A friend recently told me that she is voting for George Bush because he will end abortions in the United States. Her comment reminded me that a generation has grown up since abortion became legal in the U.S. People too young to remember life before Roe v. Wade need to know that abortions did not begin with that Supreme Court decision. Nor will they end if we place obstacles between women and health care services.

There always will be medical or personal safety reasons why women decide they cannot be pregnant. Before Roe v. Wade, women who could afford the luxury of travel had access to safe and legal abortions performed by doctors throughout the world. A woman who could not afford to travel had two choices: find a neighborhood abortionist or perform surgery upon herself.

George Bush is old enough to remember life before Roe v. Wade. Perhaps he was too sheltered or too oblivious to see the fear and anxiety women endured when anti-choice laws prevailed. It is ironic that he, the candidate of the Republican party that traditionally has favored less intrusive government, sees no problem in allowing government to intrude between a woman and medical care. My vote is going to John Kerry who has a long record of supporting reproductive choice.

I urge voters to remember that no politician will end abortion. However, four more years of the Bush presidency may put safe abortions out of reach for many U.S. women.

Marilyn Ackley, Buckfield