In the major industrialized countries that have public health care and legal abortion the abortion rates are much lower than they are in the U.S. Is that really so startling? Taking good care of pregnant women and new mothers and their children seems to be a good idea.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/12/AR2010031202287.html
How long will it take for so many Americans to get over fears of “socialism”? Maybe not so long. The problem isn’t “socialism” – it is corruption, abuse of power, bureaucratic bloat and inefficiency. Socialism is discredited because it has been associated (fairly and not fairly) with the creation of ineffective, self-serving, over-reaching systems, not because socialism – taking care of each other – is inherently bad. We need to unite, progressives and conservatives, against the real common enemies: Corruption, greed, abuse of power, and irresponsibility – wherever they can sprout and grow, whether in government, corporations, or non-profits.
(Later the same day)
On the other hand, I think I’m being a bit too rational here – in talking about uniting differences when the differences are so extreme, for so many, and so based on fear, frustration, and desire for … gaining a sense of power. Something very unrational is going on right now. A kind of hysteria unleashed and amplified so that it is spilling out into public view, with scary effects. Unfortunately, those who could have the most influence are motivated to keep their influence, and thus to either say nothing or to further stoke the anger of “their” people.
100 Trillion Connections 
Just read your last 3 or 4 posts. Really excellent points and very well expressed. Thank you.