We can work it out/We can work it out

My friend Jennifer and I are having a great discussion about reproductive health policy and abortion on facebook (of all places). You should weigh in on if we're on the right track.

Jennifer and I met at mile 6 of the run of a half Ironman triathlon we did last year. We pledged to get through the last part together and we did. Thanks in part to Jen, I have half of an Ironman tattoo - just kidding. For the last 7 miles of the race, we challenged one another and respected what the other could do. It's no wonder we're bringing the challenging and respecting to an idealistic policy discussion on facebook. So far, so good.

Here is our discussion so far - we started the discussion while watching this last presidential debate. I'll look forward to your comments.

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C: I'd rather have my rights as a human being than your courage and compassion, McCain.

J: We disagree on this one. can we still be friends?

C: Definitely - I think so. I bet we both agree that an abortion is a painful medical procedure that women would probably rather not have, right? That's a start!

J: I agree too. obama definitely answered this question well.

C: They can answer the questions well or not well. Bottom line - neither of them will ever birth a child or have an abortion. What we're talking about as women I think is more important. I think the next thing we have to talk about is education about reproduction and birth control options. What is your position on sex ed and birth control? Or, do you know of a better solution?

J: Agree that we need better, more complete education. abstinence needs to be part of a larger program that includes condoms and birth control. i also don't think a women enters into the choice to have an abortion lightly.
However, if i found out i was pregnant, it would be a child from that moment ... i can't reconcile that thinking and say it doesn't apply to someone else. to me, it's a child from conception.

C: (wouldn't it be awesome if we hashed this out and got to a real and defined common ground on facebook?! I think we only have about 4.5 miles (of 13.1) to go...)

J: LOL. agree!!! frankly, i think we have more sense than either candidate or most politicians.

maybe that's the answer ... political decisions have to be discussed while competing in a half ironman.

C: Exactly - if we had known at mile 6, we could have solved the world's problems!

J: I think it's a critical program in poor socioeconomic communities. but like mccain said, i don't think spending more money is the answer. i think we have funds but we've so mismanaged them that we're not focused on the right things. (to me, addressing abortion, racial and educational discrepancies, etc. starts with socioeconomic - that's the root cause.) so while i agree, in combination with any social program we can't diminish the importance of insisting on personal accountability.

C: Also, I think any answer needs to respect your and my right to believe what we believe to be the truth about life and conception.

J: Totally think that's right. we have to be able to talk about things candidly and respectfully.

C: One thing about a program such as that one is that the cost can be paid for by the savings we'd see from having programs like Medicaid cover the OBGYN costs from unintended pregnancies of uninsured and underinsured women.
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