cheetah

I am reminded of a pertinent, if somewhat irreverent quote that I recently read. We all acknowledge that it's hard to take an absolutist stance on men's choice in abortion, but as you guys have been discussing, it's not easy to resolve. Anyway:

Feminists feel a tiny bit bad that men have no input in reproductive choice. Just like men feel a tiny bit bad that women only earn about 70 cents for every dollar men earn. Yeah, we plan to do nothing about it, either.

never been there

A man who doesn't want to be responsible for an abortion can avoid the situation by having a vasectomy.

A man who doesn't want to be responsible for child support can have a vasectomy.

Or not have sex.

If a man chooses to have sex with a woman, he chooses to leave the decisions to her. If you don't like the way Gawd arranged things, take it up with Her.

Loren Pechtel

The problem is the legal situation is screwed up.

If you fail to mitigate the damage then the person who harmed you is only responsible for the portion of the cost that would have happened had you taken reasonable measures to mitigate. Example: A ball comes flying in your window. You do nothing, waiting for the ball thrower to fix it. A storm comes and dumps rain in the borken window. The ball thrower is responsible for the broken window and the cost of putting something over it to keep the rain out, he's not responsible for the water damage. On the other hand, if you hadn't been home to know about the situation and take action he would be responsible for the water damage.

Thus in the case of unwanted pregnancy the damage is the cost of an abortion and associated time off work. Failure to mitigate (have the abortion) shouldn't increase the liability. Since both parties are responsible (unless someone was lying about contraception) then the guy should pay half of this.

Straight Hate

http://zone.artizans.com/product.htm?pid=270452

Essentially my position on the issue. I found the cartoon very fitting!

viscousmemories

Cute

notMichaelJackson

You cannot be "neutral" on the issue of abortion. Anyone who can say "I think that it is alright for abortion to be legal" is pro-choice. Anyone who can say "I do not think that it is alright for abortion to be legal" is anti-choice.

Mageth

However of a mother decides to continue with the pregnancy against the wishes of the father I think a case can be made a man shouldn't have to pay her medical bills or for the financial burden of pregnancy nor for her loss of income after birth. He should only have to provide for the child.

I think that's the way the law works now in most if not all states. I don't think the father is legally required to pay any part of medical bills or loss of income before or after birth (nor for an abortion if that option is chosen), whether the father wanted to terminate the pregnancy or not.