I need a research assistant

…or something.
I’m looking for a reference on the legality of late-term abortions in the U.S. that would be acceptable to a (reasonably civil) pro-choice type. In other words, something from Priests for Life isn’t going to cut it. I was under the impression that under Doe v. Bolton, you could get an abortion as late as you wanted it as long as you could find someone to do it. Are there viability laws out there in force?
Second question:
Ancient story about an advisor who asks the tyrant how he stays in power. Tyrant takes advisor out to a wheatfield, says, “see how some of the stalks stand higher than the others?” Advisor says, “uh-huh”, tyrant draws his sword and whacks off the tall stalks.
Who was the tyrant?

6 comments

  1. You may want to check with a more credentialed legal authority, but IIRC, Planned Parenthood v. Casey is the current controlling authority. While it claimed in its text to “uphold the central holding of Roe” and by extension Doe v. Bolton, it then explained that central holding in a novel way that had nothing to do with Roe at all.
    So I would start there. I believe Sandy Day O’Conner authored the majority/plurality opinion (I can’t remember which it was). I think it came out in 2000.
    As to your second question, I’ve heard a hundred variations. Pick an ancient tyrant. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.

  2. Do you have a copy of the actual ruling in Roe V Wade? I think that the language itself would support your point…

  4. A response:
    Under Casey v Planned Parenthood, the state may impose restrictions upon
    pre-viability abortions so long as those restrictions do not place an “undue
    burden” on the right to choose
    Post-viability, the state may impose restrictions on abortion, but any such
    restrictions must include an exemption for the life and “health” of the
    mother
    … courts have interpreted health to mean not only
    physical health, but social, economic & mental health … also, the courts
    have held that the doctor’s judgment must be respected … as such, so long
    as the woman found a doctor to say that bearing a child were harm her
    emotionally or economically, she should be able to get the abortion even
    after viability …

  5. Periander, the tyrant of Corinth around 600 B.C., sent an envoy to Thrasybulus, the tyrant of Miletus, asking for advice on how to maintain his position. Thrasybulus took the envoy through a wheatfield and, as you described, lopped off the tallest stalks. The envoy, uncomprehending, returned to Periander and told him what had happened. Periander understood the message: dispose of anyone in Corinth who was outstanding in influence or ability.
    The story is found in Herodotus (Book V of the Histories).
    Curiously, Periander was considered to be one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece.

  6. Bush is forever saying that democracies do not invade other countries and start wars. Well, he did just that. He invaded Iraq, started a war, and killed people. What do you think? Is killing thousands of innocent civilians okay when you are doing a little government makeover?
    Are we safer today than we were before?
    We have lost friends and influenced no one. No wonder most of the world thinks we suck. Thanks to what george bush has done to our country during the past three years, we do!

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