Social Engineering

When it comes to politics one of the things I hate to see is promises of "social engineering." Regardless of the candidate, it seems that abortion is the one topic that seems to come up in the platform. I don't know if it is because of the two opposing lobbying parties, or a perception of what the public thinks matters that I just don't get, but I wish it would go away.

First, let me explain my position on it. Personally, I dislike the idea of abortion, and I have made sure that all of my sexual partners either have had similar views or would be willing to abide by mine. I just cannot stomach the idea of a child I had fathered being aborted. Politically, however, I remain convinced that abortion must be protected and remain legal. There are a couple of different reasons for the political side to it.

One, abortions did not just start happening with Roe vs. Wade. They were being performed even when they were either downright illegal and quasi-legal. Unfortunately, the abortions performed during those days were often just as fatal to the mother as to the child. The idea that a bunch of lawmakers in Washington can write up a bunch of new laws and then there wouldn't be anymore abortions just doesn't make common sense and can only be formed with a total disregard of both history and human nature. Abortions would simply go underground again, and as a result we will have a bunch of doctors and would-be mothers sitting in prisons and jails.

Second, abortion is a social morals question, not a legal one. If, like me, you don't personally approve of abortion, then it is not an option for you. You have the power to talk about it on a personal level with your partner, and teach your children and instill your values in them. However, there are a lot of people that do not hold the same social morals and do not see a problem with the option. That is their right. They also have the ability to talk about it and teach their children just like I do.

So, any legislation on the subject, other than the basic keeping it safe variety, is only an attempt at social engineering. History tells us our government is not very good at social engineering. Remember Prohibition and the 18th Amendment of the Constitution? During the fourteen years that the 18th Amendment was in place, it had the EXACT opposite result of what was planned by its social engineers. The idea was that by banning intoxicating beverages (except those used in religious ceremonies) the country's social morals would improve. Instead, we produced more alcoholics during that period that at any time in history, gave rise to numerous all powerful illegal cartels dealing in illicit booze, and host of horrific social disasters. It was a mitigated disaster, as attested to by the 21st Amendment which repealed the 18th in its entirety.

Social engineering does work, but it is not a machination of legislation. It works when children are taught, and continue to uphold, the morals of the generation before. This is the only way it works outside of a totalitarian state.

This is not to say that I wouldn't like to see SOME changes in the laws dealing with abortion, but that is a topic for another post.