Russia may let husbands veto wives’ abortions
posted at 7:07 pm on November 26, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Does Dr. Helen have fans in the Russian Duma? Might those elephant-fetus photos have already melted Asian hearts? Or have those blasted Christianists seized power in Moscow, too?
It’s about equality, says its sponsor. But is it really?
“Above all, the bill is based on the concept of parental equality,” its author, Alexander Krutov of the nationalist Rodina party, said Thursday.
“The decision to give birth to or murder a baby is an enormous one and it should be made by the parents together,” he said by telephone.
The fact that he’s a nationalist tips his hand. Here’s another hint: it has to do with what Putin has described as “Russia’s most acute problem today.”
It’s the demography, stupid:
Krutov also said that the bill would help reduce the number of abortions at a time when Russia is facing sever underpopulation problems. The use of abortion as birth control has caused the nation’s population to plummet and the country will eventually have a hard time finding enough workers and supporting its elderly citizens…
The number of abortions in Russia is now about 1.5 million annually, just under the number of births there, which number 1.6 million per year. About 120,000 women experience medical problems following abortions.
New figures show that abortions are on the decline there, but some estimates indicate as many as 10-15 percent of all abortions aren’t recorded by the government meaning abortions probably still outnumber births there…
[A] recent UN report … shows the Russian population shrinking by one-third by 2050. That could leave the nation unable to field an army to defend itself, man factories and other labor-intensive businesses and provide for older Russians in their retirement years.
If they’re counting on men to be the country’s domesticating influence, they’re in more trouble than I thought.
You know who’s watching this very carefully? Aside from Mark Steyn, I mean.
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I don’t really care what the social reasons are.
Once a man is willing to stand up and take care of the baby/child I am all for it.
F15Mech on November 26, 2006 at 7:18 PM
A good idea, but for all of the wrong reasons.
I would be less opposed to abortion if us guys had some say in the matter.
DannoJyd on November 26, 2006 at 7:25 PM
The ends justify the means…who cares why?
seejanemom on November 26, 2006 at 7:29 PM
As a woman I am horrified that men have no say. None at all and that is wrong. That is not equality.
Pam on November 26, 2006 at 7:32 PM
Also, all abortions in Russia must now be performed using an isotope of Polonium.
see-dubya on November 26, 2006 at 7:37 PM
It’s as good a reason as any. Abortion has destroyed the social fabric in Russia and something has to be done to restore it. Abortion is totally illegal here in Ireland and we have a higher birth rate than Australia and all other EU countries. Christian missionaries would be a better bet for the long term though, they’ve helped curb the spread of AIDS in Africa.
aengus on November 26, 2006 at 7:43 PM
Why all the surprise over this? There are hospitals in the US that require the husband’s consent when his wife obtains an abortion. One little place just north of Chicago. Funny thing is, this hospital is known as THE place to have your baby. I often wondered if the husband’s consent was required because the hospital felt that he has some say in it because it is his child, or it was just to protect against lawsuits. Dunno.
bloggless on November 26, 2006 at 8:11 PM
I think it is a good idea.
Ouabam on November 26, 2006 at 8:30 PM
You want a non-porous southern border?
Laugh-a while you can, monkey-boy.
/lithgow
Stephen M on November 26, 2006 at 8:35 PM
Finally, someone is seeing the baby as more than a “woman’s choice” even if it’s for the wrong reasons in Russia as Allapundit suggests.
Can’t wait to hear Rosie on THIS one…haha.
SouthernGent on November 26, 2006 at 8:41 PM
As a Zygote from Minsk I just love it every time that steak picture shows up.
CanaryinaCoalMine on November 26, 2006 at 9:03 PM
I think it’s too late for Russia.
Sydney Carton on November 26, 2006 at 9:07 PM
I think one of the reasons abortion is still legal here is religion. I’m sure there are a lot of people who hear the words pro-life and automatically think Pat Robertson, and that’s not good. If the argument was framed outside religious boundaries it would probably be more palatable to a lot of people.
Scot on November 26, 2006 at 9:08 PM
I’ve always felt the father to be should have more say in the matter as he was obviously a part in the baby making process.
Also, I hate the use of the word “choice” when it comes to abortion “Rigths”. It’s a life and no twisting of words changes that. I get very frustrated when pro-abortion supporters make it sound as if I’m plotting in some dark room on how to oppress womens rights when it comes to abortion. I’m not pro-life to oppress women, I’m pro-life to protect the babies.
Yakko77 on November 26, 2006 at 9:56 PM
WRONG.
Soothsayer on November 27, 2006 at 12:07 AM
Holy Cow . . . literally.
-T
The Therapist on November 27, 2006 at 1:19 AM
Soothsayer, not WRONG. I worked there and know this to be true.
bloggless on November 27, 2006 at 2:11 AM
A very good idea. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If Russia doesn’t start doing something drastic NOW, then European Russia will become Muslim-majority within a few decades. I really hope Russia will find a way of solving their problems. We in the West should help.
MoonbatMedia on November 27, 2006 at 6:25 AM
We’ll have true equality once the fetus gets a vote.
jdpaz on November 27, 2006 at 9:34 AM
The reason why abortion rates are so high in Russia is mainly because of high poverty rates and lack of medical care.
kiakjones on November 27, 2006 at 12:37 PM
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/mar2005/russ-m11.shtml
When will I get a handle on attaching the links? Oh, well. Copy and paste to get the full tale of Putin and his social economics.
kiakjones on November 27, 2006 at 12:39 PM
Next phase in the program:
Russia abolishes birth control, makes it a crime for fertile women to refuse impregnation, brings back the old “Mother-Hero” award for those with ten kids…
Lehuster on November 27, 2006 at 3:16 PM
I think each abortion should be put to majority vote of a country’s voters. I’m half joking, but only half joking. The notion that it’s “a woman’s right to choose” whether her country will live on or die out is absurd on its face. I’m confident that if the American Right doesn’t manage to curtail abortion and contraception, the imams eventually will. Looking at the issue very narrowly, it’s “a win-win situation,” but the difference between one win and the other is obviously immense.
Kralizec on November 27, 2006 at 6:55 PM
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