Does the Government Have the Right to Be Involved in the Private Lives of Individuals?

Does the Government Have the Right to be Involved in the Private Lives of Individuals?

        The involvement of the government in the private lives of individuals has been a long fought debate for many, many decades. 40% of Americans believe that the government should be involved in the private lives of individuals while 60% do not (Pollitt 13). Arguments defending the 40% of Americans who believe government involvement is important, claim that the government helps and support our country. Meanwhile, the opposing side claims that a large and controlling government leads to dictatorship. Generally, but not always, Democrats support an involved government and Republicans support a smaller, less involved government.

        But what about abortion? When it comes to abortions, the two parties take different views on the issues. Although everyone has their own personal thoughts on every issue, generally speaking, Republicans expect a more involved government when it comes to the issue of abortion. While democrats demand that the government has no right to tell a woman what she can or can not do with her body. Abortion leads to be one of the most controversial issues in the United States. Those who support abortion are given the name ‘Pro Choice’ while those who are against abortion are given the name ‘Pro Life’.

        What is abortion? Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus: as (Merriam-Webster). In 1973, abortions were illegal in thirty states and twenty states had certain circumstances in which an abortion procedure was legal. However, in 1973, the future of abortions changed. A Texas law prevented a pregnant woman, Roe, from obtaining an abortion. The Texas laws made it a crime to obtain or attempt an abortion unless on medical advice to save the life of the mother. Roe challenged the Texas law, claiming the law violated her constitutional rights, against Wade, the Dallas District Attorney (Lay 63). The Texas court ruled that the law violated the Constitution which Wade appealed to the United States Supreme Court. By January 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that abortion was legal within the first trimester. The decision gave states the right to intervene within the second or third trimester (Lay 75).

        The Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade led to states creating their own laws on abortion post the first trimester. As of 2013, the states with most strict abortion laws included Texas, North Dakota, Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan. In July of 2013, Governor Rick Perry of Texas signed into law a number of abortion restrictions which led to a large closing of clinics. Restrictions included abortion bans post twenty weeks from fertilization. Also, required clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers even if they did not provide abortions. In North Dakota, it is illegal to get an abortion once the fetal heart beat begins which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Also, North Dakota bans abortions that are based on the gender of the fetus. Ohio passed a law that requires clinics to have a patient transfer agreement with a local hospital in the case of an emergency. However, public hospitals are banned from complying to such agreement causing many clinics to shut down. North Carolina created a law that eliminates insurance coverage of abortions for public employees. Michigan banned all insurance plans in the state from covering abortion unless the women’s life is in danger (Wallis 49). Due to the generalization of Roe v. Wade, ‘Pro Life’ and ‘Pro Choice’ supporters still consistently debate on the issue abortion which has led to abortion being one of the most controversial debates in the United States.