To: E who wrote (29941 ) 2/3/1999 5:39:00 PM From: nihil Respond to
E -- you have written a very valuable and moving discussion of a subject that rips us apart. You're perfectly correct -- the earlier the better, as long as the pregnant woman has wide, instantaneous access to treatment when she wishes it at no cost -- or very, very cheap. A woman who knew she would pass a deadline that forbade the procedure would have to decide -- but it must be her decision to act alone, no busybodies sueing, no parents or lovers whining -- I care not whether its 8 or 12 or 16 weeks -- she must have time to know (and ignorance should be grounds for an extension -- she should have access to advice (no forced brain-washing either way -- and when the decision is made -- that's it -- she moves ahead (I'd think of forced birth-control instruction or at least the offer should be made as after child-birth) In a coercive controlled environment, the attempt should be made to reduce the evil (over-pop and poor unwanted kids, and ruined opportunity for girls) without infringing liberty by annoying the subjects too much -- but the evils are bad enough that a little compulsory education does not seem out of place to me where it might reduce them).
