New York Times Compares Anti Abortion to Prohibition


I've discussed here many times the parallel of prohibition to anti-abortion laws. There are differences, of course, prohibition was a national law while states regulate abortion. But the way anti-abortion casts itself as a kind and moral movement and prohibition cast itself as moral and family saving is so similar it's striking. But the pious and moral prohibition movement's image of being moral and good changed on a dime. The image replacing it was one of busy bodies with nothing to do but regulate the lives of others. News stories of the past couple of weeks hint something similar is happening to anti-abortion.

I've always wondered how the anti-abortion tactics of screaming insults and prayers at young women would bring the broad support among the general public. Of course, they thought their theory of a human being existing at conception would be so persuasive the general public would eat it up. Certainly, that has not happened, not even among the majority of Catholics. 

Similar to the prayers of victory we have seen since the court decision, similar prayers were sent up after a Constitutional Amendment outlawing alcohol was passed. Evangelist Billy Sunday pronounced, "The reign of tears is over...Men will walk upright, women will smile and children will laugh. Women knelt in front of illegal taverns and prayed they would close. Carry Nation walked into illegal taverns with an axe. She actually did some damage and a court ordered her to pay for it.

Law enforcement met Prohibition underfunded and unmotivated. Sheriffs in many areas knew they could not be reelected if the shut down bars. So much beer flowed over the border from Canada law enforcement in Al Capone's Chicago was ineffective. 

There is no doubt anti-abortion strategists know law enforcement will be spotty at best. This is why Texas and Mississippi gave enforcement powers to citizen vigilantes. If there are thousands of vigilante arrests how will these cases be heard in courts that are already backed up?

All in all, there are many similarities between Prohibition and the overturn of Roe.   


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