Abortion is perhaps the single most divisive and electorally important issue in American politics today. This fact is strange when you consider that study after study shows the vast majority of Americans neither want abortion to be 100% illegal in all circumstances nor 100% legal in all circumstances. Most Americans occupy a middle space with some level of discomfort with abortion but not wishing for a complete ban (similar to the majority opinion about firearms).
SO…what if I told you that there was a series of pro-family policies that could significantly decrease the number of abortions? That’d be a huge win for conservatives! But what if I told you that these also happen to be policies that progressives would also support? You probably wouldn’t believe me. But follow my logic.
To give some context, the top reasons women give for getting an abortion are as follows (respondents were allowed to select more than one):
- 1. Not financially prepared: 40%
- 2. Bad timing, not ready, or unplanned: 36%
- 3. Partner-related reasons (including the relationship is bad or new, she doesn’t want to be a single mother, her partner is not supportive, does not want the baby, is abusive, or just the wrong guy): 31%
- 4. Need to focus on her other children: 29%
- 5. Interferes with educational or vocational plans: 20%
- 6. Not emotionally or mentally prepared: 19%
- 7. Health-related reasons (includes concern for own health or health of fetus, use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco): 12%
- 8. Want a better life for a baby than she could provide: 12%
- 9. Not independent or mature enough for a baby: 7%
- 10. Influence from family or friends: 5%
- 11: Doesn’t want a baby or to place them for adoption: 4%
Now, imagine a legislative bill that included the following elements:
- 6 month guaranteed paid leave for both parents, w/ a job guaranteed afterwards
- Free short-term birth control (i.e. condoms) available to anyone in schools, corner stores, etc.
- Free long-term birth control available to everyone over 18 (i.e. IUDs, vasectomy, etc)
- Comprehensive sex education in high school, w/ emphasis on building healthy romantic relationships and not rushing into sex
- Increased housing option and support services for women with children fleeing situations of domestic abuse
- The recent Biden child tax credit ($300/month from birth to age 6) being expanded to last for 10 years, with a provision to increase annually according to inflation
- Subsidies for daycare for low and middle class families.
- Universal, affordable health care for all mothers and babies.
- Counseling and support services for expectant and new mothers required to be provided through every insurance plan – including doulas and other delivery support
- Additional research and support for women with risky pregnancies and/or babies with birth defects (Down syndrome, etc).
- Increased funding into research into the causes and potential treatments for infertility (i.e. endometriosis, decreasing sperm counts in American men, etc).
If you pay any attention to politics, you would know that the policies listed above would be incredibly popular with progressives. But consider how drastically the abortion rate would plummet if these policies were put into place! If our society provided all of the financial, emotional, and healthcare supports listed above, there would be far fewer unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Honestly, based on how fast the abortion rate plummeted when Obamacare was signed into law (which provided cheap access to birth control), I predict the abortion rate could be cut in half in 10 years or less! And if my estimates are correct, it could all be paid for just by reversing the 2017 Trump tax cuts (with plenty of money leftover).
So the obvious question is–if this is a win-win for both progressives and conservatives, why couldn’t the federal government (or a state, for that matter) pass the above policies tomorrow? And the obvious reason is: many Republicans in government don’t like spending government money unless it’s for defense or a tax cut. The rhetoric about abortion, for too many elected Republicans, is just rhetoric: it wins elections and gets conservative judges into power, but as for actually helping women avoid abortion in the first place…it doesn’t seem to matter.
I would argue, it’s time for pro-life politicians to put their money where their mouth is. If abortion is an existential problem facing American society, then partner with progressives to pass the policies I listed above. And if it’s not, then stop using it as a cudgel in the culture wars.