The failure of the strategery of the Republicans, to focus on "the base" by trotting out social issues such as the South Dakota no-exception abortion ban (which lost, I'm pleased to say) demonstrated two things: First, social issues do not have long coat-tails. Second, the GOP base is fiscal conservatives more than it is social conservatives.
###
This is wrong in two areas. First, the Republicans need both fiscal and social conservatives to win. Second, Libertarians cannot support unregulated abortion and be true to their ideals.
The basic premise of libertarianism is that each individual should be free to do as he or she pleases so long as he or she does not harm others. This is totally at odds with legal abortion.
Abortion is killing an unborn baby. Pro-abortion Libertarians try to deny this simple truth but the scientific evidence is overwhelming that the unborn baby is a living human person.
By 21 days after conception the baby pumps his own blood through separate closed circulatory system with his own blood type. By 42 days the baby’s brain waves can be recorded, his skeleton is complete, and reflexes present. He also has unique human DNA.
In every state in the nation death occurs when there is no brain wave or no heart beat. If both exit no state recognizes that life has ended. If life has not ended when both exist it must be present when both exist. So while we cannot scientifically prove when life begins, we can scientifically determine when it is present and detectable.
Therefore, no Libertarian can be against laws that prohibit abortion after the 42nd day after conception. At least, they can’t be against such laws and remain true to the basic premise they espouse.
They can make a case for allowing abortion before 42 days after conception if they want to and still be consistent. But after that time a separate, unique, human life is unquestionably being ended by any abortion.
Libertarian support for killing unborn babies is one of the biggest issues keeping many people from considering the Libertarian party as a viable alternative to the Republican Party. It also flies in the face of their most basic belief.
They need to change their stance on abortion.
Is that "principled" enough for you? Other than that, each individual SHOULD be allowed to do what they want as long as doing so doesn't interfere with the equal Rights of others. And no, using the excuse of socialism's "cost" via insurance and medical care rates doesn't count. Those are problems created by government, not by freedom of action.