Faith, Beer, and Other Things That Interest Geoff

Freakonomics and Abortion

The current bestseller, Freakonomics, argues that abortions have led to less crime. Those who have chosen abortion are more likely to have at-risk kids, who are more prone to crime.

Now, many pro-lifers bristle at this. Something very bad (abortion) causes something good (less crime). Well, it also causes Social Security to be insolvent. I would say "relax." Let the data speak for itself.

I had a similar reaction by some to my undergraduate honors thesis. I argued that Roe v. Wade was based on poor legal reasoning and that up to that time there was no legal right to abortion?" Look, just because there is no legal right to something doesn't make the thing right/wrong.

People, on both sides, have a hard time making these distinctions and understanding these distinctions when found in an argument.

Totalitarian governments provide the best model for stopping crime. Am I advocating totalitarian governments?