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Without a clear-cut agreement on the subject of abortion, there is a need for compromise.

Webster defines compromise as "a settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions."

Meaning, my dear choicers and lifers--we must give up some things that we want in order to be fair to everyone.

Our first order of business is prevention of unintentional pregnancy. I will be speaking on the United States scale, as that is the only frame of reference I have.

Prevention. We will institute inclusive sex education programs in schools that inform students of proper birth control methods and STD protection. We will also encourage abstinence. We will teach students about the workings of the human reproductive system. We will teach them that "pulling out" does not work. We will encourage the regular use of condoms. We will inform female students of all the options they have with hormonal birth control, and give all students information about local and state health clinics that can supply them with what they need.

We will form a nationwide project to inform people of birth control methods. We will run commercials, post pamphelts and flyers, send mail notices--whatever it takes to get the word out--you as an American citizen have the right to birth control. And your insurance will probably cover it.

Plan B. This should really be included under prevention, but it's special, so I'll make it separate. We will make Plan B and other "day-after" drugs available over the counter. These drugs are actually pumped-up doses of birth control pills that either A) form thick mucus around the cervix so as to prevent sperm from entering the uterus and meeting an egg, or, B) actually prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in uterus lining. To pro-lifers, this is abortion. But again, we are compromising. The earliest abortions are the lesser of two evils, right?

Informing Women of Their Rights. We will spend much more time on prevention of unintentional pregnancy. However, to be fair to women who might want abortions, we will include in our Public Service ventures information about abortion rights and procedures, and tell women how they may obtain these services.

Mifepristone. The real "abortion pill." This pill should be left to the jurisdiction of individual doctors. It should not be available over-the-counter, as it is a very invasive drug and has been known to cause death (although very rare). Women and girls who want the pill should consult their doctors.

First Trimester Abortion. In the first trimester, a developing fertilized egg is called an embryo. This very early stage of development ensures easy, relatively complication-free abortion. Pro-lifers believe that even at this very early stage, the embryo is a person. However, we are going to again ask pro-lifers to compromise. The first trimester will be the only trimester in which purely elective abortion is allowed.

Second Trimester Abortion. Second trimester abortions will be considerably rarer. Here, I am asking pro-choicers to compromise. Second trimester abortions will be legal, but only in certain situations. They will be allowed if the immediate health of the mother is in danger; if the mother might die if she goes through with the pregnancy; or if the baby has a fairly severe physical or genetic defect to the likes of mental retardation, Tay-Sachs disease, etc. Some parents just couldn't handle things like that.

Third Trimester Abortion. As it is currently, under my system, thrid-trimester abortion would be extremely rare and never for small reasons. It would be allowed if the mother's prolonged health or life was in danger, of course. It would also be allowed for severe defects in the infant, such as Harlequin baby disease (ichtyosis), especially severe hydrocephalus (another link), or late miscarriages.

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Ok, I think I included everything. Please reply and include more points as you think of them.

Those terms sound reasonable enough to me.

Another thing I would like to see done is changes made to the current adoption system, for the sake of the children that are born instead of aborted. I recall several people complaining about that, mostly pro-choice, but they brought up some good issues.

Also, there's the issue of parental notification. My personal view is that if the parents have to be informed if a girl under 18 gets a tooth pulled or her ears pierced, then they should be informed if their daughter is pregnant and wants an abortion. If the laws change so that a minor is allowed to do more without their parents consent, then I'd go along with not requiring girls to tell their parents if they get an abortion. More of a consistency issue if you ask me.

Might wanna put something in there about the rare instances of rape as well.

And most of all... Actually requiring people to take responsibility for their actions and think about what they're doing! What a concept... stare

Definitely. Girls should know their rights.
Well...I'm really trying to take a reasonable approach here. I'm trying to make as many people happy as possible. Also, I believe that while a woman has the absolute right to abortion, I also think she should take responsibility and have it early. That is why I am so adamant about informing women about their rights, so that they know they must get the abortion early. I think three months time is fair.

Awesome point. Yes, the adoption system needs to be reformed. And I know one way we can help the situation: allow gay couples to adopt. Gay couples would be more willing to adopt older children, and children with severe disabilities.
I agree with Kiriel. It's not a good idea to enforce parental notification. Abortion is much different than getting your ears peirced--many parents would abuse their daughter if they knew she had gotten pregnant. Also, they would be able to force their daughter to have the child--effectively denying her the right to choose. The right to remove a living mass from your body is much, much more integral to freedom than the right to have peirced ears.
Can't believe I missed that one. Perhaps we should allow that past the second trimester. I'm not sure.
Which is why elective abortions would only be allowed in the First Trimester. Also, people can only take responsibility when they have the information they need--which is why we will inform women of their birth control choices.

Whether you agree with abortion or not, it is a responsible choice.

From what I read, I've already reached that. I get great education, day after pills without a subscription, condoms and other stuff, all is confidential, and such. Maybe it's because I live in the number 1 county IN AMERICA of teen pregnacy in 2002, but... The only thing is that I also get what is taken away right there. So, all I see is negatives. Leave my rights alone.

And people will never comprimise. There are some maniacle pro-life people, and then there are people like me. We're all just too stubborn to give in or compromise.

okay then!

I was just concerned about time for them to decide.

parents should be notified but their consent should NOT be needed

Ha, ha! I out rank you in that, my mommy had an abortion! Twice! And still had three children, and is living quite comfertable with one child moved out, one 'adopted' child, and two children still in high-school. I can garrentee if my mommy didn't have those abortions, I would not be here. She woulda aborted me. domokun And, the value of our lives would be tremendously poorer. 3nodding Ha! Beat that! heart

I kind of find it sad that the you guys could have been aborted... I don't know why... crying

I feel nothing. Really, you will never know me personally. And I will never know you. If I'd been aborted, I would have reincarnated later on and been born at a later time, but I wasn't so the what-ifs don't matter.