Not just Matthew Yglesias, but this e-mailer: “After reading about the Bennett statement, I was not surprised that it blew up like it did, but figured at least you guys would get it (which is a strange compliment because I am actually somewhat left of center—especially economically). In any case I think this is what Bennett was trying to say, even if he didn’t say it too well: If you start arguing from utilitarian first principles then you legitimate practical or utilitarian pro-choice arguments. In this he is right, of course. One could say that enforcing laws against abortion are too expensive, too intrusive, and, even, that banning abortion might increase crime. But as Bennett’s and, from what I can gather, most Conservatives’ opposition from abortion stems from a normative, moral source, and not the notion that if there hadn’t been abortions, the budget numbers would look better. Thus they should stick to arguing from morality and not efficiency, or welfare gains.”