[jackbob]

You and I, do not agree. But I respect your opinion. For me, individual rights are what is primary. I do not believe we are ever going to live in a perfect world. But I do believe that the right of an individual to control their own thoughts and body must be maintained to the degree we now have it, and can be further achieved where we do not as yet have it.

In this regard, I agree to certain exceptions where it can be remotely demonstrated that unnecessary pain may be being inflicted, then such procedures should not be allowed. Beyond that, I say government must always put a higher weight on the wishes of an individual that are meaningfully expressed, over an assumption about a non-individual dependent that is not meaningfully expressed. At least until a separation occurs, thereby creating a new individual.

[ajr276]

Thank you for the well thought response and please know that I also respect your opinion.

I have a couple responses to your previous post. First, I don't quite see the connection between separation and individuality. Newborns are in almost every way just as dependent on the sustenance of another human being as a fetus that is only minutes from delivery. What should keep us from the conclusion that the unborn fetus is simply in a stage of individuality? Doesn't use of the term "individual" become somewhat subjective?

In the context of the original topic, it seems that the mother is not an individual that happens to be carrying a sort of appendage, but is instead entrusted with the care of another physically undeveloped individual. In this example I believe it is wise to restrict the right of liberty for one individual (the mother) in deference to the right for existence in the other individual (the fetus).

In addition, I think we have to qualify what is and is not considered a meaningfully expressed wish. Not to be over the top in my illustration of abortion, but when a baby cringes or thrashes about in the womb as a result of the procedure being performed, it would seem wise to assign the reactions of fear and pain as being representative of meaningfully expressed wishes; the wish of course being the absence of whatever stimuli is causing the reaction in question.

In closing, I'm beginning to think that most things political really do come down to abortion. Try as I may, I can't think of another example that supersedes the liberty principle. Perhaps I'm just not trying hard enough..?? Thanks again for your previous response. I have enjoyed the dialog. :-)