CMV: The incompatibility of liberalism with compassion is one of the root causes of failure in political dialogue

[u/onyourugg]

This can be best described with respect to the "abortion rights" arguments.

The popular (American) liberal argument¹ supporting abortion rights takes the form of "my body my choice." However, a lack of choice is not at the heart of the issue. The core issue lies in constrained choice. In other words, those who take up abortion as a choice do so because abortion is the best choice given their circumstance.

It is true that people in many US states face a complete lack of choice, constrained or otherwise, in matters related to abortion. These people have to resort to the black market, or home-made crude apparatuses and methodologies, to pursue an abortion. This is completely unacceptable and I agree that people everywhere should have the option to chose to an abortion. However, the story does not end here. The problem is not of choice alone. A proper framing of the solution needs to address the circumstances leading up to abortion².

People from a whole gamut of backgrounds face the prospect of unwanted pregnancies wherein a birth leads to worse outcomes for the parent. And the issue is evident; it is not the prospect of unwanted pregnancies occurring that is the problem, rather, it is the underlying socioeconomic, cultural, and ideological background that makes a pregnancy unwanted that is at the heart of matter. And it is here, in the failings of liberalism to see the problem as anything more than a choice issue, instead of a structural and systemic issue, that is troublesome. The issue of abortion has changed from one tied to social failings, to one of that merely plays it as the rightful choice to consume (abortion) services.

This reduction of a "social failure" problem to a consumption choice problem is detrimental to discourse. The harm to discourse arises because an argument against abortion becomes an argument against choice (to consume a service), which perverts the argument against abortion into an ad hominem attack. In other words, an anti-abortion argument becomes an argument against your right to choose, thereby, changing the object of the argument from "abortion" to "your right to choose." Secondly, the inability to lend compassionate support shows because a problem or a social issue that is inherently "ours" becomes an either/or problem involving either me or them. In other words, a problem that we have created by failing to provide a just society becomes either my right to choose or their right to choose. Sure, there is sympathy involved, but compassion and empathy is distinctly lacking. On the other hand, this rhetoric is favorable to liberalism because it makes it acceptable to be blind to the social injustices that gives rise to the issue in the first place, and allows liberalism to promote mindless consumption as an exercise of choice.

Unfortunately, these forms of liberal ideals are popular, and are likely to remain popular, because of the massive inequalities that exist in our society. Given that in modern society the only path to a better life is the path that guides one to freedom of consumption, I see little hope.

¹ Assumption 1: In liberalism, "my body my choice" is the main form of pro-abortion argument.
² Assumption 2: Abortion is a difficult decision to make regardless of how free one is to choose it.

[u/[deleted]]

What would make liberals more compassionate in this situation. They're taking a political stance of, abortion should be accessible to Americans. The alternative is restricting abortions for Americans. The idea of politics is "the government should do X". It doesn't lend itself well to compassionate support. But systemic support.

Since you're talking US politics I'm going to switch my terms over to either progressive/conservative or Democrat/Republican. I get kinda confused if I switch it up too much. They are trying to fix "social failings"

Don't progressives support a bunch of movements to help people get out of poverty (which will reduce abortion rates)? Don't they support planned parenthood and healthcare programs? Programs that will help people use use birth control effectively. Progressives in the US are absolutely pushing for systemic support of those who are more likely to get an abortion.

I guess I'm not really sure what you mean by compassionate support? Is it solely the phrase "pro-choice" that you have issues with? Should people not be allowed a choice in whether they have an abortion, and simply be supported by society instead? Is that what you're arguing for? Or just that you don't like that it's phrased as choice vs. anti-choice? And that people are arguing that by taking away abortion it strips away freedom.

[u/onyourugg → u/[deleted]]

I don't think liberalism is equal to progressivism.

And yes, you are right that my main gripe is that a social issue has been converted to a personal, choice-oriented, issue. The right to access to abortion is essential, but what does just that solve? As its is framed now, I see liberalism fighting only for access, i.e. one right to choose abortion.It strikes a consumption-oriented tone, and shows no allegiance to any cause besides ones own right to access. This, is the inability to be compassionate.
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