Something to think about as we approach an election season.

In reality, many Evangelical Christians are not "single-issue voters" (e.g. abortion). They are actually reductionist solution voters.

In the example of abortion, it is often assumed that only the Republican party...

has the best chance of getting rid of abortion in the U.S. But, when you get to the specifics, what they *really* mean is that it is the best option currently available for an overturning of Roe v. Wade or the passing of legislature that would make abortion illegal.

But wait a second.

That assumes that only a judicial or legislative top down approach is the only solution to the problem of abortion in our country. But the matter of fact is that there is a bigger question of "why" when it comes to abortion. *Why* is abortion considered

a viable option? What are the circumstantial reasons that would make someone believe that it is better to abort their unborn child?

The data from a variety of studies shows that socioeconomic, psychological, and religio-cultural-social factors are essential to this discussion.

The data also demonstrates that addressing these various factors may mitigate and/or remove abortion as a viable option. A young woman who became pregnant out of wedlock is more likely to bring the child to full term if they have a strong support structure (e.g. familial,

cultural, religious, social, and financial) holding them up. Addressing the "I can't have this child" factors not only decreases the viability of abortion, but it also empowers women because it supports them and their child. Hearts are more likely to be changed, for example,

when a church commits to be the support structure no matter what cost rather than if they simply ban abortion and yet do nothing for the life of the child and mother after birth.

It's a significant reductionism to believe that only judicial and legislative action can stop

abortion, and it's also misguided regarding how our political system even works in our country - we're not pulled to and fro by superhero supreme court justices or representatives who can by divine fiat make laws happen. Checks and balances is supposed to make our political

system intentionally slow and grueling and unable to be quickly changed by the whim of one charismatic leader.

I'm not a self-proclaimed Democrat by any means, but at the same time, I would consider it a job well done in the political sphere to work towards the end of

abortion in our country using the policies of enhanced support structures&corporate responsibilities. If I can help make a world of thriving&support in which abortion becomes the lowest on the list of viable options for a pregnant girl or woman, that would be worth fighting for.