Abortion in America

Every year America votes for politicians who claim to be anti-abortion, yet very few ever act on these stances and many do not grasp this problem in its entirety. Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus to end a pregnancy*. The reason for abortion varies among the medical implications put on the mother, the trouble and inconveniences that bearing a child brings, and more. In the year 2003 alone, the Guttmacher Institute estimates there were 1,287,000 abortions performed and 23.8% of pregnancies ended in abortions**. However, the debate whether the fetus constitutes a person rages on. Instead of arguing about the time of a fetus becomes a human, I believe we should look into the potential for life. While a married man and woman are a possible source of new life, the fetus already passes the stage of possible into likely. While occurring less often in a more medically knowledgeable world, women who are in danger during pregnancy should not be forced to continue with the birth. Regardless, the sanctity of life should be protected and can be if the proper steps are taken. However, while many people argue about the safe birth of the child, its safe survival must also be taken into account. In a situation where the couple is not married and does not marry, the mother commonly takes custody of the child instead of the father. The mom, who already had to endure the strenuous task of childbirth, the time leading up to, and the work she missed, deserves compensation from the father. In addition, receiving a good education and earning good wages is a challenging pursuit for a young single parent. The mother must receive support from the father for bearing the child and the parent who does not take custody of the child must provide sufficient yet fair funds in accordance with his/her abilities and the child and other parent's needs until the end of the child's education whether it lasts through college or junior high.Thus, while the responsibility of the child lies in the hands of the couple, the most harm comes to the child who must now live in possibly an emotionally incomplete and financially unstable home. Rashly banning abortion without taking proper steps will create more problems and leave those deserving of justice, without it. Politicians need a plan to make any advance toward the end of abortion. But where do 1,287,000 babies go? In 2000 and 2001, 127,000 children were adopted annually and 15% of adoptions were out of the country adoptions (19,050 a year) ***. These adoptions could be replaced by adoptions within the country to help alleviate a surge of children in orphanages caused by a ban. However 1,267,950 babies still remain. Hence, the US could work with orphanages, whether Church or independent to help support unwanted children. Next, some children will remain with their parent/s. In order to help the example family above, children born out of wedlock to young parents could receive financial help from the government for college tuition bills as an incentive to succeed in life. This also depends on whether the couple remains together, the income of the parent, and other variables. In addition, public awareness needs to be raised at least 3 years in advance. In sex-ed and morality classrooms in high schools, teenagers need to realize that abortion will not be an option. Finally, law enforcement on illegal abortions would be required. For these precautions to occur though, the government needs funds which might force a tax increase. Hopefully, through these actions the implications of rash ban, such as a flood of children in orphanages, children growing up in financially and emotionally troubled homes, and other trickle-down effects, can be averted. Nevertheless, the first year of the ban will 'break the ice' and not long after people will understand that a child is their responsibility and births out-of-wedlock and among young couples (15-20) will decrease. In conclusion, abortion stops life in a very probable stage, but a quick ban cannot fix this enormous problem. Nonetheless, with proper procedures, it can be reduced and halted with minimal backlash.
Works Cited*American Psychological Association (APA):abortion. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved August 19, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abortion** "Estimates of US abortion incidents, 2001-2003"; Lawrence B. Finer, Staney K. Henshaw; Guttmacher institute; 3 August 2006; http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/08/03/ab_incidence.pdf***"How many children were adopted in 2000-2001?"; Child Welfare information gateway; August 2004; http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_adopted/s_adopted.pdf