Abortion and the 2008 election - results
Written by Michael Vass
The Presidential election was not the only thing that was decided in the elections on November 4th. Across the nation several states debated one of the more controversial issues in America since at least the 1970’s. Abortion.
The issue at hand in Colorado, South Dakota, and California essentially was the banning of abortion in all forms. As of 12pm I can say that in Colorado and South Dakota the ballot initiatives were soundly defeated. But California was still up in the air.
In Colorado the question for voters was
Defining “person” as at the moment of fertilization
This was defeated with a resounding 73% of no votes. So in Colorado, and as a legal example for the moment in the nation, life still begins at birth.
In South Dakota the question to voters was
Ban abortion except in the case of rape and/or the endangerment of the health of the mother [ie she will die otherwise]
Voters in this less dense than average state also rallied together for a 55% no vote. Obviously voters there feel that there are other reasons and circumstances that need to be included in any consideration of abortion.
But in California one of the most debated issues was on the ballot
Waiting period and notify parents of a minor prior to an abortion
As I stated that as of midnight this had not been resolved. This does not ban abortions, for minors or anyone else, but it is felt by some to overly restrict access to abortions. Effectively it achieves the same end as a ban. Considering how liberal California is on many issues this could go in any direction.
But overall no real headway has been made in the debate on abortion. It is still legal, and many find fault with the degree – or existence – that this medical procedure is used to.
With the election of a Democratic Congress, and an extremely liberal Democratic President who will likely replace at least 1 or 3 Supreme Court Justices there seems no question that nationally abortion will be here to stay. At least for 1 more year on a state by state level.
Do you agree with those votes? How would you voted on the California ballot?
November 13th, 2008 at 5:35 am
I met a man in Mexico who had a lame hand and arm. He had developed a pill to abort babies and felt that this disability came upon him as his punishment for developing the pill. He was filled with guilt. I could only feel compassion for him as I could see the pain he carried. From 1973 to present we have had almost forty million babies aborted in the US. One report I read stated the highest rate belonged to young black women 25 years old and younger. If we had to place all the babies in a grave yard, it could measure one hundred miles wide and one hundred miles long.
My first wife aborted a child while we were married because she did not know who the father was. I did not want her to, but it was only her choice. It still troubles her today for a number of reasons. Abortion is big business in America. Most of the woman who have abortions have all ready had one child. If a woman has had a natural birth and then she has a partial birth abortion latter; delivering the child breach and leaving the head inside the the mother so the doctor can kill the baby before the baby would be totally delivered, she knows the hard part of the delivery was over. How she feels after she has that type of abortion is very difficult for anyone to understand how she feels after wards, other than her. If my daughter was with child and not married; still in our care, it would be important for us to let her know we love her and that we would want to help her. She would not have to get an abortion in order to hide her being with child from us. All of the facts could be discussed and she might want to have her baby and know that her and the child would be cared for. There would be no room for shame and guilt for having sex before marriage and for getting an abortion to cover up what she was going through. In my opinion it would be worse not to be able to talk to one’s parents about any problem. Surely, not being supported emotionally by her parents, has to make the matter worse. Most of all we live in a nation that offers help for anyones physical, emotional, or spiritual needs and in many cases the services are free for those who can not pay for them. I believe life is a gift and we have children for love. Some of our nation’s people suffer deeply from the process of abortion: the woman, her parents and family members, a husband, or partner, friends and mainly, her unborn child.
Abortion changes life into death. How is it that we morn for our loved ones who have died and a woman who has an abortion is not expected to morn for the death of her child? Why not take the time to really talk? Any parent who truly loves their child wants to show love and concern for their child in a time of need. Perhaps a woman who cannot have children would love to have the baby for her own. We have so many options and every option should be realized so the needs of the child can be met fully. Notify the parents and assure the type family support needed!