by Suzanne James

Created on: February 01, 2009

Abortion cannot be debated without weighing the cost to society:

-Will a woman forced to have an unwanted child be a good mother?

-Single mothers dominate the poverty statistics; Can the country carry the extra financial burden?

-Can a woman be asked to stagnate her opportunities by a government who still lets most men walk away from child support and responsibility without even a slap on the wrist?

-Should a system that makes sex education mandatory, and offers birth control, but rarely offers parenting and responsibility courses to teens be allowed to unfairly hobble women with the results of this 'free sex education' environment?

This list can expand exponentially without ever touching religious or moral convictions and traditions. The fact is simple. Society wants to teach the sex is free, but at the same time, make women and children pay the price. They take all responsibility from the parent. A school can hand out birth control. They can arrange for abortions. However, this is where their responsibility stops. If the girl does not choose to have an abortion then the parents, family, and community services who must bear the burden.

The only clear solution is to allow women to walk away from their parental responsibilities. If for no other reason then to allow women to have the same freedoms that men take for granted. Abortion should be the woman's choice only. I believe the following to be logical and fair freedoms inherent to all:

-If the schools hand out the birth control, then they should also hand out the Morning After Pill.

-If the schools teach sex ed, they should also offer opportunities for single mothers to get an education.

-Schools/Local Government should accept responsibility for the cost of an abortion.

- If parents are eliminated from the decision process, and the sexual responsibility of their child, they should not be responsible for raising the infant.

-Until men are universally held responsible for all offspring in the same way a woman is, then it is unrealistic to demand that women bear the burden for our 'Free sex environment.'

-Until women on social assistance are allowed to raise their children, instead of working, which reduces the opportunity to nurture their children, then the government should refrain from voicing their opinion.

THE TRUE QUESTION SHOULD BE: If a mother does not want her child - who becomes responsible for raising that child?

The only way to offer the same freedoms and lifestyle and expectations to the father, the mother, and the child is to continue to support abortion. This mandate must not change until a time in the future when society and men agree to accept their share of the financial and time-investment needed to raise a child.

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