Countries Undergoing Demographic Transition Should Ban Abortion

Rebuttal To More Children=Less ProductivityIn the short term this may be true. However, the demographic crisis is worsening. To prevent it from getting much, much worse in the future measures should be taken to encourage more fertility, that includes an abortion an. “The total population of Bulgaria is expected to decline significantly by 2050 as a result of low birth rates, high adult mortality and a high current level of net emigration. Fertility rates are expected to recover from the current low level while net emigration should come to a halt. Life expectancy, for both men and women, is currently low and significant progress is expected. The old-age dependency ratio, currently at the European average, is expected to rise to a much higher level than for the EU as a whole.” - ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=1540&langId=en Rebuttal to "200,000 a year" Not Being A Lot It looks like a small number, but over a decade that's 2 million people. Over a half a century that's 10 million. Banning abortion will also send a message, that the population is in trouble, this may create a sense of urgency in the public leading to more births. It can also be coupled with other laws such as laws against contraception in order to raise the population, however getting that restrictive is best avoided if possible. The first change that should be made to save the population is to ban abortion. Underaged Women There are was to remedy this. The state could provide aid to underaged women. Yes that does drain from the economy, but in this case it is an investment as these children grow up and join the work force. Alternatively, the state could mandate that women who can't afford to keep children put them up for adoption to rich families if it really wanted to save money. However, to save money off of the elderly there are only 2 things we can do, 1. Make them keep working, which only works to a point because of disabilty and besides people want to be guaranteed they will be able to retire someday, and 2. State-mandated euthanasia for the elderly, which is inconsciable so it's better to ban abortion. Life Is Not The Only Valid Reason For Laws Against Abortion My opponent says "Cells are not alive. Therefore, Abortion has no real impact."The conclusion does not follow from the premise.In cases of demographic transition abortion is destructive to society, because it leads to a disproportionate number of elderly people.The fact that the cells aren't alive does not mean that abortion poses no harm to society that can justify a ban. My position on abortion is "pro-social" not "pro-life".MedicalAlthough childbirth is riskier the state requires people to take other risks in defense of it such as with conscription in a war. It is therefore morally acceptable to require women to carry pregnancies to term in order to increase the population.DemocracyThere is nothing inherently undemocratic about laws against abortion. What if the people change their minds and decide they want a ban? In some countries they have already decided that is what they want such as Ireland and Malta.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_MaltaBesides that representatives sometimes pass laws against public opinion, that does not make such laws undemocratic.