The problem in the abortion debate is that there are two legitimate rights in conflict: (1) The right of the mother to control her own body, and (2) The right of the baby to live. Both these rights need to be recognized.

IMHO, the most straightforward way to do this is to allow the mother’s rights to be the first priority until the baby can survive outside the womb. This would correspond to the first two trimesters. During the third trimester, the baby’s right to live takes priority over the mother’s right to an abortion. The only exception to this would be when either carrying the baby to full term or having a C-section impairs the mother’s health. Neither rape nor incest compromises the baby’s right to life at this time. The mother had six months to make her determination.

Unlike many others, I believe that elective abortion should be paid for by all health insurance plans including Medicaid. The cycle of poverty and the increasing rate of single parenthood, brought about largely by the ‘Aid to Mothers With Dependent Children Act, must be stemmed by making safe and legal abortions available and affordable to women in the first two trimesters.