Sarah Palin and the US Down Syndrome birth rate

[eskimo2]

I’ve all read that it is estimated that 90% of babies in the US with Down Syndrome are aborted.  I’ve also read that Pro-Life statistics in the US range by state from 25% to 60% with an overall average of 38%.  Either the math is not right, or many Pro-Lifers change their minds when faced with a real-life personal decision.  Perhaps just claiming to be Pro-Life decreases the likelihood of having a Down baby by almost 75%...   I’m going with the idea that they change their minds.

Back to Palin: love her or hate her, whether her political career is just getting started or is hitting a wall, she and her new son have brought the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate to the surface more by example than by law.  When was the last time such a highly publicized figure proudly showed off a baby with Down Syndrome? 

My guess is that the 62% of Americans who are Pro-Choice will be un-swayed by her example.  However, some of the 28% who claim to be Pro-Life yet would have chosen abortion when presented with a fetal Down Syndrome diagnosis may be swayed by her example.

The 90% estimation sounds very rounded, and very much an estimate.  I don’t think that we will actually see a statistical change because the base point is so clouded and vague.  But I do think that there will be a slightly higher percentage of Down Syndrome babies born in the next few years compared to the past few.

What do you think?

[Hangtime]

I think democrats are reincarnated as down babies.

[Elfie]

I think it takes a lot of courage to raise a handicapped child. Many handicaps can be detected before the baby is even born, including Down Syndrome. To many people take the easy way out, the Palin's showed courage and a commitment to their values when they chose to raise this baby with Down Syndrome. I applaud them for that, not enough people stay committed to their values when the chips are down.

[Nwbie]

I think it takes a lot of courage to raise a handicapped child. Many handicaps can be detected before the baby is even born, including Down Syndrome. To many people take the easy way out, the Palin's showed courage and a commitment to their values when they chose to raise this baby with Down Syndrome. I applaud them for that, not enough people stay committed to their values when the chips are down.

Yes they both deserve acknowledgment for having being blessed with that child..every family i know that has a child that is mentally retarded or has a form of downs syndrome...seem to be a very close knit family unit..and the love shows...

[AquaShrimp]

So I guess Palin's baby is going to grow up to be just like its mother.

[Bronk]

So I guess Palin's baby is going to grow up to be just like its mother.

Still be better off than being like you.

[BnZ]

Yes...abortion is such a convenient form of infantacide and such a PITA when made illegal that I can't see it going away.

Discussions about the neocortex, precisely WHEN in the pregnancy a fetus develops one, and the uncomfortable little fact that a chimpanzee has a neocortex, is as intelligent as your newborn, and can learn rudimentary language will always be too esoteric to attract public attention. Thank God, last thing I want is seeing legislative ink and treasure go to the human rights of chimpanzees.

[eskimo2]

Thank God, last thing I want is seeing legislative ink and treasure go to the human rights of chimpanzees.

What's to fear?

[avionix]

Thank God, last thing I want is seeing legislative ink and treasure go to the human rights of chimpanzees.

Didn't Spain just legislate rights to primates here a few months ago?

[eagl]

I think democrats are reincarnated as down babies.

I thought down babies were reincarnated as Democrats, go figure.

[Hangtime]

Gordian knot.

[AKIron]

Just like everything else, character means little until tested.