I can't find more recent stats on the CDC's website (and this report was published in January 2000), but in 1996 in the US, "an estimated 6.24 million pregnancies resulted in 3.89 million live births, 1.37 million induced abortions and 0.98 million fetal losses [i.e., miscarriages]." 1.37 million is a bit under 22% of 6.24 million.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_21/sr21_056.pdf

Found some more recent stats (published last summer): In 1999 in the US, 6.23 million pregnancies, 3.96 million live births, 1.31 million induced abortions, 1.0 million fetal losses. (And no, I don't know why those numbers don't quite add up correctly.) Or a little over 21% of pregnancies in America ended in induced abortion.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr52/nvsr52_07.pdf

I was just going to say: Are we so far behind the Europeans? No, we are not.

I do not know if Europeans really loathe themselves. The French seem pretty full of themselves.

Be that as it may, which is worse, self-loathing or loathing everybody else.

Islam is more suicidal than the Euros.

OJ, can you please explain how you can write pro-Islam taking over Europe material while at the same time stating that we helped our enemies (Muslim Bosnian/Kosovars) against our true friends (Serbs)?

How do you cut the Gordian knot? Or are you being subtly sarcastic and I am too dense?

Isn't about 25% of the french on tranquilizers? Wasn't there an article w/in the last month the Chiraq wants to cut prescription drugs and didn't want them to be able to dr. shop to get said happy pills?

Chris:

We should have stayed out of Serb business. But the future of Europe is Islamic no matter how many the Serbs kill.

Harry:

Self loathing is obviously worse, especially when justified as in the case of secular Europe.

Random:

The difference being that well over half the country wants those numbers changed, whereas few in Europe even seem to care.

OJ
You don't factor in the self-loathing nature of Islam. I don't know the reasons of their rage entirely, but pride in their culture doesn't isn't the first thing that I would think of.

Enough from me about psycology, but I want to second the lament of Paul Cella above since every foible you chronicle on this site about Europe seems to be duplicated in our culture also. (But maybe I'm too pessimistic)

Any racial breakdown on that stat?

Based on 7 years living in England (last in 1992) I can only say the English struck me as being as likable, and funny, a group of people you would ever want to meet.

Including Americans.

The Brits loathe themselves every bit as much as we do.

J.H.,

Yes, racial breakdown is in the reports cited above, but marital status offers much more striking correlations to abortion rates than race. Unmarried pregnant women of all races are somewhat more likely to have a live birth than an abortion -- 43 live births per 1000 women aged 15-44, compared to 35 induced abortions per 1000 women. Among married women the ratio is 85 live births per 1000 women to 8 abortions per 1000 women. Among unmarried black women who get pregnant, abortion is actually a more likely outcome than live birth.

And a truly disturbing fact: Pregnancies among married women outnumber pregnancies among unmarried women by a ratio of only 4:3.

h:

Yes, I'd agree that we'll likely have to have a civil war here eventually if we want to preserve a decent culture.

Concur with O.J. Democracy destroyed America.

"The Brits loathe themselves every bit as much as we do."

Yes, Jeff, but since they are not as religious OJ must find fault with them. Everything is redeemed by religiosity, it seems.

Robert:

The problem is, as you correctly point out, there is no Red there--all is Blue.

OJ:

Have you ever been there?

We left 400 years ago cause it sucked--and it's been all downhill...

OJ/Jeff

That's the problem with actually visiting places and meeting people.

It has a terrible habit of undermining your prejudices.

The first time I visited America I was shocked to discover that you lot DO actually understand irony.

Sometimes.

Brit:

Well, in case it wasn't already obvious, I loved the time I spent there, and look forward to visiting again.

Visit Montreal and you'll hate the French even more.

I loved Montreal. Stay at Hotel de l'Institute, by the university. 5 stars at 2 star prices.

Harry:

Yes, but you, like Jeff, are basically European in outlook.

OJ:

You are basically wrong.

I visited France--did a bike tour there. I'm never going back. BTW, while I was in Europe, I read that the French were the lowest per capita users of soap and toothpaste.

One summer day on the Paris metro was all it took to confirm that factoid.

It may smell, but is shares your amorality.

What you mistake for amorality is an aversion to busy bodies and tyrants.

and 40 million dead babies and killing the disabled/elderly and the inability to judge sexual aberrance, etc., etc., etc.... You're European.

How's the line go? "Judge not, lest you be judged." Perhaps something like that.

Better all those than the hell on Earth that would come from being run by busybodies and tyrants.

There's no difference for Hitler's dead and your's.

Fine--tell that to the murderesses in their millions.

Your unwillingness to take moral responsibility for your own beliefs is your least becoming quality, though it reveals volumes.

I liked the croissants, the friendly people and the gardens.

I have taken responsibility. I know that, in most cases, abortion is wrong. I believe, though, that the results of imposing governmental power--particularly when that imposition is sectarian--inside a woman's body is worse.

Now you may disagree with my belief. But the track record of unbridled government power, compared to the evil people get up to when left to their own devices, is pretty ugly.

As for the rest, your willingness to claim possession of absolute Truth is your least becoming quality. And it speaks volumes.

BTW, "Judge not, lest you be judged."

Okay, so if most are wrong you've only got 20+ million on your side of the ledger--more than Hitler, less than Stalin or Mao.

OJ:

You are right, I have to live with that.

The alternative, though, is imposing a particular version of Absolute Truth upon eveyone that doesn't agree.

The desire to do so puts you on the same team as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Torquemada, etc.

Just Torguemada.