Some Catholic groups claiming to be pro-life say that social spending will help reduce abortion, and that restrictive laws do not reduce the number of abortions.
They want Catholics to vote for Obama in the misguided belief that supporting social programs is a far better strategy to reducing abortions than fighting for restrictive laws against abortion and upholding legal recognition for the unborn child.
As a Canadian who lives in a society with generous social programs and no abortion laws, I can only say that that belief is foolish and naive.
In Canada, everyone gets tax-funded health insurance. They can expect a hefty tax credit after the birth of their child. They will receive $100 a month per child to help with childcare fees. In Quebec (the province with the highest abortion rate) there is $7-a-day daycare. There is a year-long parental leave program.
And the abortion rate still approaches 30% (i.e. 30% of pregnancies end in abortion, excluding miscarriages).
In the US, it is less than this. Without the extensive social spending. (UPDATE: In the US, the abortion rate closer to 20%-- that's 50% higher in Canada!)
Why?
Because in the US, there are laws against abortion, and access is more difficult. You often have to pay for your own abortion. You have to travel further to get an abortion.
If Barack Obama is elected, he will implement a Canadian-style abortion regime. He will sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act, which will eliminate all restrictions on abortion.
Just like in Canada. Which, even with its social spending, has a high abortion rate.
This graph shows the details.
In 1980, Canada had half the abortion rate of the US. In that period, there were restrictions on abortion. Women had to submit their request for an abortion to a therapeutic abortion committee and convince doctors that their request was valid. These committees virtually never refused a request, but the process was enough to diminish the number of abortions.
In 1988, Canada's Supreme Court threw out Canada's abortion law. There was no longer any restrictions on it. If you look at the graph of Canada's abortion rate, you will see the abortion rate shot way up in the 1990's.
Throughout the 90's and the turn of the millenium, American federal and state laws were passed restricting abortion. Its abortion rate lowered significantly.
Social spending did nothing to stop Canada's abortion rate from climbing. In spite of all the supports in place, Canada's abortion rate shot up.
If Obama is elected, you can expect the same thing to happen. Obama will eliminate all abortion restrictions. He will work to implement a taxpayer-funded healthcare system that will fund abortions.
Now, not only do we not have an abortion law, the fact that abortion is tax-funded makes it all the more difficult to fight for fetal rights because abortion is considered "healthcare". As long as the state is mandated to pay for it, it makes it more difficult to make the argument that abortion is not health care, and that it kills a human being. With Obama's FOCA, no further abortion restriction will be possible.
If you are an American pro-life Catholic, I urge you to consider the Canadian experience. Social programs are all fine and good, but they do nothing for the rights of unborn children.
If I, as a pro-life activist, had to choose between the Canadian regime or the American regime, I would choose the American regime in a heartbeat. American pro-lifers have been the most effective in the Western World in reducing abortion rates. American pro-life activists have no lesson to take from anyone on how to fight for fetal rights. I urge you to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket on Tuesday.
If you are an American pro-lifer, please pass this message on to pro-life Catholics who are thinking of voting for Obama.
