Abortion Quote by John Holdren
“There exists ample authority under which population growth could be regulated...It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Testimony before US Senate Committee, 1990
Population growth may be legally limited, even via forced abortion, if crisis threatens society.
In simple terms: Severe crisis could justify extreme population controls.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethical limits of population policies.
Themes
ethics
public policy
population control
law
societal risk
Mood
anxious
serious
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- government crisis
- public health emergencies
- legislative debates
- human rights discussions
Key Concepts
Constitutional law
bioethics
demography
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever justified to restrict reproductive rights for societal safety?
- How do we balance collective risk with personal liberty?
A Different Perspective
Legal authority may conflict with individual rights and moral concerns.
