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There are many controversial issues in the political scene; however, talk about abortion and the various moralities around it have a tendency to rile up people on both sides of the aisle. Some Americans are pro-life, while others are pro-choice. Religion, bodily autonomy arguments, and government are just a few factors which are commonly brought up as they pertain to abortion. The reality of the matter is that there will always be differences of opinion on the issue. Some people will be against abortion, while others will be for it. Nevertheless, extremes on either side of the aisle regarding this matter are shortsighted, problematic, and highly counterproductive.

Why Extreme Positions on Abortion Don't Work

There are two extremes to abortion. One extreme states that abortion ought to be legal up until the second that a woman gives birth. The other extreme states that abortion ought to be never allowed, even in cases of rape, incest, or danger of life to the woman. Both of the aforementioned positions have a tendency to upset those who are opposed to them; moreover, they do nothing to find real solutions or common ground on this issue. Allowing abortions until the second a woman gives birth is clear infanticide and does no favors for individuals who truly believe in women having access to abortions. On the other hand, banning abortions in any and all cases is also pointless. History has proven that women who truly want abortions will find ways to get them, even if they're outlawed. We saw this decades ago when women threw themselves down stairs, used wire hangers, and otherwise employed dangerous means to end unwanted pregnancies. Forced birth does not save life.

Finding a Middle Ground on the Abortion Debate

Compromise is the best way to find a middle ground as it pertains to the abortion debate. This means allowing abortions with certain caveats and cut-off points, namely when the fetus reaches certain levels of viability. Another part of finding a middle ground means not expecting taxpayers to fund abortions. Some individuals have moral and/or religious aversions to abortions and have made the case that their tax dollars shouldn't be funding them. This is a fair argument; the expectation that someone should pay for their own abortion is not an unreasonable one. When it's all said and done, both extremist positions on abortion toxically feed into one another. In the long run, this only breeds animosity and prevents arrival at real solutions. Compromise on the abortion debate means that both sides will get some, but not all, of what they want.