Many political observers, I think rightly, say that Roe is going to die the death of a thousand qualifications. Overall, the pro-life movement has taken an incrementalist approach, which I think wise and prudent. Way to go. But they appear to have lost sight of a little strategic something in the process. I believe we are making significant headway in overturning Roe, bit by bit, and when that happens, we will give many thanks to God.
Because of this incrementalist approach, many pro-lifers have lamented the recent bill that made it through the South Dakota legislature, and was signed into law by the governor. They have lamented it as an example of over-reaching, and as a bill that will surely be struck down in the lower federal courts, one that will almost certainly never make it to the Supreme Court. So why do it then? Waste of time, right?
No. The reason is that incrementalism does not work unless there is a significant group of people who want it all now. Pro-lifers should take a look at the leftist playbook. The incrementalists are the ones who make it happen. The hard-liners are the reason it happens. And one thing you will almost never see — because leftists have incrementalism figured out — is an incrementalist green (to take one example) apologizing for a hard-liner green. They don’t do that, because they understand how it works.
For all the incrementalists who want to nibble Roe to death, God bless you. Get back to your nibbling. It is your work that will ultimatley prevail.And if South Dakota (and about fifteen other states) show that they don’t want anything to do with abortion, and they don’t want anything to do with it now, don’t start wringing your hands. The hardliners are the only reason you have any traction at all, and the more vocal and influential they are, the better it is for you. If you don’t apologize.