FOCA

The "Freedom of Choice Act" has sparked a lot of controversy lately, hasn't it?
It's quite the bill. I'm impressed that it hasn't been filled with pork yet.

Either way, I'm not gonna state an opinion on abortion. I can't have one anyway, so it really doesn't affect me so much. I'm concerned with infringements on everyone else's liberties.

In section four of this bill, a woman is given a right to abortion. Here's a quote:

"Statement of Policy- It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman." (from the above link)

Now, what's the problem with that?
The word "right."

A right is defined as "A just or legal claim or title." (from Dictionary.com, since I have no other dictionary)

Why would this bother me?
An abortion is not something to which you have an unalienable right. In order to obtain an abortion, you must use up another being's resources. (unless, of course, you're performing an abortion on yourself) No one should have a right to another person's time or money.

So, how does that affect us?
Firstly, this act would allocate federal funding for abortion. That should not be. Why do honest taxpayers need to pay for another person's wants? I want a nice synthesizer, but the government is not allocating money for that.
Secondly, this act could have some serious repercussions for health workers that refuse to perform abortions on any occasion, even if they were morally opposed to the idea of removing the fetus.
In the event that this act makes a doctor's refusal to comply a crime, Catholic bishops have vowed to close down hospitals. That seems like an issue to me.

Regardless of your moral opinion on abortion, it is not a right. Rights are unalienable entitlements. You never have to earn rights. Women have a right to an abortion just as much as I have a right to Bill Gates' money. That wouldn't mean they aren't allowed to have one; it simply means they would have to pay for it (just as if I wanted Bill Gates' money, I would have to somehow earn it from him). No one has the right to force someone to go against their morals either.

Hopefully our lawmakers realize what rights are before this vote...

Either way, off to bed. I'm finally tired.