Abortion + 5 Political Party Stances

Abortion has always been a sensitive topic that people have strong opinions about. Many people feel that abortion is a form of murder and think that it should be illegal. Other people feel that it is the role of the government to provide this service to women. Moderates feel the decision of legality should be left up to individual states and the federal government should have no say in it. The current system does not allow for all women to have access to safe abortions. Although the government should not necessarily have a direct role in the matter, abortion should be more accessible to all women.

Due to a lack of access to safe abortions, many women are forced to have illegal and self abortions. As a result, an estimated 80,000 women die from botched abortions. For women who live under the poverty line, Medicaid doesn’t cover abortions for 1 out of 5 women. Between 1973 and 1977, the federal government paid for about one-third of all abortions. Three years after the decision of Roe v Wade, only 13 percent of all abortions were publicly funded. By 1978, fewer than 2,500 abortions were covered by federal Medicaid funds. The number continues to dwindle down and in 1992, Medicaid only covered 267 abortions.

For women living under the poverty line, Medicaid funds are extremely important to them. Without Medicaid, many women can not afford an abortion. They then have to turn to searching for funds to afford one. However, the time it takes to raise the money, makes it more likely that they will need a more expensive second-trimester procedure. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Medicaid eligible women would have had a first trimester abortion had they had the public funds. 

The lack of funding also contributes to the inaccessibility of abortions. Ninety-four percent of non-metropolitan counties have no abortion services. Eighty-five percent of rural women live in these under-served counties. One-quarter of women wanting abortions have to travel over 50 miles to get one. In addition to the lack of services, there are less doctors to perform them. Abortion is the most common obstetrics surgical procedure; yet, few medical students are being trained in abortion techniques. Many hospitals do so few abortions that they can not be appropriate training centers.

Many women’s lives are put in danger because of the lack of abortion services. They have to turn to unsafe practices in order to get the abortion they need. Due to the lack of funding, women have very few places they can go to get an abortion. There should be more public funds dedicated to abortion in order to help these women. More medical students should be taught how to perform these procedures in order to open more places for women to go to. In addition, there should be more education on safe sex practices in order to reduce unwanted pregnancies and reduce the need for abortions.  

Democrats believe abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. They completely agree with the results of the court case Roe v Wade. The decision to get an abortion should be between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her clergy. The government has no place in this important decision. Democrats also believe in better health care and sex education. This would help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies; therefore, reducing the number of abortions. They also believe the government should help women with raising the child if abortion is not an option and even providing them with adoption options.

Republicans strongly disagree with Democrats on the issue of abortion. They are pro-life and believe an unborn child has the right to life. They do not believe in the exceptions of rape, incest, birth defects, or risk to a mother’s life; every unborn child has the right to life in all cases. Republicans believe that the 14th amendment applies to everyone even unborn children. They also oppose health care options that would cover the cost of abortion. They also oppose sex education other than the teachings of abstinence.

Libertarian ideas fall slightly in line with Democratic views. Libertarians believe that the government should not be involved in this important decision. They believe the decision should be left strictly to the person. Unlike Democrats, Libertarians condemn state funded abortions. If someone believes that abortion is murder, it is harsh to force someone to contribute to it. They also believe it is the right of women to decide the desirability of prenatal testing, cesarean births, fetal surgery, and/or home births.

The Green Party’s view also aligns with Democratic views. The Green party unequivocally support women’s right to reproduce and abortion should be safe. They believe that contraception and legal abortion should be covered in all health coverage plans in the United States. The “morning after” pill should be affordable and easily accessed without a prescription. The Green Party also believes in educating women on various forms of contraceptives. They also oppose government cuts of family planning funds.

The Constitution Party’s ideas fall in line with Republican ideas. The party believes the decision of Roe v Wade is an illegitimate usurpation of authority. Constitutionist believe it is a god given right to legal personhood from fertilization to natural death without exception. Abortion and other methods are violations of an unborn child’s inalienable right to life. Constitutionist oppose distribution of abortion drugs and research involving embryonic or pre-embryonic cells.

Works Cited

"Democratic Party on Abortion." Democratic Party on Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Democratic_Party_Abortion.htm>.

"Green Party on Abortion." Green Party on Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Green_Party_Abortion.htm>.

Fraser, Laura. "The RU-486 Abortion Pill Should Be Available to Women." The Abortion Controversy. Ed. Lynette Knapp. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "The Abortion Pill's Grim Progress." Mother Jones (1999). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

Fried, Marlene Gerber. "Women Need Greater Access to Abortion." The Abortion Controversy. Ed. Lynette Knapp. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Current Controversies. Rpt. from "Abortion in the United States—Legal but Inaccessible." Abortion Wars: A Half Century of Struggle, 1950-2000. Ed. Rickie Solinger. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

"Libertarian Party on Abortion." Libertarian Party on Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Libertarian_Party_Abortion.htm>.

"Republican Views on Abortion." Republican Views on the Issues. Republicanviews.org, 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-abortion/>.

"The Sanctity of Life." The Constitution Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015. <http://www.constitutionparty.com/the-sanctity-of-life-2/>.