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Comment by WalterBright | Hacker News Reader

> This Roe v Wade thing? We could have a referendum and be done with it.

I don't think "be done with it" on abortion is remotely possible. The two sides are completely intractable. In my long life I've never heard anyone be persuaded by the other side.

Besides, overturning RvW will not federally prohibit abortion. It will leave it up to the states, which will decide democratically.

This satisfies nobody.

For example, here in Washington State, there is no chance that abortion will be outlawed by the State. But that hasn't stopped major demonstrations protesting the Supreme Court.

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> It will leave it up to the states, which will decide democratically. This satisfies nobody.

Not wishing to be unnecessarily provocative, but if each state were to have to set the policy isn't it likely it would be that which is most popular in that state?

Wouldn't more people be satisfied overall? Even if some states end up hating each other a bit more ... than they already do

I was pro-choice until my early-20s and I changed my view. I've met others who were in favor of complete freedom for abortions and now oppose them because they see as veiled eugenics. Not to mention the countless stories of women who attempted or had abortions and regretted it for the rest of their lives and became vocal opponents of it.

But they didn't die from a botched unlicensed one, which is the alternative we have to take into consideration, even if we don't like them. Making abortion illegal == scared young women die.

I responded just to give some data points about people who have changed their minds. I don't think HN is the place to get into a debate about it.

The "two-sides" were created by Roe v Wade. There were always other sides, a 50 year false dilemma where you couldn't even bring it up because "yeah but which side are you on?" Glad that's over! Kind of sad about the inconvenience for people in areas where they expected something different, and I'm moderately annoyed at the next decade where people try to recreate the two sides at the state and congressional level. But it does force room for inspiration!

I think part of the fear is that they will not stop at just overturning RvW. Once it’s overturned, there’s a risk of a federal ban being proposed by congress.

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