Dead Babies?

I just had a conversation with a friend of mine about abortion, and it made me realize that it's been a while (almost two years) since I've visited the latest figures on infant mortality.  [See previous article]

Without rehashing the past, and repeating myself, my stance on abortion in America is very simple.  Our infant mortality rate is so shameful and embarrassing in this country, we have no right to force women to have a baby they don't want.  If we can't keep our babies alive from the age of 0 to 1, why should we be even talking about a fetus?

So I checked on the latest figures (from the CIA, not some left wing think tank), and it seems that just like last year, we have slipped yet again, we are now 46th in the world for infant mortality.

Not only were our figures embarrassing when I first wrote about this in 2006, but year on year our figures have been deteriorating.  In 2006 we were an unimpressive 32nd in the world.  By 2009 (the most recent figures available at time of writing) we are now at 46th.  Now I concede that some additional countries may now being reported that has affected our ranking, but which ever way you look at it; it's a disgrace.  The richest nation on the planet, and we can't provide health care that keeps our children alive?  It's not like we're Cuba, oh wait, Cuba is one of the 45 countries kicking our ass in infant mortality statistics, oops.

I'm sure with the outcome of the midterms as they are, Republicans are going to start an aggressive bid for the White House in 2012.  And as usual they will trot out the political wedge issues like flag burning, gay marriage and abortion.  But the hypocrisy to be 'pro-life' while simultaneously legislating to not give children free and unfettered access to health care is astonishing, and our children are paying with their lives.

Who knows, when the 2010 numbers come out for infant mortality, will America even be in the top 50?  Just how far will we slide, and how many babies will die as we 'debate' health care and abortion?

If you are pro-life, you need to support free access to health care for all children, or you are in fact not pro-life at all.  You are a hypocrite and an idiot.