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Presidential Debate Question Concerning Down Syndrome:
It is not a private decision. It is public because it means asking for public funds, some one to two million dollars.
Down syndrome can be detected with high reliability by the end of the first trimester, and 80 % of women given such a diagnosis choose eugenic abortion. Many feel that knowingly choosing to cary such a baby to term is a morally unconscionable sin. And some feel that they should not have to pay either their public tax or private insurance dollars for the extended care that ensues.
So the questions for candidates are: Do you agree with this financial concern? Do you think Downs syndrome prenatal screening should be extended to all pregnant women? Would you be inclined to modify the Disabilities Act amd shift Downs financial burden to private insurance plans for those who would choose to avoid eugenic abortion?
Sarah Palin opposed the large majority when she knowingly choose to bring a Downs handicapped child into the world. Plus she turns around and expects tax payer financial support. So far though, when she puts her disabled on public display, she has been able to cast a positive image and draw women to her political camp. Looks to me as though the numbers don't compute and that she is vulnerable, ethically.
Judy does not identify herself, but here is her hindsight assessment:
"As the mother of a child with Down syndrome born prior to Roe v. Wade and before the advent of pre-screening tests, I did not have the choice when it came to giving birth to my daughter. While I loved my daughter deeply (who is now deceased), had I known what I would have faced and had I had the freedom to choose to accept this responsibility or not, I very well might have been with the 90% of women who choose to terminate their pregnancy because of Down syndrome.
Those who think that it is vicious to not want to have a child with severe retardation should try raising with one before they pass judgment. It is no easy task; in fact, it is a cruelty made real when you realize that your beloved child can never think like a healthy person, never be independent, or find the love that a person can find when they are in full possession of all their faculties.
I spit on all of you here who would morally condemn a woman for rejecting such a fate. I spit on all of you here who would condemn such a choice as murder. You simply have no idea what you are talking about, and it offends me that you prance around as if you do. Walk a mile in my life before you presume to tell me that abortion is wrong."
A response from anonymous was, " 'I spit' Judy, You are a shill. There is no way that you could have raised a down syndrome child and hold such hate and views about their extermination in our society as a matter of medical policy. You are a shill. In fact, I doubt that you have ever spent any serious time with a down syndrome child at all. If you had ..." (end quotes)
Any way, if you agree that Sarah Palin should have to justify her choice and her expectation of millions of dollars in financial support from everyone else, send in your version of the above proposed question for the debates. And send in something to Gwen Ifill in particular, because she is moderator for the VP debate.
There is more, including references, at www.EggInfo.info.