Planned Parenthood: A Discussion Of Abortion

Carlos M Pagan
Libertarian Paper The discussion of abortion has been a hot button topic since Roe v. Wade in 1976 on religious and moral levels in this country. According to WebMD and Medical Dictionary abortion is the early termination of a fetus during the pregnancy process before the fetus has the power to live on it’s own. There are two kinds of abortions accidental abortions called miscarriages and elective abortions. Miscarriages can be caused do to many kinds of health complications that can occur during a pregnancy. Elective abortions are of course an elective procedure that can be performed anytime in the first three trimesters by a clinically trained physician to terminate a pregnancy. There are certain state laws that govern abortions
Planned ParentHood is a non for profit entity that provides services for abortion, contraception, sex education, as well as counseling. Under the principle of Libertarianism the government has no business funding or being involved with this kind of institution. As stated earlier the government’s job is to enforce contracts, protect private property, and keeping the piece. The government is forcing its taxpayers to pay for the Planned ParentHood institution and is a violation of their rights by taking their hard earn wages. Essentially by taxing the wages of the taxpayers there has been forced labor to work for the government and Planned ParentHood. The individual does not really own themselves and the government has staked a claim of property right over that
According to Libertarians “Individuals own their bodies and have the rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate.” Libertarian value the protection of individual rights which includes our bodies something that really meant nothing to Bentham. For Bentham if it doesn’t maximize utility for the entire society it is insignificant. Utilitarians would not care about the one or two people that suffer from the law passing. The government passing legislation to take control of a person’s body and reproductive system is staking a claim on you. You no longer belong to you and are apart of the US Government and not free. Libertarians see you as free individuals that can make your own rational choices with your body. You are not forced into anything that you have not agreed to. Abortion has been legal since 1976 after the court ruling of Roe v. Wade and society has not decayed into anarchy. I actually believe that government intervention on such a sensitive issue would push Pro-Life and Pro-Choice groups into deeper conflicts. Out of that conflict a resentment towards government would grow and bring us to