As the 2024 presidential campaign moves into high gear, of the major issues that will determine how citizens cast their ballots, one stands out. That is the issue of abortion in which compromise seems totally unachievable. Those who oppose abortion are convinced that morality is on their side. The other side believes just as ardently that they are on the right side. The bottom line is that emotions are off the chart when it comes to this issue and intelligent people on opposing sides cannot discuss this in a rational and reasonable manner.
Attempts to legislate morality have generally failed miserably. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution (Prohibition Amendment) banned the manufacture, sale and transport of alcoholic beverages in the United States. To enforce this amendment Congress passed the Volstead Act. From the start, enforcement of this law was almost impossible. It was observed in its violation by most of the population. Crime and corruption developed throughout the period of Prohibition, and the 18th Amendment was finally repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment. This great experiment clearly proved that one cannot pass laws which turn honest people into criminals. Such laws are ultimately not enforceable due to widespread ignoring of it, and such laws therefore are null and void from the time of their enactment.
Induced termination of pregnancy has occurred for thousands of years. In the modern era, with an understanding of the presence of germs and development of asepsis, this procedure has been performed in a safe manner without the danger of lethal sepsis occurring. Birth control pills became widely available during the 1960s and the Supreme Court finally ruled in January 1973, in Roe v. Wade, that abortion was constitutionally legal. Opponents of this decision immediately began campaigning to reverse this decision on both the local and national level. Single issue candidates and even political parties (Right to Life Party in New York) arose. Finally, a litmus test developed as nominees to the federal courts were questioned on where they stood regarding Roe. In 2022, the “conservative” Supreme Court majority overturned Roe in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case ruling that each state could legislate as they wished with regard to terminations of pregnancy. The anti-abortion activists, who style themselves as “pro-life” exulted in their “triumph” while those on the opposing side, “prochoice”, vowed to redouble their efforts to preserve a woman’s right to abortion and reverse Dobbs. Of course, all except psychotic murderers are pro-life. The commonly used descriptive terms serve little use except to produce heat but shed no light on the issue.
Since Dobbs, several states have held elections where the right to abortion has been a major issue. The majority of voters, when given a clear choice on abortion rights, even in red states, have voted in favor of choice. Readers of this blog are referred to earlier posts on Dobbs v. Jackson and Issue No.1 and Decree 770 for further insights into this issue. What is clear is that the majority of Americans favor the right to abortion. It is not a matter of some sort of national morality but rather personal morality. If one is opposed to abortion, then they should not have one. Similarly, if their twelve year old daughter becomes pregnant, don’t let her have an abortion. Do not impose your personal morality upon others. This is a highly personal issue that is, quite frankly, no one’s business but the pregnant woman’s. As mentioned above, laws that make honest people into criminals are not laws at all and are null and void. It is a matter of certainty that the Dobbs decision will be overturned whether it takes ten, twenty or fifty years.
Meanwhile, there are more important issues in the upcoming election than abortion. The economy, immigration, trade, foreign policy all are more significant than issues of personal morality. The Republican Party, if it wishes to succeed in the elections, must drop abortion as an issue. For example, in Nevada, a battleground state, a very vulnerable Democrat, Sen. Jackie Rosen is leading her Republican opponent Sam Brown by 18 points. The issue: abortion. If GOP candidates wish to take a truly conservative line, they must be for freedom and not government interference in people’s lives. If abortion remans the GOP’s major issue, they can kiss the election good-bye and the Democrats who are on the wrong side of many other issues will win. An earlier post two years ago warned the Republicans of the danger of this issue. Similarly, the Democrats were warned against pursuing class warfare. We shall see, as the campaign develops whether either party will wise up.
In 1992, incumbent President George Bush had very high popularity ratings, yet he lost the election to a little known Governor of a small southern state, Bill Clinton. Abortion played a major role in that election. If the GOP has any hopes of winning this November, they had better get smart quickly. Support a woman’s right to do as she wishes with her body, support freedom and do what’s right for America!
Garry S. Sklar
Guttenberg, NJ
August 15, 2024
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