A note to our British friends about abortion policy and actual abortion numbers
Relaxing or tightening limits on abortion might make little difference in the volume of abortions. But other policies might.
Greetings, friends —
What an upsetting time. Missiles doing atmospheric re-entry and landing in random Israeli neighborhoods. The Russians picking up the pace of drone strikes in Kiev. The Iranian populace wondering, like their Israeli cousins, WTF tomorrow will bring. Swedish Media Personalities grandstanding outside Gaza, because that’s gonna make a difference. I’d much rather watch British Media Personalities (Jeremy Clarkson and friends) make a serious go—their serious go!—of illuminating problems with agricultural policies in Britain. And bless that lad from Luton, SYL, (no longer so young and laddish) for illuminating what has been going on in “Batshit Bonkers Britain.”
I am aware that there has been some legislative movement in Britain with respect to abortion access. And I see a lot content online about how enabling access up to birth—understood as “late term abortion” in the United States—makes for a barbaric business.
I get it. We all get. But, I am going to pose this idea: (1) Neither relaxing nor tightening the limits on abortion might make a discernible difference. But, (2) other policies might make a big difference. Specifically, (1) the data from the United States indicate that well more than 90% of folks seeking abortion do so expeditiously. They don’t wait around months and months. And, by week 20, more than 99% of abortions have been implemented. So, expanding access may not make a difference. The big puzzle is what is going on with those people who hold out until full term. Those people … Those people need help much earlier in the process. But, then (2), “Welfare Reform” in the United States made a big difference. Basically, making it harder to make a living by having more kids encouraged a lot of people to not get pregnant in the first place. The volume of abortions decreased by about one-third. Interesting, no?
I wrote about this some time ago. The graphs are interesting. Surprising.
I haven't read up on pro-natalist policies, but my general sense is that no one's come up with anything compelling.
Some folks point to Hungary as an example of partial success. (Is it?) Meanwhile, in South Korea, the latest cohort of new-borns is about one-quarter the size of my age cohort.
About that "welfare reform" idea: Not immediately saying whether it's good or bad, but it's ironic that we have a President that's suggesting giving women $50000 for having babies!
Actually, I will admit that the reform idea is good; the President's idea isn't .