Responding to Eve, I like your comment and share your thought that maybe the answer lies more with prevention -- find out how we can solve problems before they get so dire.

My thoughts on the other outcomes of pregnancy are as you say: keeping the baby, adoption, or, I thought of today, prevention.

I think the reasons you mention are good: fear, ignorance, money & guilt.

Pat, you are right, it is legal. You are also correct that this is not a black-and-white issue, there are lots of gray areas. As with most issues we deal with, there are exceptions that no one would argue against.

I am thinking along the lines of why we as a people can't come to a solution we can all live with. Perhaps at it's core is a fear of government subverting free will, vs. a practice that is aborhent to us, a practice that we cannot imagine having a good reason to endorse?

There were several articles in our paper today(Ft. Collins Coloradoan) that are pertinent to our discussion. One was an editorial "Ideological ping-pong resounds" by Ellen Goodman, that talks about a mandate first implemented by President Reagan, aimed at international organizations, saying that America would not give family planning money to any group that counseled or referred women for abortions. President Clinton resinded the order, President Bush put it back, now President Obama has resinded it again. Ms. Goodman also talked about President Obama's statement that he would "initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet the needs of women and families at home and around the world".

So, how can we as a people or lawmakers address fear, ignorance, money, and guilt. Any ideas?

Thanks for your input!
Tammy