Blog for Choice Day.

[angledge]

Today is the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. marasca asked the question: What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?

I hope that the new Administration, when given the opportunity, will appoint judges and justices who support a woman's right to choose.

Comments

[love2loveher.livejournal.com]

I find that focusing on one particular issue loses sight of the big picture. I would hope that Obama, and any president in the future of this country, selects justices that impose little limits upon the people, and fairly administer the constitution. The constitution does not outlaw murder - therefore it seems that abortion should be a state's rights issue?

I probably worded that horribly.

[angledge.livejournal.com]

I was focusing on one particular issue because this is a post supporting Blog for Choice Day. But I agree with you: I would like a more general policy to be adopted, that limits government's intrusions into the personal lives of the people. That would cover abortion along with many other issues.

[love2loveher.livejournal.com]

Ah... Totally understand.

[marasca.livejournal.com]

Roe v. Wade was decided on the basis of the right to privacy that's stated/implied in several of the Constitution's amendments. Basically, the decision says that the right of the woman and interests of the state need to be balanced. So before viability, abortion is a private medical decision protected by the right to privacy, though the state can place "reasonable" regulations on it which is why many states have waiting periods, parental consent laws, and stuff like that. Post-viability the state may have a greater interest in the... I forget the word they use... life? baby? fetus? and can therefore limit or ban abortion as long as there are exceptions to protect the health of the woman.