Capitalism aborts

An argument frequently heard these days from those who are in favour of reform in New Zealand's abortion laws, is the claim that laws prohibiting abortion discriminate against the poor women in our society. It is maintained that they, unlike the rich, cannot readily get legal abortions, and more important, poor women are unable to afford air-fare to abortion clinics in Australia. However, this argument presents no valid reasons for establishing "Medical Aid Centres" throughout New Zealand or repealing our abortion laws.

In an class society (NZ is a prime example), inequalities in the distribution of wealth will always exist, and the poor will always be discriminated against. Abortion, however, involves the termination of human life, and to argue that because the rich get away with abortion we should allow everyone to get away with it, is not a reasonable proposition. The obvious alternative to be pursued, even if it is difficult to achieve, is the abolishment of this inequality by no one getting away with it, and the eventual dissolution of our capitalist system.

Yet, even if this is never achieved in the near future, the argument will not do: no man or woman can claim an equal right to do something, if that thing is an action, like the taking of an innocent human life, which no one has a right to do.

Kay Nigreb