Pro Choice / Pro Life - who is winning the "Culture war"

[MODU]

The same goes with abortion. The last time the issue was really salient was during the feminist movement of the 1970s. At that time the debate was heavily cultural. Most pro-lifers fit the profile of MODU here, in their beliefs and rhetoric. Today, the pro-life rhetoric has changed, helped by new technologies and strategies, and the dynamics are shifting away from the cultural debate to the moral debate, which is totally different. This means the seeming stability of public opinion and public policy over the decades belie fundamentally shifting dynamics that may leave pro-choice identifiers in for a rude shock once the issue again becomes highly salient (which is likely in the next 2-4 years).

Took two events to change my view on abortion (use to be solely against it):  a dear friend of mine became pregnant, even while using proper birth control, and faced risking harm to her health (and possibly not being able to have kids in the future) if she carried the kid to term (which she did after a lot of sole searching), and as well as my cousin, who developed a heart condition while pregnant, and an abortion was required to save her life (had to stablize her medically before implanting a pace maker). 

Thanks for the lengthy discussion.    It's a hard topic for many.

[WMS]

The Democrats will eventually win. Younger people are more tolerant. A majority of those under 30 favor gay marriage (no, not civil unions, marriage).

Younger people are always more liberal. It's not that as they grow up they will necessarily stay that way.

I've read somewhere that abortion is an exception to the 'younger-generations are more liberal' rule - the X and Y/Millenial generations are actually more pro-life than the Boomers, but more liberal overall. I don't have a source, although a distant bell rings in my head and tells me that BRTD mentioned this months ago...

[Akno21]

I think this is an issue where when push comes to shove, more people are pro-choice than pro-life. However, this is an issue that is very easy to use as a GOTV tool by Republicans, for several reasons. First, there is an extremly dedicated Pro-Life horde out there, that I don't see on the Pro-Choice side. Second, it's a very simple issue to articulate if you're pro-life, it can literally take three sentences to get the voter to vote Republican "John Kerry supports abortion rights. Abortion is murder. Vote George W. Bush November 2." or something very simple along those lines. Basically, Democrats have the numbers edge, but Republicans use their tools better to make up for it.

[Akno21]

The Democrats will eventually win. Younger people are more tolerant. A majority of those under 30 favor gay marriage (no, not civil unions, marriage).

Younger people are always more liberal. It's not that as they grow up they will necessarily stay that way.

I've read somewhere that abortion is an exception to the 'younger-generations are more liberal' rule - the X and Y/Millenial generations are actually more pro-life than the Boomers, but more liberal overall. I don't have a source, although a distant bell rings in my head and tells me that BRTD mentioned this months ago...

I read the same thing. It was something like in 1992 67% of college students were pro-choice, now it's 50 something.

[WMS]

The Democrats will eventually win. Younger people are more tolerant. A majority of those under 30 favor gay marriage (no, not civil unions, marriage).

Younger people are always more liberal. It's not that as they grow up they will necessarily stay that way.

I've read somewhere that abortion is an exception to the 'younger-generations are more liberal' rule - the X and Y/Millenial generations are actually more pro-life than the Boomers, but more liberal overall. I don't have a source, although a distant bell rings in my head and tells me that BRTD mentioned this months ago...

I read the same thing. It was something like in 1992 67% of college students were pro-choice, now it's 50 something.

They can back gay marriage, legalized marijuana, and so on all they want, as long as they're also pro-life.

[Jake]

Based on that exit poll, 79% want abortion restricted in some way, be it partial birth, third trimester, etc and 84% want abortion around in some form, be it first trimester, life and death, rape/incest. The pro-life crowd is now on the offensive on this issue which means the ball is in their court. Over the next few years, we may see abortion restricted even more even though a court overturning Roe v. Wade is very improbable.

Also, anyone know of a poll that breaks down where the limitations on abortion should be? As I've said before, one man's most illegal is another man's mostly legal.

[Rin-chan]

The Democrats will eventually win. Younger people are more tolerant. A majority of those under 30 favor gay marriage (no, not civil unions, marriage).

Younger people are always more liberal. It's not that as they grow up they will necessarily stay that way.

  Winston Churchill once said "If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart.  If you're not conservative when you're old, then you have no mind."

  Just thought I'd add that in.

  That under 30 statement doesn't have much validity.  I'm under 30 and don't support gay marriage or abortion, and all of my closest friends agree with me.  I also know a bunch of people who do support both of those causes.  It's about equal.  Going by that, and that fact that most young people haven't researched anything enough to have a real opinion anyway, no one can really say that.  It's not proven.

  I will admit that the younger generations DO tend to be much more accepting... atleast in the Northeast.

Rin-chan

[The Vorlon]

The Democrats will eventually win. Younger people are more tolerant. A majority of those under 30 favor gay marriage (no, not civil unions, marriage).

Younger people are always more liberal. It's not that as they grow up they will necessarily stay that way.

  Winston Churchill once said "If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart.  If you're not conservative when you're old, then you have no mind."

  Just thought I'd add that in.

  That under 30 statement doesn't have much validity.  I'm under 30 and don't support gay marriage or abortion, and all of my closest friends agree with me.  I also know a bunch of people who do support both of those causes.  It's about equal.  Going by that, and that fact that most young people haven't researched anything enough to have a real opinion anyway, no one can really say that.  It's not proven.

  I will admit that the younger generations DO tend to be much more accepting... atleast in the Northeast.

Rin-chan

Welcome to the Forum!

We have a very nice little place here, and I hope you will enjoy your time with us

[Ben.]

Winston Churchill once said "If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart.  If you're not conservative when you're old, then you have no mind."

Don't mean to nit-pick but it think the original quote was... 

"If you're not a socialist when you're 18, you have no heart.  If you're still a socialist at 30, you have no head."

[Rin-chan]

lol I don't care if you're picky, Ben.  I am, too.  That's just the only version of the quote I had heard.  Pretty much the same meaning though.

And thanks for welcoming me, The Vorlon!  Cool... My first friend here...

I have a best friend who's a member here (I knew him previously), but he wishes to remain anonymous... Weirdo...

Sorry, this is off-topic.  I just wanted to say thanks!

Rin-chan