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Flyover 39 – Planning for Parenthood and the Presidency
We are joined this week by Ricochet member Majestyk, for a discussion of Planned Parenthood (and abortion in general) as well as Donald Trump and what that means for our everyman political class.
Exit music this week is Mogwai’s “The Sun Smells Too Loud.”
Published in General
I totally disagree with your view of the Bill of Rights! :-P
Hey, did you notice that I removed the quotes??
Thanks again for having me on the show, guys! I listened to the cast today and found myself in podcast mode: Taking it in, as if I weren’t actually taking part. Who was that masked man???
You did a fantastic job, majestyk, and we were happy to have you!
Ryan: I enjoy your podcast but would enjoy another one of your epic Bob Costas rants – it has been awhile.
Majestyk: I don’t often agree with your posts or positions but you came across as very well spoken – good job sir – you helped to make a good podcast. And hang in there, I moved to Houston, TX 34 years ago and am now getting used to the heat and humidity – you will soon be able to work outside all day.
An excellent podcast. Majestyk was a great guest with some great thoughts and an excellent presence.
I thought the awkward silence after Ryan’s Seinfeld reference was deafening.
They always are, mfj… My humor is just too sophisticated. ;)
The underlying assumption has gone out the window long ago.
Speaking of babies with downs, new song I heard today written by a couple for their child.
This was a really, really good conversation.
Indeed. This was Ricochet spoken.
Thank you!!
Picked up some stats for the Down Syndrome mentions:
From
http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/about-down-syndrome/facts-about-down-syndrome/
– Rate is 1 in every 691 live births
– Current data on rate of termination after a prenatal diagnosis: around 67%
– Average lifespan is about 60 years.
As recently as 1983, lifespan average is 25 years, so major, recent changes.
It seemed some of the comments on the podcast ran counter to this data…
See the original post here.
Thank you, Eric. All the more reason for the concerns regarding abortion, in my opinion. I do think rates might be expected to rise as more people wait longer to have children. Do you agree?
I think Shaun was getting at an interesting question that was never quite resolved:
Children born with some genetic disorders have the potential to lead a family to penury. If we stipulate that abortion should be outlawed and that parents are responsible — financially, and otherwise — for their kids, where does that leave us?
Are there insurance markets for such things? That seems like the obvious solution, though in a post-ObamaCare world, our options get more and more limited.
Thanks Tom – that was the larger point that I think I left on the table, the point that the absolutist, anti-abortion position logically leads to some people having to live lives which will by definition be dominated by the forced charity of others by way of the state.
We are pinioned between two irreconcilable positions if we are strictly anti-abortion and simultaneously insistent that people bear personal responsibility for their own choices. This would make us extraordinarily insensitive to some peoples’ poor fortune.
It also ignores the strain of thought which claims that contraception is a grave moral sin as well – even in cases where couples know that their procreation (via genetic counseling or what have you) has a high probability of producing offspring with serious genetic or birth defects.
Sorry guys, I’m on my phone. My position remains unchanged, though. This is what I was talking about with the weighing of competing rights. I may have a right to comfort in my home, and murdering the bum on the corner might protect that right, but he has a competing interest.
If a loan or other obligation may end up diminishing my quality of life, I am still obliged. Society may tolerate bankruptcy, but somebody with competing rights must necessarily pay. I tend to disagree with the assertion that there are many, if any, rights of individuals or society (punishment for crimes notwithstanding) that outweigh an infant’s right to exist. Monitory concerns least of all.
Unless one were able to insure against such a thing, which seems like an obvious solution.
I totally get that.
Honestly, I’m more interested in what can be done to prevent such a predicament (again, some kind of genetic insurance seems like a good solution). Also, I’d imagine we’ll soon have the ability to screen gametes before fertilization, which should reduce the number of people with genetic effects from being conceived.
Yes, I actually think that is a very interesting idea. When it comes to pre-natal stuff like that, what you’re talking about is – ironically – planning. That means taking extra precautions (i.e. insurance) if you’re having children into your 40’s or late 30’s. It means limiting your sexual activity, even.
er… “monetary.” Sorry, my cell phone tries to guess what I’m thinking and it is sometimes quite wrong. I’m back on the computer, now!
I see what you did there. That was clever. :)
Hopping on late as usual. Busy getting married and hanging with inlaws. Just wanted to say thanks again to Majestyk. Can’t wait to have you on again.
Thanks Terry! I’m looking forward to it.