mn@dscvax2.UUCP (Matt Noah) (04/02/85)
>BRAVO Mikki, this is the kind of thing that I have been getting at. As >a pro-choice person, I definately feel that the system is screwed up >when it is more economically attractive to have an abortion over using >contraception. THIS is the sort of thing we should be fighting to >help minimize abortions. Making abortion illegal merely sweeps it >under the rug. > >Keith Doyle ># {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd Making abortion illegal does not MERELY "sweep it under the rug". Making anything illegal is a statement by a society that a particular action is against the common welfare. Just as murder, rape, extortion and child abuse are considered against the common welfare of society. These actions are first considered as crimes, i.e. public wrongs, as opposed to private wrongs which are the basis of civil suits. Most societal problems do not get swept under the rug by making them illegal. Fear of punishment actually works to curtail the instance of particular acts. Also, public morals are sometimes translated to private morality by people whose view of morality is little more than 'whatever is legal'. Therefore, making something illegal will work to deter many people from doing it. Most people, however, in this country practice their own morality which keeps them well within the bounds of public morality. They therefore never have to worry about public punishment, i.e. incarceration, probation or fine. They have their own value system which works as a greater deterrent to doing something illegal. I believe abortion will still be considered a problem after it becomes illegal. Perhaps its short-lived legality will help us all to be more helpful to people experiencing a problem pregnancy and to value the life a pregnant woman supports before its birth to a greater degree. Matt Noah