Wayne, that’s exactly how it was, pre-Roe. There was a patchwork of legalization and it created exactly the scenario for poor women that you describe.

Wealthier (and often paler and more conservative) families would access the procedures they need, while poorer (and often darker and less politically conservative) folks would suffer, and because the more powerful would be be able to opt out of the situation as needed, there’d be less pressure to change it…

What does that even mean, “untold”? Uncounted? Uncountable?

It’s impossible for legal clinics to be either one, since in all 50 states, they’re regulated half to death (which usually is the legislature’s intention). Their numbers are widely known, so they can be closely watched and harassed.

So “untold clinics” would have to be illegal ones, i.e. secret, i.e. underground. Of course, here maha is forced to point out the obvious: Abortion is still legal in the United States. So, there is not much in the way of an underground abortion industry here….

Idiot commenter was very poorly responding to a point that was never even made, with language that contradicts the commenter’s own argument. Awesome.

Stupid is as stupid writes, imo.

What kind of bleeping idiot would assume that I don’t?

IIRC it is legal to get an abortion in Ireland (based on EU law) but the hospital institutions are owned by the RC Church effectively stopping the procedure in them. However, the health service pays for the procedure when performed the next isle over. I am not conversant on the details. In effect, the procedure is available to all Ireland though travel (again IIRC, travel is paid as well) is necessary. Even Ireland is part of the modern civilized world these days.

I can’t take this whole abortion debate, as a man I feel I have no right whatsoever to even have an opinion. I can understand women having differing views on the subject, but when men feel obligated to control what women can or can’t do in regards to their health I get a little aggravated.

Your problem is assuming that garden vegetables, or righties, have working memories, unclouded by their ideology.

I grew up in a particularly benighted region of the country, which entire state today has one (1) clinic, staffed by doctors imported from another state on a part-time basis. Back in the 60’s, it had one doctor who was reputed to perform abortions. He was tried repeatedly by various AG’s, but never convicted. His secret? He performed the abortions primarily for girls, and at the behest of their wealthy and prominent families, who would have lost enormously if they admitted his services. Thus, the AG couldn’t get testimony.

Had that doctor performed services for poor girls, he’d almost certainly have died in prison.

That’s how it works when something is illegal. That just means “available only to the rich”. This wasn’t a secret at the time, and should be obvious to anyone of minimal intelligence and understanding (righties obviously excepted).