Leaving aside (for a minute) the specific issue of abortion funding; I think when it comes to considering the appropriate role of government in subsidizing the individual in various ways, it becomes necessary to be somewhat more pragmatic than principled. Human beings have certain physical needs; but they also have social and psychological needs. The truth is that, at the point where individuals no longer identify themselves as being valuable and valued in the social structure--we will either help them to some degree--or they will help themselves. If they help themselves, we pay over and over. It isn't just the shoplifting, the stolen vehicles, the robberies, etc. But it is the cost of prosecution, prison time, and so forth.
In terms of abortion, I have never believed that anyone should have to fund something which violates a strong religious belief. If someone believes they are contributing to murder and thus (in their own mind) placing their own soul at risk, then I think that there can be no justification, in a country which values religious freedom, for forcing anyone to act against conscience. But this opens up a whole can of worms where there do not appear to be any pat answers. |
