Ireland - referendum on Abortion

[stui magpie]

I didn't even realise they were going to the polls until I chanced upon an article online.

Ireland has held a referendum to amend their constitution by repealing the 8th amendment. That amendment prohibits abortion.

Looks like it's a resounding Yes vote, although official results might not be in for a day or 2.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-n ... s-12594615

[David]

[stui magpie]

From what I read, the proposal is for unrestricted access to abortion in the first 12 weeks only, then between 12 and 24 weeks subject to medical advice/recommendation.

I reckon that's pretty reasonable and I'd be comfortable with that.

[Pies4shaw]

I have a list to submit as candidates for retrsospective procedures.

[HAL]

Interesting. I have a lot of answers to silly questions.

[Culprit]

The Irish are slow to catch up. They are starting Neighbours next week.

[pietillidie]

Couldn't be happier for Ireland if this comes through.

For what it's worth, my working theory is that the combined effects of British interference and dated Catholicism are still wet blanket on the development of the country. It's presumably harder to overcome colonial economic distortion - and ongoing chauvinism and contempt from Tory Brexiters and friends - when your own society and institutions are themselves stifled from within by outmoded conservative religion.

[David]

Are you still based there, PTID? What are your impressions of how the referendum debate has played out?

[pietillidie]

Are you still based there, PTID? What are your impressions of how the referendum debate has played out?

I'm in the UK now. I haven't followed the referendum debate closely, but I'm certainly cheering on reform.

Again, this sort of social observation is only impressionistic, but I did sense many people in Ireland were working hard to improve the country in the face of strong historical head winds. While I mostly assessed this from the POV of basic infrastructure, this is an important litmus test. At least in Dublin (which is the capital, no less), the housing quality and supply, council service delivery, maintenance and cleanliness, and so on, was below par.

I might be wrong, but I could smell old money and old ties holding things back through things like dodgy privatisation and house inflation protectionism (i.e., laws which favour the inflation of old money investments rather than the everyday needs of the population, coupled with a convenient lack of standards enforcement). This might be a universal, but it's the extent to which it makes life unpleasant that counts.

Of course, it's easy to forget that Ireland's modern development is very recent, so it's not surprising that a new push might be needed to keep the process going; low taxes can only get a country so far, surely. Also, the high GDP/capita recorded before the GFC is somewhat deceiving, because more recently-developed countries are coming off a lower wealth base, which means there is less by way of accumulated assets and infrastructure.

When ideas lag behind economic change, you would think at some point they would become a drag on progress. If so, taking on the church like this could prove crucial.

[ronrat]

I have a list to submit as candidates for retrsospective procedures.

I have some sympathyt but the entire Carlton, Essonden, Richmond, AFL commission night be a stretch

[Pies4shaw]

I have a list to submit as candidates for retrsospective procedures.

I have some sympathyt but the entire Carlton, Essonden, Richmond, AFL commission night be a stretch

You never achieve anything without a plan.

[pietillidie]

A two-thirds majority despite the elderly voting block is certainly something to cheer about.

[Mugwump]

[stui magpie]

^

Scott Adams has said something similar. That the decision on whether abortion should happen should be decided by women, not men.

For mine, there's as many women out there who aren't fit to be parents as men, so it's fair that everyone gets a say.

[pietillidie]