One can see, in the microcosm of this debate, just how intellectually confused and impoverished are the minds of so many Americans. Almost all who advertise themselves as ‘pro-choice’ are not pro-choice at all: they are quick to endorse measures to prohibit people making choices on the basis of racial or ethnic discrimination, or to demand that taxpayers fund day-care facilities for working mothers. They want an abundance of state rules to preempt the choices of individuals.

Nor are the allegedly ‘pro-life’ advocates what they profess to be: far too many are flag-waving defenders of the war system, or supporters of capital punishment.