What compromises can there be on controversial social issues such as abortion, gay marriage and cell research?

Question

Is there a middle ground that both sides of the political spectrum can reach? If so, what could they be?

NOW - You haven't provided a single compromise. You are too black and white. You are providing a response that is already too common with what the current opinions are. I'm looking for solutions, not arguments to the already existing debate.

Henry VIII - Great analogy and response. However, the issue isn't about giving into the temptation but rather protecting those that don't have a voice, such as the issue of abortion. Sure, it's fine that a woman chooses an abortion or not, that's her problem. But, what about the life inside of her? What protection does the precious baby have? That is the issue.

I'm not against a woman's right to choose, I'm against the murder of innocent babies.

Answer 1

Middle grounds?

Well on abortion make it illegal after the second trimester. At least make it illegal when the child is viable. That would stop 15% of abortions. Outlaw the horrible D&E procedure that is just as bad as partial birth. For those that don't know, D&E is where they cut up the baby into pieces and take him/her out limb by limb. These are babies that could survive outside the womb

On gay marriage you could give them civil unions. But how about polygamy or beastiality?

On cell research you could keep embryonic research illegal and allow them to continue with adult stem cell. Adult stem cell has shown promise and embryonic has shown nothing. So keep it as-is

Answer 2

abortion - no middle ground.....maybe extreme cases of rape, incest, and possible death to the mother....but for some that still is murder.
Gay Marriage - shouldn't be an issue at all. Wastes time and money. They are two humans who want the same legal benefits if the choose to co-habitat and share financial responsibilities as "straight" people do.
cell research - Could be a compromise, but not until both sides can experience the pain of terminal diseases and the pain that a potential cure forgotten brings.

Answer 3

Abortion: A woman has a right to terminate an early pregnancy. As the fetus become more of a person, however, the fetus has an increasing right to be born. By the last trimester, there should be no abortions except if birth of the fetus threatens the life of the mother.

Cell Research: An ethical body should be closely involved concerning what is permissible. Standards will have to evolve over time as the focus of this research may change.

Gay Marriage: No compromise. Gays should be allowed to marry. Anything else, to me, is the majority repressing the rights of the minority. There is no threat to heterosexual marriage posed by gay marriage, and no valid reason not to permit it.

Answer 4

Hot button issues those that evoke an emotional response, and rational debate and evidence does not change anyone's mind. The other requirement is that opinion is evenly or almost evenly split. Slavery is not hot button in the modern US even though we have an emotional response, because we all agree, but in the past it was. The commonalities among these issues is mostly religions belief and interpretation of the bible but gay marriage has opponents outside or of this group and some inside this group support stem cell research.

Answer 5

I think the States should decide for themselves. With touchy issues like abortion, I think the woman should choose what is best for her. If abortion is made illegal, a woman could always go to a different country like Mexico to do it if she really wanted to. I don't think there should be Federal funding for abortion unless the woman was sexually assulted and got pregnant.

As far as gay marriages, I think they should be recognized as civil unions and given the same rights as hetereosexual couples. Marriage has a religious cannotation and I don't know any religion that condones homosexuality. Most are heavily against it and I think gays should weigh that notion. Are gays fighting for their rights or for the terminology of marriage? I think it's more about their rights and I think a civil union recognized by the law of the land would appease most of us.

Answer 6

I don't think there is a middle ground. If you are living in today's world and considering today's realities there is no way to get around the facts that a women should have the right to choose, there always have and always will be gay people and they should not be discriminated against, and to pretend that cell research is not full of potential is like criminalizing scientists saying the Earth is not the center of the universe.

Answer 7

Let me tell you a little story that might help sort things out.

I once knew a young man whose religion forbade him to consume alcohol in any form. He expressed to me that he would like the liquor star and bar down the street banned because of his beliefs. I reminded him that there are others who do not share his beliefs and asked him which was of stronger faith one who can walk past the liquor store/bar and never be tempted to go in or one who knows it is wrong but is tempted and succombs to the temptation and enters the building? He thought about it for a few seconds and told me he saw my point. Perhaps we can see the same with gay marriage, stem cell research and abortion. Just because it is available one does not need to do it or have it. One of strong convictions will not be tempted. As for others, God gave them free will to make their own decisions. It is not up to us to do that for them. We butt into other people's business far too much these days.

Answer 8

Surprisingly fantastic question considering your user name.

I don't think there could ever be a compromise because everyone has different beliefs throughout the country. And as politicans are supposedly representatives of their constituents (ha), they will NEVER be able to come to a middle ground. Never happened in the past and it will never happen in the future. You will always have someone whining "no fair!"

Answer 9

Probably on the last two, but with abortion I am not sure there will ever be agreement. Both sides are too set in their respective arguments.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, it will not happen. As soon as certain topics are raised most people go into their 'my position is right, anyone who disagrees with me is....' Chose one of the following. a moron, insane, crooked, uneducated, unthinking, .. well you get the idea. They close their minds and refuse to discuss, to try to reach a consensus. So compromise becomes impossible.