Organization: The American University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.catholic
Date:         Sun, 24 Jan 1993 14:35:59 EST
From:         Jim McIntosh <JIM@AMERICAN.EDU>
Subject:      RTL March Survey

To find out who participated in Friday's Right to Life march, The
Washington Post interviewed 742 randomly selected demonstrators. The
results:

   Sex: Male   - 46%            Age: 13-17 - 11%
        Female - 54%                 18-29 - 20%
                                     30-44 - 34%
   Residence:                        45-59 - 23%
      Washington DC -  3%            60+   - 12%
      Virginia      - 18%
      Maryland      - 15%       Percent who are:
      Pennsylvania  - 19%          Married            - 58%
      New York      - 11%          A parent           - 58%
      Ohio          -  9%          Clinton voter      -  4%
      New Jersey    -  7%          Bush voter         - 92%
                                   Registered to vote - 84%
   Party Affiliation:              Catholic           - 65%
      Democrat    - 13%            Protestant         - 29%
      Republican  - 57%            Jewish             -  1%
      Independent - 25%
                                Household Income:
   Politial Ideology:              Less than $12,000 -  8%
      Very liberal      -  1%      $12,000-$19,999   -  9%
      Liberal           -  6%      $20,000-$29,999   - 17%
      Moderate          - 22%      $30,000-$49,999   - 29%
      Conservative      - 50%      $50,000 and more  - 37%
      Very Conservative - 21%

Several questions asked of pro-life demonstrators also were asked of a
random sample of 881 abortion-rights demonstrators on April 5, 1992.

                                                    Pro-Life   Pro-Choice
   Are you a close friend or relative of someone
   who has had an abortion since 1973?
                                            Yes        57%        82%
                                            No         43%        16%

   Do you think that a teenager, under the age of
   18, should be required by law to notify a parent
   before she can obtain a legal abortion?
                                            Yes        99%         5%
                                            No          1%        93%

   Do you think that a married woman should be required
   by law to obtain the permission of her husband
   before shw can obtain a legal abortion?
                                            Yes        96%         2%
                                            No          4%        96%

One question asked of pro-life demonstrators also was asked of a national
random sample of 1.1510 adults this week and abortion-rights
demonstrators in April 1992.

   Should abortion be legal under each of the following circumstances:
   (Shown: percentage who said "yes.")
                                          Pro-     National    Pro-
                                          Life      Sample    Choice
   If the woman's life is endangered       35%       91%        99%
   If the pregancy is a result of
      rape or incest                        9%       86%       100%
   If there is a chance that the child
      will be born deformed                 2%       73%        97%
   If the family cannot afford to have
      the child                             1%       49%        96%
   If the parents don't want another
      child                                 1%       45%        95%

A national trend shows that 65% of all Americans now support Roe v. Wade
and 33% disapprove. This is the highest approval rating every recorded.

                                 - * -

I skipped the pre-march rally simply because I have a hard time listening
to people like Sen. Helms, Rep. Dornan and Mr. Buchanan. I did, however,
march with everyone else from the Elipse to the Capitol and found the
march to be invigorating. It's hard not be be charged up when marching
for life with 75,000 other people.

I was also filled with sadness. As we marched, the president was signing
executive orders which seemed timed to be in direct counterpoint to the
march. It showed the futility of the march (except to recommit those
marching to the cause). I've said here before (and I really feel) that
unpopular laws are simply ignored. The 55-MPH speed limit is just one
example. Unless we convince the majority of Americans that our cause is
just, just passing laws (even if such a thing were possible) would not be
enough.

In the sixties and seventies, drug use was accepted among teenagers and
young adults. The law against illicit drugs, at least drugs like
marijuana, seemed destined to fall. Then something different happened.
A significant number of anti-drug ads appeared. Campaigns like "Just Say
No" sprung up. "Drug Free" zones appeared. The attitude of Americans was
changed, and drugs are now seen as a major menace. Billions and billions
of dollars are fed into a "War on Drugs". No one questions the laws
against drugs, even though those laws are terribly inconsistant. (Why is
marijuana illegal, but alcohol not? If health is the motivator, why are
cigarettes legal?)

I think the only way to improve our position on abortion and other life
issues is to take a similar tack. We must start getting our message out.
Only when the population is convinced that abortion (and euthanasia, the
death penalty, etc.) are wrong does it make sense to start worrying about
changing the law. It won't be easy, of course, and will take a pile of
money, but is, I think, the only course of action which would seem to be
able to reverse the deteriorating position we hold.

Jim McIntosh, SFO (jim@american.edu)
The American University
Washington DC 20016-8019 USA
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