives say these women could put the baby up for adoption or drop it off at a hospital or fire station. Really? How many poor kids, especially minority children, are already suffering in the foster care system? What do they believe would happen to all these additional babies? Think Oliver Twist.
The stark reality is that these desperate women will still get abortions. The Guttmacher Institute estimates that in 1967 c.829,000 American women got an illegal abortion. Roe just legalized what was already happening. And, in the process, making it safer for women.
If conservatives were pro-life they would not slash programs for the poor. They would raise taxes to pay for infant care, free daycare, and paid parental leave for both parents. They would raise the minimum wage — or better yet, guarantee a minimum income. Do not hold your breath. Conservatives will do everything for newborns and young children, except anything that costs money.
So while these self-congratulatory “pro-lifers” celebrate their cynical victory. Women will die. And babies will be born into suffering. How Christian.
Bonus material: Overturning Roe is a national disgrace, harmful to women, and, as outlined above, an exercise in cynical cruelty. But we are where we are. So what is next? Here is a silver lining.
Overturning Roe does not ban abortion. It returns the decision on the legality of abortion to the states and local politicians. Voters elect politicians. Overturning Roe will do nothing to drive conservative voters to the polls — they have already ‘won’. But it will prove an enormous incentive for liberals to go vote.
In many places, this will not make a difference. The reddest states will remain red. But swing states may see a leftward shift — with a concomitant effect on Senate and Presidential elections; and elections for Governor and state legislatures. And even in red states — despite the GOP’s best efforts at gerrymandering — there are still 'swing districts'. So a fired-up liberal base would make a difference.
Also, women of childbearing age are the demographic most impacted. And they are younger on average. The young have been less likely to vote — but this may motivate more young women, and the young men who care about them, to register and make their voices heard.