Pro-life by voting for a pro-choice candidate?

[tim]

Was gonna post this on Facebook, then re-read it and thought "What kind of war am I trying to start here?" It's more at home here, I think.

Person A asked in order to be pro-life, do you have to support someone who vows to support anti-abortion legislation? Person B responded I don't think so - to be Pro-Life is not to only be concerned about the womb, it's to be concerned about LIFE. Studies overwhelmingly show there is a huge correlation between poverty and those who have abortions, so the best way to lessen abortion in a society is to support the candidate that will most directly fight the problem of poverty, thus successfully lowering the amount of abortions (as well as helping the poor.) Changing a law doesn't change people's attitude toward abortion, but caring about those in poverty just might.

Do you agree with either of them?

[krhagan19]

I think that the unfortunately in the USA there is a false paradox because of the structure of our political parties. Republicans tend to be low taxes low welfare state but anti abortion. Democrats tend to be higher taxes higher welfare state to help the poor BUT pro choice. What we really need is a person willing to invest in the welfare state giving new moms a decent shot at life while at the same time legislating to limit access to abortions. This dream candidate however is unlikely to arise given the political paradigms that currently exist in the USA.

[Josh]

Was gonna post this on Facebook, then re-read it and thought "What kind of war am I trying to start here?" It's more at home here, I think.

. Just one more reason facebook sucks.



Leaving aside the question as to whether the best way to help the poor is through government or freeing up taxes so that charities can do their work better, Person B makes a decent point.

Unfortunately many pro-life candidates simply use that tag to get votes from conservatives- they aren't actually intending or able to do anything about it. So to be a one-issue voter is pretty naive.

On the other hand, there's always a part of me that winces when we take too pragmatic an approach toward abortion (like, let's try and reduce abortions by doing so and so), because the bottom line is still we have legislated murder. It's the same tension that anti-slavery folks felt between trying to make things better through compromise or taking a hard line stance that slavery needed to be abolished immediately with no ifs, ands, or buts.

[stevekimes]

Interesting. I just posted this quote on Facebook yesterday (I'm good with controversy):

You have heard that it was said, "Do not oppress the poor." But I say to you, if you have as much as voted for one who would kill an innocent person, then you are complicit.

Every president has agreed that the destruction of innocent life is occasionally necessary (except one, I think). My answer is, don't vote for any of them until we get a candidate who is truly, completely pro-life.

[krhagan19]

The problem with your analysis is that will lead to us simply not participating thus other people having total power to the set the agenda in our Republic.

[stevekimes]

What I understand is that others already have set the agenda in our Plutocratic Oligarchy. Why participate in a system that is inherently immoral?

[christopher]

I believe there are several good reasons to participate, even though the system is corrupt:

1. We are still able to
2. There is at least the potential to effect positive change
3. To not participate sends the wrong kind of counter-cultural message IMO*
4. It's a springboard and open door into healthy debate about kingdom things (morality, humanity, and oughtness)
5. Cool bumper stickers like:

"Bi-Partisanship: I'll hug your elephant if you I disagree" ;D

*By the way, I think there are good counter-cultural messages to send, but not engaging in the culture politically is too alienating from the culture, much like the Essenes in ancient Israel.

[stevekimes]

I also think that engaging in society is essential. We are supposed to be the light of the world. But if the choices we are given are only darkness, how can we let that light shine? By participating in other, more effective methods of engagement.

We can work on community that works according to kingdom principles
We can write prophetically (and gently) to political leaders, as letters are more effective than votes
We can speak the truth in public forums
We can love in a personal and effective way, creating positive change in our communities

[christopher]

Very good.

I should probably say also that I'm not super into politics either. But I do vote (not along any party lines).

My position is "let each man be convinced in his own mind" how to approach the political arena. Democracy is rather unique and novel in the history of the world so we're not likely to get much help from the bible.

[robin]

If I believe that a candidate is pro life and will make any progress in the pro-life cause I would not have a problem supporting them. This next election could be pivotal for the future of abortions in the US due to the fact that 2 supreme court justices will likely retire during the next presidents term. Unborn children can't afford to have Obama make those new appointments to the Supreme Court.