Free adoption as a solution to abortion

[micatala]

Today's St. Paul Pioneer Press had the following story.

Mom Left Baby, with no question unasked

It noted that Minnesota has a law that, as long as a baby is presented to a hospital within 72 hours of birth and is 'unharmed', the baby can be left at the hospital to become a ward of the state, no questions asked.

In this particular case, the hospital screwed up a bit by asking questions they shouldn't have, but overall, the law has seemed to work, even if it has been used very sparingly.


Question:

Is this a reasonable policy?

Could Christian and other opponents of abortion support this policy?

Would this or a similar policy in conjunction with a ban on most abortions be a possible compromise between abortion foes and abortion rights advocates?


To avoid having the thread digress, please let's not get into the rationale for why abortion is right or wrong. The thread is intended to focus on this particular policy and whether those who disagree on the morality of abortion could support the policy or not, and why or why not.

We could discuss what 'most' means in the context of banning most abortions. Again, I will ask posters to focus on 'what they could live with' or what might prove 'doable' in the political and social context of the U.S, not what is right or wrong. We are assuming for the purposes of this thread that those that disagree on the rightness or wrongness of abortion are not going to change their minds, and neither side is likely to 'win' the morality debate within the political realm.

[Cephus]

I'd be in favor of requiring, by law, every single girl between the ages of 15-18 to be implanted with Norplant to stop pregnancy.

Of course I cannot go with you on this, I am not a fan of government intervention.

I'm not either, but since the current situation has the government giving tax money to the chronically irresponsible, if people are going to get welfare for being stupid and irresponsible, it's only fair that the government gets to curb that irresponsibility. Someone certainly needs to. Given the choice between the stupid doing it (unlikely) and the government, I'll have to give the government the nod.

[Cephus]

I am not. There is this little matter of side effects. The use of hormones does have the potential of increasing cancer risks. Therefore, I feel it is every person who wishes to use a hormone to educate themselves on the risks, and decide of the risk/benefit ratio is right for them.

Then maybe people need to figure out a little self-control and responsibility. People are breeding out of wedlock and without the ability to care for or pay for their offspring. People are expecting public tax money to pay for their irresponsibility.

This has to stop. Period.

So long as people are unable to be parents and raise children and pay for their own way, the government, as a representative of the people who are ultimately paying for these stupid, irresponsible people, has a right to say enough is enough.

[Goat]

I'd be in favor of requiring, by law, every single girl between the ages of 15-18 to be implanted with Norplant to stop pregnancy.

Of course I cannot go with you on this, I am not a fan of government intervention.

I'm not either, but since the current situation has the government giving tax money to the chronically irresponsible, if people are going to get welfare for being stupid and irresponsible, it's only fair that the government gets to curb that irresponsibility. Someone certainly needs to. Given the choice between the stupid doing it (unlikely) and the government, I'll have to give the government the nod.

I would rather put a limit on the number of children that the government will pay for when someone is on welfare. And, if someone gets pregnant WHEN on welfare, the government won't pay for that either.

The economic incentives to have children on welfare will decrease.

[Cephus]

I would rather put a limit on the number of children that the government will pay for when someone is on welfare. And, if someone gets pregnant WHEN on welfare, the government won't pay for that either.

I agree. I think that when you go on welfare, they will pay only for the number of children you have at the time you file, with the possibility of adding ones you are pregnant with, but don't know about, within 4 months. After that, you're out of luck, no more money period.

[Greatest I Am]

We as a people create this situation and should pay collectivly for any expence incured in finding parents for these kids. All possible objection to the matching of these parents with desired chidren should be discharged.

Regards

DL

[Cephus]

We as a people create this situation and should pay collectivly for any expence incured in finding parents for these kids. All possible objection to the matching of these parents with desired chidren should be discharged.

Exactly how did "we" create the situation? I don't remember having any children out of wedlock. I don't remember being promiscuous. I don't remember having unprotected sex with anyone I didn't fully intend to have offspring with.

So how did "we" create the situation? Seems more likely that the people who are guilty of these behaviors created it, now *THEY* should have to deal with the ramifications of their own actions.

Stop blaming society for the actions of the stupid.

[Confused]

Micatala:

It also will not convince people who believe there is nothing wrong or harmful about abortion to change their stance. Certainly if one thinks of abortion as 'safe, effective birth control', one is not going to see any reason for its elimination or even that it would be good to reduce it in numbers or restrict it in any way.

However, in the current climate, the debate seems to be 'all or nothing.' My state is poised to possibly pass an extremely restrictive ban on all abortions, with essentially no exception for rape, incest, health of the mother, etc. Now, I do not equate abortion with murder, but I do consider it violence, and I do think it speaks very badly of our society that many consider it 'no big deal.' I would prefer to have reasonable allowances for extreme circumstances, but I do not consider the current 'abortion on demand' policy as appropriate either. It seems to me exploring creative options that are not at either extreme would be worthwhile.

Wow. I would have never expected that response. You would advocate that a woman raped be forced to endure the 9 months of pregnancy reliving that rape because you think abortion is violent and it speaks badly for our society? You would advocate allowing a mother to die because of an ectopic pregnancy in which neither mother or child would survive past 2 months gestation because of what others might think of our society? I agree that some people may abuse it, but I think the concept of "abortion on demand" is a bit overinflated. I would love to see any statistics related to what percentage of abortions are repeat procedures. Not to mention the fact that last I checked, this was my body. What right does anyone have to say what I do with it? Now, I can say that I don't think I could ever have an abortion and thankfully I will never be tested on that because I had a hysterectomy at 29. But I also don't think I have the right to dictate to another woman what she should be able to do with hers. Unfortunately, there are those irresponsible women and men out there that do stupid things. I think what speaks worse of our society is that more parents don't discuss birth control with their children at a much younger age, before it becomes a problem. I think it speaks worse for our society that parents allow this to happen by feigning ignorance. Like, my child will never have sex. Get real.

[Confused]

We as a people create this situation and should pay collectivly for any expence incured in finding parents for these kids. All possible objection to the matching of these parents with desired chidren should be discharged.

Regards

DL

How am I responsible for what someone in in South Florida did? Yet I live in Florida so my taxes will pay for stupdity? Wrong answer. We didn't create this. I support myself and my children. Alone. I don't get any kickbacks. I pay for their expenses, their health insurance, my teenagers car insurance, their school supplies and clothes etc..... So no, We didn't create this. But We are being told to pay for it.