Abortion and lower crime rates

Emily6109's picture
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After reading John Stossel's book "Give Me a Break", I felt a rush of relief as I realized I wasn't the only libertarian in this country. After he pointed out, case by case, that the government does more harm than good, I could only nod my head in agreement. All my life I had been looking for a partisanship that meshed with my own beliefs, and now I had found one.

Stossel writes about personal freedom vs. the good of society, and one instance strikes me so interesting, so amazing that I just had to write something about it. Abortion correlates with lower crime rates. I won't bore you with the statistics, you can buy his book for that, but back in the day when abortion was less popular than it is today, more babies were born, and more were born into families either not financially stable enough to raise a child, emotionally unstable, or simply, not the child-rearing type. As soon as Roe v. Wade was the new precedent, abortions became incredibly popular. And in the years where these aborted children would have been teenagers (where crime most often begins) the crime rate was declining. Isn't that interesting? Now, obviously, abortions didn't cause lowered crime rate, but think about this chain. A poor pregnant woman cannot obtain an abortion even though she wants one, and she gives birth to a son. He is more likely than a child who is planned, to become involved in gang activity and lead to deviant criminal behavior. With abortions being legal, those would-be unwanted children were not born, and therefore, less crime was reported in the years corresponding to that legal decision.

I know pro-life supporters will refute this till their deathbeds, but the data reveal just this. Lowered crime rates is clearly a benefit to society; citizens don't live in constant fear and paranoia, the economy prospers greatly and community morale is heightened. And these unwanted children who do go on to become criminals are at such a disadvantage. It isn't their fault they are born into a world where they are unwanted and the only support they receive are from others like themselves. They have been failed by the system.

So if you haven't read Stossel's book, that is one example he gives about how abortion, this necessary evil, does more for the country than forcing people to keep their unwanted children.

respectlife's picture

What this comes down to, though, is that the poor with the children overload are not responsible enough to abstain at certain times of a woman's cycle. Instead, they have a "don't give a darn and I'm going to do what I want to do" attitude, then rely on the government for all the kids, don't teach their kids morals because they're too busy being selfish, and then the kids get into society and repeat what they've been taught: immorality and selfishness.

So it would seem to me that the problem wouldn't be so much in the number of kids, but rather, the attitude of the poor.

My family isn't necessarily what I'd call POOR, but we definitely go without. That's a decision my parents made. Mom could get a job, or she could stay home and raise us to be better people. Because she's stayed home to homeschool us and whatnot, Dad's income can barely pay the bills some months and we don't do a whole lot. However, we're not on any type of government funding. If anything, the government is the reason for our poverty instead of helping us out. But my parents are recognizing what's important in life and helping us realize that, too.

And these unwanted children

NO child is unwanted. They may be unwanted by their parents, but there are many out there who love them and would want them, if given the chance. I think it's revolting to think that a child can live if it's wanted and can't if it's not wanted. It basically brings children down to the level of property...inanimate objects that can't feel and can't think. Totally revolting.

RESPECT LIFE
SMILE EVERY DAY
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa

mvenus929's picture
Managing Director of Progressive U

They may be unwanted by their parents, but there are many out there who love them and would want them, if given the chance.

And yet so many children get forced through the foster care system until they're forced out on their own, because no one wants to adopt them. Great system we have there...

~C
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respectlife's picture

But there are many children who do get adopted. I know a family that just adopted one little girl and are in the process of the little boy. I name them because the kids are from America and a lot of kids get adopted from China, Korea, and other foreign countries. But there ARE people out there who want these kids.

RESPECT LIFE
SMILE EVERY DAY
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa

Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

And yet, for every child that is adopted, there are three to four children who aren't (and that's optimistic), and every year they don't get adopted, their chances of being adopted diminish. The number of children in foster care also continues to grow, while the number that can be adopted remains the same.

Then, of course, there's also the people who would love to adopt, but for one reason or another, are denied by the agencies.



I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge

blackout's picture
Volunteer for the Progressive U Alumni Association

Or considering your age, how many do you realistically PLAN to adopt? Would you be willing to forego the option of biological reproduction and instead adopt a minority or special needs child? How many children have been adopted into your immediate family?

TTFN,
Blackout
---
A question of love.
---
Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.

I am totally pro-life, but you're comments are harsh, unreasonable and judgmental. Not every parent who has an unplanned child out of wedlock is a selfish deadbeat that depends on welfare. There are people, esp. in this economy that simply cannot afford to take care of their children and in make sacrifices to raise their kids on their own, often with little to no assistance from family members or non-relatives and no child support from th absent parent. Yes, some parents are 'bad' or unfit parents, but there also some that were never taught any better and would do better if people like you would stop to talk to them, find out what they need and help them out instead condemning them for a life that you have no clue about.

restinpeace's picture
Member of the Progressive U Alumni Association

Rest in peace
yourfuneralguy
http://www.yourfuneralguy.com

The main issue in Abortion a personal and political issue is responsibility for one's actions.
Pro life or Pro choice is not as important, responsibility is.

Rest in Peace.

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