It is still very common to hear the words “abolish abortion” among leaders of some pro-life groups.
Dictionary.com defines “abolish” this way: to do away with; put an end to; annul; make void.
The example phrase dictionary.com uses to demonstrate how to use the word abolish is, “to abolish slavery.”
When we hear the word “abolish” used in English I think it’s fair to say that it usually is attached to the word “slavery.”
And indeed, pro-life leaders often refer to slavery and how it is similar to abortion in the sense that both slavery and abortion dehumanize a living human being.
And I agree.
However, I believe that’s where the similarities between slavery and abortion end.
But some, perhaps many, in the pro-life community still believe there is a key similarity between slavery and abortion in the sense that since slavery was successfully abolished by legislation, then abortion too can be abolished by legislation.
But this belief just isn’t accurate, at all.
Whereas abolishing slavery through legal means did, in fact, end the institution of slavery, using legal means to “abolish” abortion will unfortunately not only not end the practice of abortion, it will have very little impact on ending the practice of abortion.
In other words, there will be no such thing as “abolishing abortion.”
This is very hard for many in the pro-life community to accept, having invested decades in some cases pouring their hearts and souls into trying to get pro-life laws implemented, and pro-abortion laws overturned.
Unfortunately for the pro-life community, during those decades of passionate advocacy for the right to life of the preborn, the abortion industry was diligently working behind the scenes to change the abortion “product” so that it could slip through the grasp of any pro-life law.
And that new “product” is the abortion pill, which now accounts for over 70% of all abortions in our country, a percentage which continues to increase.
If we want a more accurate frame of reference for how difficult it will be to abolish abortion, we should look not to slavery, but instead to the war on drugs.
After all, modern abortion is now a drug much more than a surgical procedure.
As you are likely already aware, for decades US drug enforcement agencies have poured billions of dollars into the war on drugs in an effort to stop the flow of harmful narcotic drugs into the United States.
And for the most part, the effort has been recognized as a failure.
The drugs keep flowing.
Why hasn’t it worked?
I think the simplest explanation is that once the chemistry of a drug is known around the world, and there is significant demand to consume that drug, then it is nearly impossible to stop suppliers from selling that drug.
In other words basic economics would say that even if it is illegal to produce such drugs within the borders of the United States, the fact that the chemistry of these drugs is well known, and the demand for them is high, then restricting supply of the drugs will increase their price and give incentive to overseas suppliers to produce them so they can make money.
And the overseas suppliers of illegal drugs have clearly demonstrated for decades that they don’t care what the laws are in the United States.
I believe the same logic applies to the abortion pill.
Meaning that even if there is a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion across the land, the abortion pill will continue to flow into the United States from overseas suppliers as long as there is high demand for abortion.
Therefore, just as it goes for winning the war on drugs, winning the war against abortion will not be achieved through efforts to restrict supply, but instead on how successful the pro-life community can be at decreasing demand for abortion.
Brett
