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February 16, 2006
The 95-10 Initiative
Marshall Whitman over at Bull Moose has a very interesting piece on a Democratic initiative to dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America by reducing unintended pregnancies, and to encourage pregnant women to have the child by providing them real assistance.
Houtopia is unequivocally pro-choice, but we have believed for some time that Democrats have for too long taken an unnecessary political beating on this issue, and should be more pro-active about reducing the need for abortions in the first place.
Hillary Clinton took some positive steps in this regard with a speech last year, and this latest initiative, called the 95-10 Initiative, promoted by Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) seems to follow the same line of thinking. The plan targets a 95% reduction in the number of abortions in the next 10 years. While we don't agree with all aspects of the plan, specifically some of the "information" requirements at women's health facilities, we do generally support the concept.
The key of course is appropriate, real-world sex education and access to contraception. We are all for teaching abstinence -- most teenagers are not ready for sexual intercourse for a whole number of reasons -- but only as part of comprehensive sex education.
It seems so many who are opposed to abortion simply cannot come to grips with the fact that, much as we may want them not to, or we think it's morally wrong, teenagers will have sex out of wedlock. It's among the most basic human urges, and if you can't accept that fact then you're not really serious about reducing abortion. Any realistic plan must focus on proper sex education and easily available contraception to keep unwanted pregancies from ever happening.
Many pregnant women who decide to have an abortion report doing so because they do not feel they can properly provide for the child or themselves after birth. Most of these women are young, single, many of them lack education or earning power -- these fears and concerns are quite real and understandable.
Any society that truly expects women in these circumstances to carry a pregnancy to term and have a child must help them. That means health care -- pre- and post-natal; it means educational and job training assistance; it means help with day care. Too many on the extreme right today categorically oppose abortion, but once she has decided to have the child, the girl and her baby are on their own. What's pro-life about that?
We think Democrats should get serious about reducing unwanted pregnancies, and thus the need for abortions, and give real support to women who decide to have the child, while preserving choice as a fundamental right. Much of the 95-10 plan is a step in the right direction. We should work to make President Clinton's standard of safe, legal and rare a reality.
Posted by houtopia at February 16, 2006 04:41 PM