Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Bruenig on abortion

Democrats Need to Change the Way They Talk About Abortion

Elizabeth Bruenig, an assistant editor at the Washington Post (full disclosure: We've previously worked together), is a Christian socialist who believes abortion is morally wrong, except when the mother's life is at risk. Her pro-life views seemingly echo many Republicans, but unlike conservatives, she believes that to fight abortion we should expand the social safety net.

"What I aim for is to reduce abortions peacefully, without involving the penal-carceral system, which I'm highly skeptical of," she told me. "I support bigger, more robust welfare programs that would help women and families: a child allowance, state-paid parental leave, and single-payer healthcare." Better access to social services, she reckoned, is "a way to help them choose life."

In a 2014 article for the American Conservative, Bruenig cited multiple studies that found the majority of American women get abortions for economic reasons. "If the goal really is reducing abortion and supporting the ability of mothers to care for their infants," she argued, "the data directs us to a very intuitive solution: give would-be moms, especially the poorest, the financial boost they need to give birth while maintaining financial security. A child allowance program fits the bill neatly."

Lipinski a marked man

Dan Lipinski-- A Marked Man by DownWithTyranny