Women should be forced to have children, because it’s good for the economy.
Yes, seriously. That’s what Rep. Scott Allen of Wisconsin’s 97th District said to the open State Assembly. Allen was commenting that a bill that would block the health insurance plans of state employees from covering abortions, simply wasn’t strict enough.
Watch the video here:
Let’s take a look at Allen’s “little story,” shall we? According to this consummate economist:
“Labor force shortages are tied to population declines. Labor force shortages are a limiting factor in economic growth. Limited economic growth poses a problem when government tries to pay for public services and infrastructure.”
Okay, so in other words, we can’t build bridges and highways unless we get some more babies born. Got it. My favorite part of Allen’s little speech was his feigned confusion over the apparently bewildering motivation of those who support reproductive freedom:
“In spite of [the obvious economic advantages to forced reproduction] Mr. Speaker, ironically, the Democrats continue their efforts to support the abortion industry.”
I wonder if Representative Allen would have found it equally ironic for people to oppose slavery or support women’s suffrage, despite the economic fallout. It sure can be tough to understand how people might actually value freedom.
Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe wasted no time reminding followers that we already settled the matter of forced labor, back in the 1860s:
…or in simpler terms:
A picture, however, will always be worth a thousand tweets:
If you see Ofscott walking around in Wisconsin, please tell her we can smuggle her out safely.