Towards a Compassionate and Reasonable Consensus on Abortion

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Introduction: Abortion remains a deeply divisive issue in the U.S., polarizing communities, politics, and families. This proposal seeks to establish guidelines that respect the sanctity of life while acknowledging the autonomy of individuals, offering a framework that could potentially unite diverse viewpoints on this sensitive topic.

I. Fundamental Principles

  • Sanctity of Life: It is universally acknowledged that life is sacred. Abortion, while sometimes necessary, should not be celebrated but viewed as a somber decision, reflecting on the moral complexities involved.

  • Respect for Autonomy: Each individual’s right to make personal health decisions, including pregnancy outcomes, must be respected within legal and ethical bounds.

  • Compassion and Support: Society should provide robust support for all pregnancy outcomes, ensuring that every choice made is supported by adequate resources.

II. Legal and Policy Recommendations

A. Abortion Access:

  • Legality: Abortion should remain legal, with provisions for accessibility based on informed consent. This ensures that abortions are conducted safely and under medical supervision.

  • Restrictions: Implement restrictions after fetal viability (generally around 24 weeks), with exceptions for the health or life of the mother, rape, or incest.

  • Funding: Abortion services should be funded by the individual, their insurance, or through non-profit organizations, not directly by taxpayers, to respect those with differing views on the use of public funds for this purpose.

B. Enhanced Pro-Life Measures:

  • Incentives for Carrying to Term:

    • Offer financial incentives, housing support, and other resources for women who choose to carry their pregnancy to term despite initial reluctance.

  • Post-Birth Support:

    • If a mother decides against keeping her child post-delivery, the state should:

      • Take over custody with the option for the mother to maintain private contact if she wishes.

      • Ensure high-quality foster care, with comprehensive support systems for both foster parents and children.

  • Adoption Reform:

    • Streamline the adoption process to make it more accessible, affordable, and quicker.

    • Enhance background checks to ensure child safety while reducing unnecessary delays in the adoption process.

  • Severe Penalties for Rape Leading to Pregnancy:

    • Introduce specific, severe criminal charges for rape resulting in pregnancy, ensuring justice for victims and deterrence against such crimes.

III. Implementation Strategy

  • Educational Campaigns:

    • Public education on the complexities of abortion, emphasizing ethical considerations and available support systems.

  • Legislative Changes:

    • Work with legislators to draft laws reflecting these principles, ensuring bipartisan support where possible.

  • Community and Non-Profit Involvement:

    • Encourage community organizations and non-profits to play a role in supporting pregnant women, adoptive families, and foster care systems.

IV. Metrics for Success

  • Reduction in Abortion Rates: Through better access to contraception, education, and support for carrying to term.

  • Improved Outcomes for Children: Measured by the health, education, and welfare of children born from unintended pregnancies or placed for adoption.

  • Public Perception: Gauge shifts in public opinion towards a more unified, less polarized view on abortion.

Conclusion:

This proposal aims to foster a national dialogue where the dignity of life and the rights of individuals are both respected. By implementing these guidelines, we strive for a society where abortion is less frequent due to comprehensive support systems, yet accessible when needed, aiming to reduce the divisiveness and promote a culture of compassion, support, and responsibility. This balanced approach could serve as a model for unity, demonstrating that through reasonable discourse and mutual respect, even the most contentious issues can find common ground.

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I proposed a detailed policy package that is consistent with your policy’s ideals.

The biggest differences about my proposals are:
(1) does not grant a federal right to elective abortion; essentially leaves that to the states. Given the current GOP trifecta, it is NOT politically feasible to pass such a stipulation.

(2) My proposal allows a rape/incest exception but limits that to 15 week gestational time limit, and stipulates that this exception requires either a police report or medical record. Rape exceptions are controversial within the pro-life movement. Personally, I think that late term abortion against healthy babies is grotesque. There needs to be some sort of balance.

(3) Are you aware that abortionists repeatedly abuse the “health” exception to allow elective abortion until birth for ANY reason? By giving an undefined “health” exception, that allows abortion for mental health or financial health. Abortionists get around this by asking the woman if the continuing the pregnancy would cause her stress or financial impacts, for example. In my proposal, I specifically exclude mental health exceptions.

(4) Since Trump said that he will NOT sign any abortion ban whatsoever, my proposal says that while it does not prevent women from terminating their pregnancy at any gestational period… if the baby is determined to be viable, they cannot intentionally kill the baby prior/during the delivery; for example, they cannot dismember or inject the fatal digoxin shot into a viable baby. FYI- feticide/abortion is NEVER necessary to save a woman’s life- because if that’s the case, the baby could be delivered without feticide, within minutes, to save both their lives, whereas late term elective abortion takes several days to prepare for and complete.

(5) My proposal allows Medi-caid funding but only for abortions/deliveries that were necessary to protect her life and/or nonviable pregnancies.

Here’s my proposal:

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