Interesting poll on Kagan, abortion rights, and Roe v. Wade...

[BolivarianHero]

http://www.visioncritical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/2010.05.17_Court_USA.pdf

The good:

1. Americans are solidly behind Kagan; the numbers suggest that most of the opposition comes for birther and teabagger nuts.

2. Americans overwhelmingly support Roe v. Wade and first trimester abortion rights, with even Republicans wanting the court to uphold the decision by a 16 point margin. These numbers have enormous negative implications for the future of the GOP and of the radical right. If even most Republicans support the decision, then the GOP will get walloped if they overemphasize wedge issues and play toward the far-right. It's strange that many who identify as anti-choice would favour the upholding the decision.

The Odd:

1. Young adults are less likely to favour Roe vs. Wade than other demographic groups whereas 55+ Americans are most likely to favour the decision. Strikes me as a bit odd when you consider that on issues such as drug policy, race, and LGBT rights, young adults tend to be considerably more liberal than older adults. Any idea as to why these numbers are what they are?

[hamsterjill]

1. My opinion...

The younger generations don't remember what it was like BEFORE abortions were legal. During their lifetimes, it's always been a legal alternative for them should they choose it. They've not been exposed to women who have died from botched, back alley procedures, etc.

[joeybee12]

2. 55+ remember the days when choice was not an option...

...young folks seem to think it was never a problem.

[CTyankee]

3. And today's contraceptive choices are many while back in the day they were few,

ifyou could get them at all. They were illegal in CT until the mid 60s...

[BolivarianHero]

4. But older Americans are more likely to be socially conservative...

And when I went to a pro-choice rally in Ottawa, almost everyone was late-teens and 20-something.

[Jennicut]

5. On drug policy, race, and LGBT rights it is people in their 20's and in their

early 30's who are more progressive. This is under 55.
Also, it easy to manipulate younger people on being pro-life through their churches.

[OHdem10]

6. As an older member, I hae observed more and more young people

involved at a young age in "Right to Life Groups" etc.

It does not surprise me that the younger people poll differently
from the older ones who have seen "life in the raw". Understanding
how it was before Roe and after.

I would be interested in seeing polling of these same young people
after about age 35 and up. Age teaches a lot.

[BolivarianHero]

7. In Ottawa too..

But a lot of them were bussed there by Catholic schools, which is something I have a major problem with because in Ontario, most Catholic schools are basically public schools with mass, religion classes, and their own school board (hence the term separate school). Why should schools that use public funds spend those taxpayer dollars on that shit, especially when as policy, the Ontario and Canadian government both support abortion rights?