PM Series: Question 9

[RR1997]

The right to individual autonomy is important, even if it threatens collective security: Usually Agree

The government should penalize organizations that practice outsourcing: Agree (critical issue)

Giving faith-based charities the same government resources as secular organizations is a good idea: Disagree (not critical)

We should increase foreign aid to countries struggling with poverty: Agree (not critical)

We should increase funding for education: Agree (critical issue)

Heterosexual couples should receive higher marital recognition than same-sex couples: Disagree (critical issue)

Overall, free trade hurts more than it helps: Disagree (critical issue)

We should reduce the number of government programs substantially: Disagree (critical issue)

Abortion should be illegal or very heavily restricted: ?

My opinion:
Disagree (not critical, moving to the right on the issue of abortion, but I still currently take a left wing stance on this issue).

[SNJ1985]

Agree. Critical issue.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Disagree (Critical)

[Goldwater]

Usually Disagree

[TNF]

Disagree / Critical

Abortion should be free and on demand at any stage of pregnancy.

[Flake]

Disagree (Critical)

[TDAS04]

Disagree (Critical)

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Usually agree (critical). Abortion should be available to women who have been raped or cannot survive the pregnancy. Yet, how can I be pro-life and condemn an infant to a life of poverty or misery when they leave the womb. Until a social welfare system that is workable and cost affective is installed to help those who truly need the help, I cannot condemn a woman for having an abortion unless it is for trivial reasons (gender selective, etc).

[TJ in Oregon]

Agree Critical

[Redalgo]

Disagree / Not Critical

[ElectionsGuy]

Disagree / Not Critical

[GaussLaw]

Usually agree (critical). Abortion should be available to women who have been raped or cannot survive the pregnancy. Yet, how can I be pro-life and condemn an infant to a life of poverty or misery when they leave the womb. Until a social welfare system that is workable and cost affective is installed to help those who truly need the help, I cannot condemn a woman for having an abortion unless it is for trivial reasons (gender selective, etc).

Exactly the same here.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Disagree (Critical)

[TJ in Oregon]

Usually agree (critical). Abortion should be available to women who have been raped or cannot survive the pregnancy. Yet, how can I be pro-life and condemn an infant to a life of poverty or misery when they leave the womb. Until a social welfare system that is workable and cost affective is installed to help those who truly need the help, I cannot condemn a woman for having an abortion unless it is for trivial reasons (gender selective, etc).

Exactly the same here.

But that logic implies the child is better dead than poor. That and the point of laws isn't to condemn people, it's to get them to do or not do things, in this case to get them not to have abortions. How any of us feel about the woman as a person is beside the point of whether or not she should have the right to an abortion.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Usually agree. Not a critical issue.

[SWE]

Disagree / Critical

Abortion should be free and on demand at any stage of pregnancy.

[Never]

Usually agree (critical). Abortion should be available to women who have been raped or cannot survive the pregnancy. Yet, how can I be pro-life and condemn an infant to a life of poverty or misery when they leave the womb. Until a social welfare system that is workable and cost affective is installed to help those who truly need the help, I cannot condemn a woman for having an abortion unless it is for trivial reasons (gender selective, etc).

Exactly the same here.

But that logic implies the child is better dead than poor. That and the point of laws isn't to condemn people, it's to get them to do or not do things, in this case to get them not to have abortions. How any of us feel about the woman as a person is beside the point of whether or not she should have the right to an abortion.

Right, that is the major issue with this logic. I feel this point is where adoption needs to be discussed as a significant option. Just because the woman who is pregnant lacks the resources to care for her child doesn't mean that there isn't someone else out there who would love to raise that child.

For me, usually agree (critical) makes sense. There needs to be some leeway for the mother's health as well, which is why I didn't choose "agree."

[Miles]

Usually agree. Not a critical issue.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Disagree / Not Critical

[H. Ross Peron]

Agree. Critical issue.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Agree. Critical issue.

[windjammer]

Neutral

[Cranberry]

Disagree / Critical issue

[Gass3268]

Disagree / Critical issue

[GaussLaw]

Usually agree (critical). Abortion should be available to women who have been raped or cannot survive the pregnancy. Yet, how can I be pro-life and condemn an infant to a life of poverty or misery when they leave the womb. Until a social welfare system that is workable and cost affective is installed to help those who truly need the help, I cannot condemn a woman for having an abortion unless it is for trivial reasons (gender selective, etc).

Exactly the same here.

But that logic implies the child is better dead than poor. That and the point of laws isn't to condemn people, it's to get them to do or not do things, in this case to get them not to have abortions. How any of us feel about the woman as a person is beside the point of whether or not she should have the right to an abortion.

I'm going to be honest.  I didn't read the last few sentences of Sanchez's post; I must have just skimmed through them.  My position is that we should have exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, but I do not think economic reasons are an acceptable excuse for an abortion.