Attention Pro-Life Voters
By Gary Krane and James Armstrong
26 October,2004
Countercurrents.orgIt is estimated that 45% of the nation's undecided voters consider themselves Pro-Life.President George W. Bush prides himself on being pro-life. Let's see where his polices have taken us. Dr. Glen Stassen, co-author Kingdom Ethics (of Christianity Today's Book of the Year) has analyzed abortion statistics since Bush took office on January 20th, 2001. Since federal reports come only to 2000, Stassen reviewed the more recent data state by state to the degree that was possible.
During the Clinton decade, 1990 to 2000, the number of abortions in the U.S. declined from 1,610,000 to 1,330,000, a decrease of 17.4% (1) Given the anti-abortion rhetoric and policies of George Bush and his administration one would expect the downward trend to continue. Not so. In fact, the very opposite is true.
Four states, Colorado, Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania, posted statistics from 2000 to 2003. Colorado's rate of increase skyrocketed 111%, Kentucky's, 3.2%, Michigan by 11.3%, and Pennsylvania was up 1.9%, 1999 through 2002
Twelve other states posted abortion statistics for 2001 and 2002. Seven states saw increases: Arizona (+26.4%), Idaho (+13.9%), Illinois (+0.9%), Missouri (+2.5%), South Dakota (+2.1%), Texas (+3.0%), and Wisconsin (+0.6%). Five states saw a decrease: Alabama (-9.8%), Florida (-0.7%), Minnesota (-4.4%), Ohio (-4.4%), and Washington (-2.1%).
Had the 1990's record of declining abortions continued on the same pace there should have been 28,000 fewer abortions on the United States each year of the Bush era. If the trend reflected in the sixteen states cited above applied to each of our states, however, there was an increase of 24,000 each year. That number could easily be multiplied by three for the 2000-2003 period. During the third and final Presidential Debate in Tempe, Arizona, Bush once again proudly affirmed his anti-abortion stance. The sad facts insist that his Administration has dramatically reversed the downward trend of the 1990's.
Why? Why this sharp increase in abortions during the years of George W. Bush? Do you remember the clarion call of the mid-90-'s presidential election? "It's the economy, stupid!" Bear two things in mind.
1) Two thirds of women who have abortions cite "inability to afford a child" as their primary reason (2) With the record job losses under this Presidency and a decrease in average real incomes, women (and their male husbands or partners,) feel they cannot afford to have a child
2) During the Bush Presidency 5.2 million people lost their health insurance, with women of childbearing age over-represented in those numbers. Hospital costs are staggering and, for many women, abortion seems the only way out.
Please understand - economic policies and abortion are not separate issues. They form one moral imperative, Without jobs, health care, a living wage, health insurance and child care, all of this pious talk about family values and abortion rings hollow. It is empty. It is hypocritical
A healthy economy and the fair treatment of women are basic reasons why we will support and vote for a Roman Catholic, pro-choice Democrat on November 2, John Kerry believes that achieving health care is the right of every American, regardless of his or her income. It is said that 35% of Democrats consider themselves pro-life. More and more pro-lifers are rallying to the side of this Party each day. The moral as well as the economic health of the nation is at issue.
Gary Krane is an independent investigative journalist who resides in Philadelphia 151 Tulpehocken, Philadelphia 19144 215 248 5985 or 1 888 667 3969 cell
Rev. Dr. James Armstrong is former President of the Florida Council of Churches. 1560 Almond Court Casselberry, FL
(1) Allan Guttmacher Institute (AGI))
(2) (AGI).
