Like hell there isn’t.

Murder, Robbery and Rape are physical issues. “When does life begin” is a metaphysical issue.

“… but the Federal government should really stick to managing the economy and national security… “

How about instead it stick to managing the things given to it by the Constitution, which did not include “managing” the economy?

You’re correct, I misstated… instead of economy that should have been ‘interstate commerce’. I agree completely that the overall economy is not the governments to manage.

Today, by contrast, among the current generation of 18- to 29-year-olds, 36 percent say they are strongly “pro-life,” while just 18 percent say they are strongly “pro-choice,” the study authors said.

The trend was particularly evident among women in that age bracket. Forty 40 percent identify themselves as strongly “pro-life” and only 20 percent as strongly “pro-choice.”

Don’t get too ahead of yourself now.

Like hell there isn’t.

“… but the Federal government should really stick to managing the economy and national security… ”

How about instead it stick to managing the things given to it by the Constitution, which did not include “managing” the economy? Of course, if it did that, it would practically be stuck making decisions that uncomfortably close to metaphysics every time it turned around–which is why politicians look desperately for ways to tinker around the edges, rather than face up to hard conflicts.

This should be an awkward tact for Democrats to take.

Like that one? I didn’t think so.

Ermmm, I agree that ethics, in general isn’t something the government regulates (nor should it). Obviously to survive, we have basic issues that the government deals with (murder, robbery, rape). However, these issues have a direct impact on citizens that are protected by the Constitution. There is no metaphysical issue involved here.

The metaphysics of ‘when does life start’, on the other hand… is not clear cut, its not simple and it relies mostly on belief in some magic invisible guy in the sky, or the concept that humans are nothing more than some random cells mushed together (to generalize both extremes).

The state government, if it felt so inclined might make some rulings on such a thing (hopefully through a public vote)… but the Federal government should really stick to managing the economy and national security… until it becomes competent at those things, I don’t think we should be handing it anything else.

> there will be a consensus one way or the other

Scientific consensus has a weak relationship to truth and no relationship to good policy.

I don’t disagree… I would however, put forth that any consensus on metaphysical issues (like when does life start) will have an even weaker relationship to truth and (like much of the scientific ’standard’) no relationship to good policy.

The Dems regularly suggest that this isn’t settled law and that if you elect fill-in-the-blank republican, there will be back alley abortions with rusty knives performed by drunkard doctors before you can say Bushitler.

Just goes to show who the reactionaries really are. The “liberals” treat this issue as if it is still 1973. They haven’t moved and inch in 34 years. In them meantime methods of birth control, as well as abortion, have moved forward as have public opinions and attitudes.