E Pluribus Unum

”...[T]he acid test of Levitt’s theory is this: did the first New, Improved Generation culled by legalized abortion actually grow up to be more lawful teenagers than the last generation born before legalization?”

I believe that Levitt’s theory was only that there were fewer unlawful teenagers as a result of fewer unwanted children being born. His supporting statistical analysis is compelling. Only the soulless would extrapolate that finding to a crime-fighting technique.

And Bennett’s sanctimony must go right to the bone if he, of all people, can’t understand sex as a recreational activity or the failure, on occasion, to make considerate choices.

But I guess that is the sort of primitive reasoning you should expect from “conservative intellectuals”.

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."

Oh, and Levitt said nothing about race. Under the present circumstances, I could suggest that if you aborted every Republican baby, the crime rate might also go down. Certainly our politics and discourse would be markedly improved.

Bennett's statement would be markedly improved - and completely accurate - if he had left out the word black. Tone-deaf doesn't begin to describe it. He has an important point which is lost. Remember forced sterilization? We don't want to go back to that. If he had used that historical example - which was implemented in a decidedly racist fashion - his point would have been stellar. We do not want to argue for or against abortion on the basis of the broader effects on society like the crime rate and the deficit. That's disgustingly immoral.

Yours,
Wince

John Conyers has released an open letter written to the the Salem Radio Network, the network that carries Bennett's program, requesting that they suspend this program and address the problem of stereotyping and profiling that has been expressed on their programming.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/29/144328/867

Where are all those self-righteous prigs who demanded Durbin's apology, and weren't satisfied when he gave it?

Bennett hasn't and won't apologise, and his defenders are already on the attack.

No sense of decency whatsoever.

Durbin's apology was as satisfying as getting a handjob via email.

I don't want to know about your personal life, Ro.

re: Bennett, I've thought about it and changed my opinion. I believe Bennett did the nation a service. Now we know what it means to be a compassionate conservative.