How did the gov't, Fed or State, get involved in abortion?

[napi21]

That's always been my objection to the arguments. Why is the Gov't involved?

Doctors do hysterectomys, D&C's, tube tying etc, and it's up to the Dr. and the patient.

Now they do heart transplants, and put the patient on by-pass machines, which in effect kills the patient (no heart beat, breathing etc.), but I don't hear anyone screaming about that!

Why did they decide to get involved in abortions?

[Seansky]

1. You know, I have been hearing this intervention for so long along w/

right to die, and stem cell research that I had forgotten the original qs.

Good point, but just have forgotten the answer. Why????

[xxqqqzme]

2. when Roe v Wade was handed down

all states had 2 change their criminal abortion statutes to support the SCOTUS decision - @ the time I worked for an attorney who was chair of the judiciary committee of the WVA legislature. Abortion was illegal in WVA so he had 2 draft new legislation. Nearly the next day we started getting phone calls @ the office threatening him if he drafted legislation making it legal and people telling him he was going 2 hell if he started 'killing babies'. Personally, he thought men had no business legislating womens bodies - but that's when it started and it started IMMEDIATELY w/ a vengence.

[unblock]

3. not sure i understand the question. legal basis? political basis?

legally, states have broad license to regulate commerce within their borders, and in particular, medical procedures. they could outlaw liposuction and fluoride teeth cleanings if they wanted to.

politically, they got involved in abortion because there's always been a repressive component to american society and certain politicians like to play to that base.

it became a federal issue after roe v. wade. then, it wasn't just a state-by-state issue; the constitution was found to guarantee legal abortion throughout the u.s. thus it became a federal issue, although the right has had much success nibbling this right to death through incrementally repressive state laws and their old standby, violence and intimidation.

[napi21]

6. I guess my auestion was a broad one. Here's my position.

I am a Catholic, and I believe abortion is murder, but I believe that because of my religious teachings.

I also believe capital punishment is State murder, and that's just as wrong.

As I understand it, the Gov't cannot force it's citizens to join or believe in any religion, and it seems to me the objections to abortions are all religious based!

There's also the belief that all religions I know of subscribe to: God gave each person a free will, to do good and bad. If you abide by your beliefs, you'll be saved, and if you don't you'll be damned.

Having said all of that. Why is either the Fed or State Gov't involved in the abortion decision at all?

It's a religious decision. It doesn't force anyone to do anything they don't want to do!

Are they next going to tell me I MUST accept every life saving option available, even if I don't want it?

I believe gov't at all levels should just stay out of it. Let the churches preach to their members what they wish, and stay out of the laws!

[unblock]

7. well done to recognize that separation

the rw fundies obviously think "god's law" trumps "man's law", or think that they should be intertwined. so if god says abortion is wrong, then man should make it illegal. so they say. of course, they're very selective in the parts of "god's law" that they think the government should get involved in, but that's another matter.


the whole idea that there are rotten, immoral, rude, devious, scummy, seedy, unseemly, ungodly, and just plain mean things that are entirely condemnable and yet shouldn't be illegal is a concept that is, sadly, beyond the grasp of far too many voters.

our civics courses have failed us. i know, i know, "what civics courses?" ... sigh ....

[eallen]

4. The AMA pushed anti-abortion laws in the second half of 19th century.

I don't know how much of it was religiously motivated, and how much was some kind of professional boundary protection. Prior to the Civil War, abortifacients were legal.

[HawkerHurricane]

5. Driving the midwives out of business.

The AMA wanted sole control of medicine, and went after midwives. Midwives ofter provided abortion services, usually without telling the husband...

[nvliberal]

8. Health concerns and even some xenophobia were the

reasons for states outlawing abortion in the 19th century. Abortion was far more dangerous for women than childbirth. And a few people were upset over all of the immigration taking place.

Religion took a backseat back then.

James C. Mohr wrote the best book on the subject, Abortion in America.