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In Colorado, Voters Will Decide Whether Human Embryos Are People Under State's Constitution

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Would "any human being from the moment of fertilization" mean that an unimplanted egg is a suicide, or accidental death? Would deaths from complications of pregnancy now be murder, making the family of the deceased entitled to victims' compensation?
Would we have to extend the protection to sperm and ova, the cells involved in in-vitro fertilization? Once they touch, it's a human being, with the right to self-expression, and equal protection under the law. Since the parents have full power of attorney, they can donate their late child's single-celled body to science with no problems whatsoever, just like I will with my own corpse (less the usable organs).
Or consider the equal protection offered to the mother and cell: If the cell has the right to force the woman to refrain from certain practices that alter her hormone levels to the cell's detriment, the woman has the right to prohibit the cell from certain practices that will harm her.
The preceding comment used the literary devices of sarcasm and irony.

decius of MA 4:39PM December 03, 2010

You are an excellent writer, as always. Please let me suggest that Governor Bill Ritter, Colorado, is pro-choice. It is former Governor BIll Owens who is "pro-life" and against abortion, etc.
I fervently hope Colorado voters reject this amendment. For those who are staunchly against any form of contraception and/or abortion, please include funding to support the unwanted child in education, housing and health. It one thing to demand all possible children be brought into the world, but the stance of such believers, frequently Republicans, is against any form of social services. The big picture of what a life is worth means little if that unwanted child cannot receive standard care and become a functioning member of society. On a more basic level, lack of on-going support is similar to not spaying a pet, but throwing the litter into the wild. Where is the common sense in that?

Jeanne Tubb of CO 5:04PM October 30, 2008

No way should we allow a woman to do what she wants with her body. No way should anyone outside the womb have more say than something not yet born. But it's funny how the fetus will have more rights than the adult, but once it's born, the adult has the legal control over the child until they are 18. So it's cool that the future will be able to exercise their rights from the womb, but then lose those rights when they are born, and then get them back when they're 18. wtf? save the children, by giving up our rights?

Bucky of CT 1:47PM October 30, 2008

If the recent polls show that Colorado is going for liberals then you know for sure that embryos are just that - embryos not humans. Why vote?
Vote Obama and so goes embryos even being thought of as humans.

Dennis of NJ 9:27AM October 30, 2008

Colorado's ballot measure is losing and losing big. The measure is so extreme there are anti-choice organizations including the Colorado's Roman Catholic bishops and the extremely anti-choice National Right to Life Committee have refused to endorse it. The measure may actually prevent couples who wish to get pregnant but cannot from using in vitro fertilization. This kind of an amendment to the Colorado constitution has diastrous consequences - but consequences that one can only guess at since the measure is written so vaguely and broadly that even voters will have little idea of its impact.
Thanks for writing about this and for including a quote from Cristina Page - Page is absolutely right. The anti-choice movement, as evidenced by these ballot measures and numerous other campaigns and actions, is not only against legal abortion but contraception as well.
For more on the top sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in the 2008 election, ballot initiatives and senate and house races, visit RH Reality Check! www.rhrealitycheck.org.
Amie Newman

Amie Newman of WA 6:50PM October 29, 2008