Michael F. Cannon of the Cato Institute puts the abortion/ObamaCare debate into context:
President Obama’s approach to health care reform — forcing taxpayers to subsidize health insurance for tens of millions of Americans — cannot not change the status quo on abortion.
Either those taxpayer dollars will fund abortions, or the restrictions necessary to prevent taxpayer funding will curtail access to private abortion coverage. There is no middle ground.
Thus both sides’ fears are justified. Both sides of the abortion debate are learning why government should not subsidize health care. Tip of the hat to President Obama for creating this teachable moment.
This is precisely why market mechanisms are nearly always more effective and more in line with individual rights than the government alternative. The political process requires unanimity – all for one and one for all. Whereas the market allows each individual to allocate his resources as he thinks best, leading to the greatest freedom and the greatest utility.
Author’s note: I am opposed to abortion for the same reason I so ardently favor capitalism – the sanctity of individual rights. But the purpose of this post is not to debate abortion, it is only to provide an example of the problems associated with any centrally planned scheme for the allocation of resources.
