like everyone's age. So about 3/4 of folks who are 64 now will become eligible for Medicare, right? And 3/4 of those who are 61 now can take early Social Security too.

Two pieces of live matter combine to form one piece of live matter with nary a human being in sight (yet). Their proposed "definition" is meaningless.

What kind of logic are they using?

Doesn't matter that the religious right chooses to believe a fertilized ovum is a person, at least 70% of pregnancies are discarded at various points by the body. However, some don't show signs of danger until 3, 4, 5, 6 months. If this danger is to a legal person, the parents have a duty to call 911 with the first spot of blood or cramp, or perhaps warning blood test at routine visits. And the hospital has a duty to save this life in the best possible state. And we are at the point where a try could be made now, imposing a duty, while further research would make successful lifesavings more possible, even if achieving healthily developed little bodies might be far in the future.

The costs would be astronomical. We'd have to empty our and the metamillionaire classes accounts to pay for it.

Then, of course, there's the little issue of a mother's -- and father's -- responsibility to a new life from conception on. Is continuing to accept job stresses that raise blood pressures abuse? Does the state have a duty to step in an order the woman home? Does whoever the father is have a duty to empty his bank accounts and liquidate his assets to pay for care for his fertilized ovum? (Of course.)

Not going to happen.