Originally Posted by OkhamsRazor

The Constitution is not in any way a document that draws nay distinction from science. It's all about law and government, to be specific, property law. Therefore, sadly, the issue of when life begins does not play a significant role in the argument I put forth here.

When the nation was being formed, it was of much debate as to who was going to be able to vote. Up until that point only property owners could vote. And only property owners had any measure of sovereignty. But not everyone in the Americas was free. Paradox...

They really liked the system and structure of property law, but hated the limitations of who was allowed to participate in it. So how do you establish property rights for everyone if they own no real property (real estate)? Simple enough, you declare that each person is his/her own property. Follow so far?

But simply being born does not fully endow you with all rights. For example, you don't have the right to vote until you are 18. At that time you are deemed wholly and totally responsible for yourself and your actions. Until you turn 18 you are considered dependent upon your parents (guardians).

Okay, so let me jump to the point. In order for one to take ownership of ones property and must establish varying degrees of independence from it's parents. The first step in doing so is being born. Until that time as you are wholly separated from your mother, you have not taken possession of your property.

Since the fetus is property, (I know, describing as such is a bit repugnant, but we are talking strictly property law and sovereignty), and it doesn't own it yet, who does? The mother. And the mother (assuming she's over 18) has full property rights. Rights over her body and everything in it. Under the constitution, she is a sovereign entity. She and she alone has the right to determine what she does with her property.

Therefore, abortion is constitutional. Morally repugnant, to be sure, but the basic premise of our system of law and government, is based on sovereignty and property rights.

Having said all that. The landmark case of Roe v Wade was not decided on property rights. It was decided on Privacy Rights, which are derived from property rights.

In closing, I would like to say I am opposed to abortions except in generally accepted exceptional circumstances. But I see any attempt to pass a law against it as a disastrous move. It's nothing more than a band aid for the failure of teaching each successive generation proper decision making and giving them proper moral guidance tools. ANY positive moral guidance. I think we need to turn off the TV and the air conditioners and begin living as communities again.

This approach would not only do more to abate the abortion issue safely, but would address all social ills at once. Drug abuse, alcoholism, youth crime, gun issues, etc. Making laws concerning these problems has hardly made a dent, and has only filled up the prisons and overburdened the courts.

I just can't help but think that all proactive measures would fall by the wayside. The issue in the minds of many will be considered mission accomplished and walk away from the actual sources of the problem.

Another thought that continually haunts me is all the time, money and energy that is wasted on trying to pass these laws that could be applied to families and women at risk of either getting into the situation (pregnancy prevention education) or already find themselves in the situation of being pregnant and considering this option.

In closing I would like to suggest,.. again, that no politician that has been handed a guaranteed vote getter with a 40 year track record is going to do a hell of a lot to solve that problem. Therefore all the time, money and energy is wasted. You may as well spend hours chucking silver dollars into a wishing well for all the good it's gonna do.

So my question, which I've put to PW many times is... Exactly how much time and specifically money is spent on the effort to create and pass this moral legislation? When the application of morals should be spent in the community.