Irresponsible Reproduction and The
Ongoing Abortion
Controversy
By Dr. Howard Garber
As an independent political "conservative", and active
Republican, I have long been at a loss as to why the party has pushed so
long for the elimination of "Roe vs. Wade", or at least significant
restrictions on abortions in this nation. The conservative, growing
American Civil Responsibilities Union (ACRU) was established to stress the
need for better balance between civil liberties and civil responsibilities
in this increasingly permissive nation. And I can think of no more
important concern in any progressive society than that of responsible
reproduction. Rights should always be balanced by responsibilities, and
most would agree that no one right is absolute.
Our Sociological Decline: Though having progressed
amazingly in technology, our nation is today on a serious decline
sociologically. The permissive 60's brought a "new morality" and a record
divorce rate that has virtually destroyed the traditional family.
Increasing numbers of children today are born out of wedlock, or into
single parent families. The expression "children having children " has
become an unfortunate reality. The issue over
abortion has divided the Republican Party to the benefit of the Democrats,
who have championed women's rights with "pro-choice" advocacy.
And though statistically, the nation supports abortion rights for women,
some "single issue", anti-abortion, "fundamentalist" fanatics have even
used terrorist tactics in their questionable crusade. We believe the
recent poor showing of anti abortion Rebublican candidates should signal a
need to eliminate abortion as an issue.
Responsible Reproduction: Polls indicate most citizens
in our nation favor freedom of choice on abortion. With today's record
welfare, teen pregnancy and our permissive moral decline, many in the
future, may also favor reasonable limitations on births by welfare
recipients, minors and incompetents. For there is increasing sentiment for
today's need for parental fitness and financial
responsibility. We've adapted to record broken homes, single
parents unable to supervise and discipline, teen promiscuity (once
regarded as statutory rape) the proliferation of unwed mothers, crack
babies, the AIDS crisis, etc. Record numbers of babies are born into
poverty, by the thoughtless and irresponsible. Many are unwanted,
neglected, abused and worse. I'm describing increasing "Third World
conditions" in the increasingly decadent USA. On a global basis, we're
witnessing Third World population explosions that some describe as a
demographic catastrophe. An example is Mexico, where alarming record
reproduction by the poor, perpetuates poverty, and ultimately our plight.
I refer to the costly "illegal invasion" of the U.S. Crudely put, many
agree, "If you can't feed them, don't breed them".
Bill of Rights For Unborn:
Children entering
this world deserve at least three basic rights:
(1) Parents: The right to two, competent, adult parents
when at all possible. The traditional two-parent family is proven
superior in disciplining, supervising and guiding children. The
statistics here are indisputable. Those raised by single parents and
from broken homes are much more likely to be problems for society, as
evident in our great increase in gangs, drugs, crime and immoral,
asocial behavior.
(2) Financial Responsibility: The right not to be born
into poverty, (e.g., welfare) but rather into an environment that is
at least minimal, without financially burdening the nation. We believe
it is not acceptable for anyone to say, in essence, "We're having
these babies, and taxpayers will provide for them." We call that
irresponsible reproduction, as is also the case of births by unmarried
teenagers.
(3) Supervision: The right to adequate care and
supervision by qualified parents or guardians. Unsupervised and
undisciplined children, be they from affluent or poor families, are
much more likely to be societal problems. The burden here should not
be on our teachers and educational system. Those who can't care and
provide for their children, should not be parents.
Abortion cannot and should not
be separated from the overall problem of irresponsible reproduction. We
must address this and other sensitive social problems and related moral
problems, using logic and less emotion. Further, today's demographics
indicate that while birthrates in the U.S. and Western Democracies have
declined to less than two per family, "Third World" birthrates are much
higher. Even in our progressive pluralistic society, the birthrate of our
impoverished minorities is markedly higher than that of the more affluent.
Though some may dispute the reported correlation between irresponsible
"Third World" reproduction and intelligence, studies do so indicate.
Others may object to the worrisome conclusion that we may be headed for a
demographic crisis, if this ominous demographic trend continues. It seems
clear to the ACRU that society may be in "denial" if it does not face up
to the worsening problem.
Conclusion: Unless the U.S. and the world focuses more
attention on the general problem of irresponsible reproduction as
described, and possible solutions, the predicted demographic crisis could
irreversibly change this nation and Western Democracy as we've known it.
And as to abortion, I submit that compelling a single woman or parents of
limited means, financial or otherwise, to bear and rear children they do
not want, cannot afford, or cannot give proper care, is immoral and
ultimately detrimental to our society.
Dr. Howard D. Garber,
Founder/Director
American Civil Responsibilities Union
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