Opinion
The Kansas abortion vote shows democracy in America can still work
The stunning result this week shows that even in a very red state, abortion bans cannot necessarily survive contact with democracy.
Michelle GoldbergOne side effect of Roe v Wade was that it allowed the anti-abortion movement to pretend to be on the side of democracy. True, the decision was popular, and majorities since the 1970s have wanted to see abortion legal in at least some circumstances. But Roe prevented duly elected state governments from passing abortion restrictions that were in some cases also popular with their constituents.
The goal of the anti-abortion movement was, and remains, national prohibition. Its language called for returning the matter to state voters.
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