I believe we should leave abortion decisions in the hands of women, families, and doctors where such decisions belong: not the government. We must be committed to substantially reducing the number of abortions through effective education, prevention and adoption programs.

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Rich: The above position reflects agreement with current law. With huge pro-life and pro-choice extremes in moral viewpoint, compromise must be followed to eliminate abortions.

It seems to me that our nation is divided nearly 50% to 50% pro-life and pro-choice. Both sides like to think they are in the majority, with each claiming 70% to 80% in agreement with their extreme position. In reality, neither side has such a clear majority. 

Both sides "know" they occupy the high "moral ground." If need be, many extremists would be willing to fight and die for their side. Yes, both sides.

The bipartisan monopoly parties use the abortion issue, gun control, gay rights, school prayer, crime control, tax policy, and other hotly divisive issues to divide and conquer voters, to win elections by emotional gerrymandering.

The divisive strategy works. The bipartisan monopoly parties stay in power. Nevertheless, they do not solve our problems. They get your votes. They get "their money" to stay in power by supporting financial contributors, such as criminal corporations like Enron, to name one recent corrupt source. (Top of Page)

Some of the issues they use to divide and conquer have not moved off center for decades or even centuries. The rhetoric consumes huge blocks of time in public and private debate. The inability of the two sides to compromise keeps the proponents at war with no way to find agreement or solutions.

The real problems capable of solution are swept aside by these philosophic "food fights." In the case of abortion, the radical few resort to violent protest or abusive confrontation. Even illegal murder is used to fight legal "murder."

What I think about this issue is essentially pointless. There is no consensus for anti-abortion legislation. There is no consensus for a constitutional amendment.

We have other problems we can solve to make life better for everyone. The price of the fight to be "right" and win the abortion fight is huge. The abortion controversy blocks solving other problems that can be solved. We all lose.

Education. Sustainable energy sources. Food safety. Health. Employment. Crime. Tax code. FCC. FAA. 

In the background, the two bipartisan monopoly parties stay in power and give everything of value to their political contributors. You lose.

The bipartisan monopoly political parties are laughing at you and using your viewpoint to control your vote. Base your vote on abortion. They win. (Top of Page)

I remember the days before Roe v. Wade.

I will not support a return to the horror or injustice of inhumane back-alley abortions for poor women. In those dark days more fortunate, wealthy women, went off to European spas and returned in excellent health with nice tans and a few pounds lighter. Not a ripple in their lives over their unfortunate "situation." They surely had more than an emotional ripple. I detest any such hidden hypocrisy. It never happened, right?

I do not think we have the right to be the moral arbiter of the world, a world whose moral opinion is so vastly different than our own. I favor funding family planning, even where abortion is offered as a medical alternative to families who have no moral or religious objections in their society. I agree that abortion raises extremely difficult moral and legal issues for many people in our society. Who are we to deny family planning to other societies in a grossly overpopulated world? Our self-righteous attitudes and lack of humility does give credence to the worldview of us as "Ugly Americans." (Top of Page)

The Real Moral Dilemma: I favor efforts to attain zero population growth for our planet and every nation, including our own. I see that effort as a higher moral priority over the long run of human history. In order to support zero population growth we should not withhold funding for any international family planning program. Overpopulation is the most significant problem for people in many parts of the world. Indeed, overpopulation may be the greatest problem facing our entire planet, our fragile biosphere, our living home. If you will, we could lose all of God's creation as we know it if we do not solve worldwide energy and food resource problems that continue to grow.

I support all efforts to eliminate unwanted pregnancy through abstinence, family planning, and sex education. I support adoption programs as one alternative to abortion. I favor the elimination of all abortions to the extent possible through all these means.

I will adopt the pro-life position when there is a definite consensus to end all abortions, and when pro-life advocates adopt every unwanted child. Adopt every single unwanted child, no matter what age or condition, currently in foster care or an orphanage. Walk the walk. If you do not, you do not have the courage of your convictions. (Top of Page)

I Pledge to be Self Term-Limited to Two Terms in Office: Four Years

RICH STEVENSON, dist1oh@cs2pr.us

To preserve fragile freedom and our democratic republic we must elect new people to public office, as often as possible, and with as many newly elected private citizens as possible.

When elected, Rich will work night and day for a more democratic republic. Vote for "Rich." You win. Rich will be on your ballot for OH District One Representative to the US Congress in November 2012.

Elect non-partisan independent candidates on your ballot. We all win if you apply term limits in the voting booth to all Incumbent public office holders. Career politicians do harm to our dreams of freedom and a democratic republic. As the years pass, career politicians serve only their political party and other special interests that support their personal political ambitions.

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