The Green Party is constantly reviewing our policy platforms as new information becomes available so that we can use the latest information in making an educated decision on the best way to govern.

Where do I stand on the issue of abortion?

I think we need to stop letting this issue divide people of good will and start seeking common ground.

I am both pro-life and pro-choice. I realize that some will say that this is impossible or that this is a cop-out. But hear me out before drawing any conclusions.

Let’s begin by acknowledging that people on both sides of the abortion “divide” are motivated by some deeply held – and legitimate – principles. I respect people who stand up for their principles. After all, the Green Party, and this campaign, are also motivated by deeply held principles.

On the one hand, many people who oppose abortion are motivated by a consistent ethic of life. The Ten Key Values of the Green Party are certainly consistent with this philosophy. We want to protect life, especially human life, and enhance the quality of that life.

That’s why we believe in protecting and restoring our environment.

That’s why we oppose war and violence as a matter of principle, except when absolutely necessary for self-defense.

That’s why we want to put an end to poverty, exploitation and oppression.

That’s why we want to provide real economic opportunities for all and establish health care as a recognized right.

That’s why we oppose capital punishment as a matter of principle.

In these respects, certainly, I, and the Green Party, are pro-life.

On the other hand, people who defend the right to choose abortion are motivated by considerations of gender equity and civil rights – which are also consistent with Green Party values. The right to privacy and women’s (and men’s) right to control their personal bodily integrity are protected by our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Supporters of choice also object to the idea that an already intrusive and overbearing government should be permitted to impose its will, or the tenets of any particular religious or philosophical doctrines, on the rest of society, and advance the view that this should be a matter of individual judgment and conscience.

In recognition of these considerations, I, and the Green Party, are pro-choice, insofar as we do not believe that it is the proper role of the State to prohibit or criminalize abortion.

We should also acknowledge that people on each side of the abortion “divide” don’t always agree among themselves, and that there are complex sub-issues. No reasonable person can deny that the human embryo and fetus are living, but reasonable people can and do disagree as to the point at which the embryo or fetus becomes sufficiently developed to be a “person” protected by law. Not all “pro-life” advocates or “pro-choice” advocates agree with each other on where the right lines should be drawn. Pro-life supporters may disagree among themselves over the issue of embryonic stem cell research. On the other hand, almost everyone, on both sides of the “divide,” recognizes the need to act to protect the health and safety of the mother.

There is also broad agreement on the proposition that abortion is an experience to be avoided if at all possible. On this basis, we can bridge the divide: We can stop making abortion such a divisive issue by working together to reduce the incidence of abortion – but without prohibiting it. Making abortion illegal is not the best way to reduce its frequency.

The unifying goal should be to help women avoid unwanted pregnancies in the first place and help make every child a wanted and well-supported child. We can enhance women’s right to full reproductive choices by improving women’s (and men’s) economic opportunities, by working toward the goal of promoting full employment at living wage (or better) jobs. The evidence indicates that this would be much more effective at reducing the incidence of abortion than prohibiting it – and besides, it is a goal that we ought to have anyway!

We also need to combat ignorance by improving our education system, including better sex education. We need to promote greater access to, and use of, contraception, including “morning after” or emergency contraception. We need to provide genuine societal support for single mothers who do choose to bear children, so that they can provide a nurturing home environment for their children through infancy before having to return to the workforce.

Through this combination of policies, we can reduce the incidence of abortion while still respecting women’s right to choose.