Of course, abortion-rights are an attack on paternity, since it is a decision made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, and men have no standing in the process. The common argument that if there were a vote on the procedure, it should be confined to women, merely extends the offense to men's stake in the future, as if they have no legitimate interest in the fate of their babies or the quality of their society, lacking ovaries. The question is, will the practical effect on the conditions of abandonment likely outweigh the broader significance of the legislation? And there is an additional question, which is this: do we ever want to "normalize" abandonment, even if relatively benign? Without having given it much thought, it seems to me that reducing the penalties for "responsible abandonment", to make it more attractive than sheer waywardness, would be the best way to go......
By the way, you are quite right about the casinos. Atlantic City is highly dependent on busing in blue-haired slot jockeys from several states, many of them regulars on a pension....... |
