Which Party's policys are likely to increase the number of abortions?

First, some interests to declare:

1. I am not a US citizen. I have no vote next month. Nevertheless, the decision you guys make has a profound impact on the rest of the world, including the little island off the north-west coast of Europe I call home; thus, in my view, I am allowed at least to comment as opposed to voting.

2. I am pro-life, anti-abortion, whatever you want to call it. But I am pro-the whole of life, not just the nine months of it before birth. I am however in favour of policies which are likely to reduce rather than increase the number of abortions both in your country and in mine which may or may not include criminalising abortion.

3. I accept - reluctantly - that an outright ban on abortions is unrealistic in our respective countries probably in my lifetime, although a lowering of the numbering of weeks at which abortion becomes illegal may not be.

4. I also read with interest - and sometimes participate in - the various threads which touch upon and concern this subject, particularly with regard to the forthcoming Presidential election. I try to imagine the dilemmas faced by you on this subject, bearing in mind that abortion in the UK is not the polarised party-political issue that it seems to be on your side of the Pond.

So...the dominant thinking on these boards appears to be that a vote for the Democrats is a vote for more abortions whereas a vote for the Republicans is the opposite. But I'm not convinced it's as straightforward as that...

From what I can gather, Democrats are more likely to increase funding for abortion clinics. This, I agree is a Bad Thing and is likely to increase the number of abortions.

However, Republicans are more likely to reduce funding for poorer sections of the community, for example in this vote. This - experience and stats suggest - will have the effect of making abortions in such poorer sections of society more likely, since women who are pregnant are more likely to resort to abortion if they will be unable to afford the child; thus the number of 'unwanted' pregnancies will increase and so will the consequent number of abortions, as surely as night follows day. This, I say, is likewise a Bad Thing therefore.

Now, some here may say, "Well, she shouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place." Maybe. But why have the unborn child bear the punishment for the alleged sin of the parents? I've used 'maybe' and 'alleged' here advisedly, as we need to consider one or two scenarios other than the stereotypical 'feckless immoral single mom':

1. Married couple - three existing children. Husband main or sole breadwinner, so not in receipt of welfare. They try - successfully - to conceive a fourth child as on husband's wage they can afford this. Husband then loses job due to recession. Welfare benefit cuts by Republicans mean they can't really afford their three pre-existing children, let alone a fourth.

2. The same couple but husband loses job before they try for a fourth. They use contraception. It fails and wife becomes pregnant.

That'll do for starters. This is why I said on another thread re Dems and Reps 'a plague on both their houses'. I don't envy you your choice next month...

 

Are you saying the link to the House vote is inaccurate, then?

In an ideal world, I would agree with you on the whole personal responsibility point. But we don't live in such a world, but a fallen one. I am interested in policies which will see the number of abortions cut, and I don't see that House vote achieving that, but the opposite, which is why I condemn it.

I note you haven't said how you would address the married couple's situation...

And what about those Americans who cannot (not won't but can't) be self-sufficient: those who have lost their jobs, those who are ill, injured, too old? Your post assumes that all are self-sufficient, but many are not.

 

In my view, the only thing that is going to address the root cause is the love and knowledge of the Lord, not programs or legislation. PLus maybe raising awareness/ education about abortion and sex ed (which the Republicans also wish to cut). Without the Holy Spirit, people - young and not so young - are going to act in an immoral fashion with the inevitable consequences, whatever any government does or does not do. The real issue for me is what then happens to the resulting unborn child; I for one would gladly pay more £s in tax if I knew that as a result fewer children were aborted than would otherwise be the case - as a follower of Jesus I am not sure I could sleep easily in my bed otherwise...

 

Alright, humour me for a moment then - let's suppose that cutting welfare payments will involve people falling into hardship. Let's consider the family referred to in my OP - what would you say to them?

 

Do you mean contraceptive programs or welfare programs?

This thread isn't really about the availability of contraception - MP's thread is - but about the best thing to do for the children both born and unborn when things - either through no fault of their parents or even when the parents are grossly irresponsible - go wrong. Increasing funding for abortions is the wrong answer. But so is pushing already poor families further into poverty.

 

Be truly pro-life - the same as I want the UK

 

Welfare cuts - see the link in the OP

Why the failure to address the points?