Good News Across the Spectrum

Politics - As abortions fall, activism wanes - sacbee.com: "Meanwhile, data released last month by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, reported that fewer than 21 of every 1,000 women between 15 and 44 had an abortion in 2002, the most recent year for which data was available. That compares with a rate of more than 29 per 1,000 at abortion's peak in the United States, in 1980 and 1981. If the trend continues, abortion could soon recede to its 1974 rate, about 19 per 1,000 per women of childbearing age."


Regardless of where one falls in this debate, I think most will herald this as good news. I believe it was Clinton's policy to essentially make abortions "unneccessary." So it's good to see rates are falling, especailly since no matter how you slice up the statistics, it's almost all positive: teen pregnancy is down too. Couples seem to be making more educated and responsible decisions. Only bad note is that abortions are up among the lower class--perhaps a sign that education can make a difference, perhaps a cocktail of other issues.