Since the self ownership thread was getting off topic, I promised I would start a new thread on abortion.
Please note: this is my personal position. Although I believe this position is congruent with all Libertarian principles, this is not the definitive Libertarian position on abortion.
Many Libertarians are pro-life in the standard meaning of that phrase.
http://www.L4L.org/ Many Libertarians are pro-choice within the standard meaning of that phrase.
http://www.pro-choicelibertarians.net/The party platform is neutral on this issue.
For example, Michael Badnarik is pro-life but feels it is a State's right issue.
Finally None of this is intended to be a guide as to what one
should do. Obviously if a woman is pregnant she
should carry the child to full term. This is meant as an illustration of the limits of force in a just society.
------------Executive summary: ------------
This position respects the life, Rights, and Humanness of both mother and child. Neither's rights are placed ahead the other's.
This position would allow the outlawing of any abortion beyond the point of normal viability (so-called partial birth etc.) that results in the intentional killing of the fetus.
This position would allow early term abortions and shows why this is not murder in the normal sense.
This position shows why any 3rd party has the Right to attempt to rescue an about to be aborted fetus, and gives those of us who are pro-life a positive outlet for our energies that will actually save lives, without driving abortions and abortionists into the back alleys.
Finally I offer a means to use free market methods to drive fetal deaths toward zero.
------------Begin Definitions------------------------
(yes, I know these definitions are not standard - but I hate typing embryo, zygote, blastosphere etc.)
Fetus - Any Human being from conception to birth.
Child - Any Human being from birth to maturity. (some on this board are still children
Normal Viability - The point at which a fetus could survive on it's own with care equivalent to that required by any other child, or minimal medical support (incubator / isolet /oxygen etc.)
Medical Viability - The point at which a fetus could survive given extraordinary medical care. A moving target which will depend on the fetus, and the curent state of the art.
Own - Having something that belongs to you, which is not dependent upon the action or permission of anyone else.
Property - Tangible or intangible items which may be owned. Food is a tangible property. Life is an intangible property.
To own one's life - able to live on one's own. Think of a normal full-term baby.
- An adult Human being with life-threatening asthma (such as myself) would fit this definition only if they themselves already owned the means to purchase their medicine, or could earn enough money to support their medical needs.
- If an adult Human being with life-threatening asthma required charity to acquire their medicine, they would not fit this definition unless and until someone gave them that charity.
Murder - the intentional act of removing life from someone who owns their life.
------------End Definitions------------------------
------------Begin Axioms------------------------
(unprovable by definition - I will not respond to posts challenging these, as it is pointless to argue about axioms. If you don't agree - fine; be that way.)
All fetuses are alive and are Human beings, with all attendant Rights from the moment of conception.
All Human beings own their bodies.
All Human beings have exactly the same set of Rights.
One such Right is the Right to own property (tangible and intangible)
No Human being may initiate force to deprive another Human being of that which is owned, nor to deprive another Human being of any of their Rights.
No Human being may initiate force to require another Human being to provide him with property, including, but not limited to, food, water, shelter and medicine.
Any Human being may counter force with equal or superior force to retain that which is owned or to defend a Right.
Government exists to provide superior force for the weak to defend their Rights and property (among other purposes).
Resources and knowledge are limited. Not every need can be met.
---------------End Axioms---------------------