Forgive me if I have misunderstood you, but you appear to be saying:
In your home town, most girls who got pregnant as teens kept the baby.
These girls are no less likely to abort than the general population.
Neither these girls nor anyone else is trying to make abortion illegal.
Therefore
Judging by revealed preference, there are lots of people who think that abortion is immoral but should not be illegal.
I do not see how (4) follows from (1), (2) and (3). Firstly, getting pregnant is a benefit as well as a cost—being pro-choice doesn’t mean you will have an abortion even if you want the baby. Secondly, political activism is a niche activity, and “teenage single mum” is not exactly the most represented demographic among political activists. You don’t distinguish among the groups:
Thinks abortion is immoral, and should be illegal, but not politically active.
Thinks abortion is morally permissible, and should not be illegal, but wanted to keep the baby.
Genuinely thinks abortion is morally permissible and should not be illegal.
Does not have deeply considered moral views on the matter. If asked, the response will be very sensitive to the wording of the question. Not politically active.
IMO groups (1), (2) and especially (4) have many more members than (3).
I do not understand your point about Italy at all. Could you perhaps clarify?
Since you say “political activism is a niche activity” I think you had in mind bigger things than I was thinking. When I said anything (emphasis in the original), I meant anything. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Facebook post proposing to stop abortion (whereas I see such posts about—say—vivisection all the time). And
Firstly, getting pregnant is a benefit as well as a cost—being pro-choice doesn’t mean you will have an abortion even if you want the baby.
Well, if you want a baby you don’t use contraception (not even coitus interruptus) in the first place. If you do, but it fails and you get pregnant anyway, and you still don’t abort...Since you say “political activism is a niche activity” I think you had in mind bigger things than I was thinking. When I said anything (emphasis in the original), I meant anything. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Facebook post about abortion.
Well, if you want a baby you don’t use contraception (not even coitus interruptus) in the first place. If you do, but it fails and you get pregnant anyway, and you still don’t abort...
With respect, I think this is far too simplistic an analysis. I too know teenage single mums who got pregnant by accident, but they didn’t talk about the morality of abortion as a factor in their decision.
Forgive me if I have misunderstood you, but you appear to be saying:
In your home town, most girls who got pregnant as teens kept the baby.
These girls are no less likely to abort than the general population.
Neither these girls nor anyone else is trying to make abortion illegal. Therefore
Judging by revealed preference, there are lots of people who think that abortion is immoral but should not be illegal.
I do not see how (4) follows from (1), (2) and (3). Firstly, getting pregnant is a benefit as well as a cost—being pro-choice doesn’t mean you will have an abortion even if you want the baby. Secondly, political activism is a niche activity, and “teenage single mum” is not exactly the most represented demographic among political activists. You don’t distinguish among the groups:
Thinks abortion is immoral, and should be illegal, but not politically active.
Thinks abortion is morally permissible, and should not be illegal, but wanted to keep the baby.
Genuinely thinks abortion is morally permissible and should not be illegal.
Does not have deeply considered moral views on the matter. If asked, the response will be very sensitive to the wording of the question. Not politically active.
IMO groups (1), (2) and especially (4) have many more members than (3).
I do not understand your point about Italy at all. Could you perhaps clarify?
Since you say “political activism is a niche activity” I think you had in mind bigger things than I was thinking. When I said anything (emphasis in the original), I meant anything. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Facebook post proposing to stop abortion (whereas I see such posts about—say—vivisection all the time). And
Well, if you want a baby you don’t use contraception (not even coitus interruptus) in the first place. If you do, but it fails and you get pregnant anyway, and you still don’t abort...Since you say “political activism is a niche activity” I think you had in mind bigger things than I was thinking. When I said anything (emphasis in the original), I meant anything. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Facebook post about abortion.
With respect, I think this is far too simplistic an analysis. I too know teenage single mums who got pregnant by accident, but they didn’t talk about the morality of abortion as a factor in their decision.
That’s why I said I was talking about revealed preferences.