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Editor,

There are strong moral and constitutional reasons to protect women’s right to choose. There are strong practical reasons, as well. If we do not support family planning and abortion when necessary:

More women will die. They will die from non-medical abortions, and because our health care system has a higher death rate for women in childbirth than any other wealthy nation.

Women’s lives will be limited. Pregnant women with no recourse are likely to drop out of school, performing less skilled work throughout their lives. Professional women may not advance in their careers. Women in general will make less money, and have more difficulty supporting their families. 

Men’s lives will be limited. Having a child makes young men nearly four times less likely to graduate from college. They are less able to take advantage of career possibilities when finances are limited, and they are less able to provide for the children they have. 

Children’s lives will be limited. Children will have less of their parents’ time and fewer resources.

Our economy will be limited. Even now, 43% of working mothers leave their careers at some point. When they do, they lose about 37% of their earning power if they spend even three years out of the workforce. An unplanned pregnancy is likely to lead to loss of a full-time job, and difficulty finding any job. Use of public assistance will increase, and families will have less money to spend in the economy. 

The Republican Party is set on this path - but we must ask whether these limitations are what we want for ourselves and our children. If not, we must elect Democrats to local and national office this fall. With a Democratic majority, we can enact national legislation to support family planning and a woman’s right to choose.

Gail Trenfield

St. Ignatius

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