If you haven't read freakonomics, one chapter of the book goes to great length to explain that the legalization of abortion in 1973 via Roe v. Wade led to, in the mid 1990's, a dramatic and unexpected drop in crime. Not that this is a justification of abortion.
Anyway, let's assume that is true for the purpose of discussion and consider the following three possibilities.
For those who want to illegalize abortion, is the the corresponding increase in crime that we can expect 20 and further years down the line acceptable? In other words, is taking away the choice of abortion more important to you than any possible social consequence?
What if the inreased birthrate among less educated and wealthy families results in an increase in the number of liberal voters (poorer people tend to vote for democrats) as well as an increase in crime. Meaning that at most you can expect to have abortion be illegal for 50 years before it's legalized again (for say another 50 years)? If such a cycle would manifest, would prohibiting abortion still be worth it?
What if, in the long run, allowing legalized abortions but constantly working to convince people to take preventive measures (education, contraception etc.) would result in fewer abortions than participating in such a cycle. Would it then be morally acceptable not to leave abortion legal?
Anyway, let's assume that is true for the purpose of discussion and consider the following three possibilities.
For those who want to illegalize abortion, is the the corresponding increase in crime that we can expect 20 and further years down the line acceptable? In other words, is taking away the choice of abortion more important to you than any possible social consequence?
What if the inreased birthrate among less educated and wealthy families results in an increase in the number of liberal voters (poorer people tend to vote for democrats) as well as an increase in crime. Meaning that at most you can expect to have abortion be illegal for 50 years before it's legalized again (for say another 50 years)? If such a cycle would manifest, would prohibiting abortion still be worth it?
What if, in the long run, allowing legalized abortions but constantly working to convince people to take preventive measures (education, contraception etc.) would result in fewer abortions than participating in such a cycle. Would it then be morally acceptable not to leave abortion legal?
