What are the deal-breakers?

In David Kirkpatrick's article released in yesterday's New York Times, "Abortion Fight Complicates Debate on Healthcare", a very touchy subject brings up a value debate that cannot be disputed. The issue of abortion is not the kind of debate that can be reasoned out. It is one that is fundamental to one's personal values and beliefs, and therefore, a potential deal-breaker for the crafting of healthcare policy. For those in opposition to federal funding being used to support elective abortions, it is hard to disagree with their stance. For one, healthcare doesn't often include any elective or unnecessary procedures, and it is one's own prerogative to feel angry about providing the cost for something they fundamentally do not support.

However, it is hard to argue that an abortion would ever be seen as an elective procedure, or something that was ever really sought after. More often then not, abortions come about due to unwanted pregnancies, rape, inability to care for a child financially and/or emotionally, or to maintain the health of the mother. And truthfully, it is often those without the means to provide for a child who seek abortion attention, essentially those who would be using government funding for healthcare in the first place.

I do not argue that the government is responsible for such operations, but I do feel that this defines the kinds of coverage that need to be available through healthcare reform. There are many aspects of healthcare that individuals will not always agree on, and therefore, multiple options must be available. By maintaining private insurance plan options, providing expanded coverage of medicaid, and enhancing the coverage regulations of insurance, the healthcare reform plan seems to be taking this all into consideration and allowing the individual as much personal choice as possible. Though it is a terrible situation, the call for abortions will not soon subside, and nor will its opponents.

On issues such as this, it becomes apparent that in crafting healthcare policy, there needs to be many options to accommodate the many differing life situations and values of all individuals.