A major issue this past year has been the attempt by Congress to balance the budget. Part of that process is deciding which federal programs will receive funding for the coming fiscal year. The Republican controlled Congress has been pushing to remove funding for several national programs including PBS, NPR, and, most controversially, Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood has been around for more than 90 years, providing sexual education and health resources to both men and women. Some Congressmen act as though this health center is nothing more than a government funded abortion clinic. There is no denying that Planned Parenthood offers abortions, but this service is only one of the many they offer. Their website claims that one in five American women has chosen to use Planned Parenthood and their resources at least once. The services include STD testing, pregnancy test, free or low cost birth control including condoms, and cancer screenings.
Some may point at a common trend that the Republican Party is following; they are simultaneously trying to get rid of Planned Parenthood and the Health Care bill, both of which are powerful health aids to people that can not afford traditional private health care or clinics. Statistics show that the United States is at the top of the list in terms of teen pregnancy per capita in the developed world. Countries at the bottom of the list, such as Japan and the Netherlands, have far reaching and mandatory sex education programs.
I think that the funding of Planned Parenthood should remain, however the funding could be aimed specifically at the other services that this group offers. By splitting apart the separate services, a compromise could be reached that would be better for both sides. I’m sure that both parties would agree that cancer screenings are both helpful for the public and free from any moral gray area. Although in the big picture, the 75 million dollars that is allocated to Planned Parenthood is a raindrop in the ocean that is our national budget.
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ReplyDeleteI too agree with your editorial. Abortion will be an issue that will probably never totally have a 100% vote, either way. It is controversial and in some cases, rape for example, necessary. However, Planned Parenthood is not just offering that service. The media focuses on it because it draws in the viewers. Planned Parenthood also helps many teens NOT get pregnant as well as giving them the option of adoption. This lets adults who can't have children and want them still be able to raise a child as their own. Planned Parenthood is full of informational resources that many teens and young women would not have otherwise. The splitting of the budget towards Planned Parenthoood resources I agree would be the most acceptable route to take, because it would still allow funding with less controversy.
ReplyDeleteIn Ian’s blog, Planned Parenthood at risk, he highlighted all of the things the clinic does for people and gave facts with statistics. America has welcomed teen pregnancy with open arms and without clinics, like Planned Parenthood, many kids wouldn’t even understand or acknowledge the options they have in teen pregnancy. Besides teen pregnancy, many young adults wouldn’t receive the education and counseling, Planned Parenthood offers on sex, std’s, pregnancy, etc. I totally agree with your editorial on the Planned Parenthood budget, because our government should be looking at benefits towards Americans rather than spending all our aid on foreign countries when they need help.
ReplyDeleteWe fail to realize many of us in our own country need help. With all the controversy going on about health care, the government should be appreciative of programs like these, because many times these clinics catch diseases in the early stages, to be cured. Without the clinics financial help these patients would never have had the opportunity to even know something was wrong with them.
Even though the national budget is decreasing all around we should focus the maximum amount we can afford towards health care providers like Planned Parenthood and education. Many people disagree with Planned Parenthood because of what they offer but little do they know it could help one of their children one day. Planned Parenthood has helped many people in my community and will continue to do so with the right funding. If Planned Parenthood quit receiving aid, just imagine how many people would go untreated in the United States, because of financial problems.
I do agree with some aspects on your blog post regarding government funding. Planned Parenthood does provide excellent service, help, and resources to many of those active in the sexual community. However, should this really be funded by tax dollars? Every day millions of Americans are diagnosed with cancers, diseases, and disorders that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat and/or cure. Our government-funded programs, such as Medicaid, are aimed to help these individuals in financial need by providing them care. However, these programs are for people that find out they have breast cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. Although there are many factors that increase the likelihood of these medical conditions, no one actively chose to have sex, then ended up with diabetes. The services Planned Parenthood provides such as contraceptives, STD testing, and abortion, are all helpful resources for those who CHOOSE to be sexually active. Yes, they do help millions of people who can't necessarily afford birth control or healthcare which is great. But why should every single person in the United States pay for other people to have sex? Any responsible human being would know that when you choose to have unprotected sex (or sex in general for that matter), you are directly risking your chances of getting STDs and/or pregnant. Because there are an uncountable amount of people that do not know this, that should be a grand indicator that we need to increase our educational programs/education system in general. Sex is a choice. It is time for people to start taking responsibility for their actions, and stop expecting other people to pay for their mistakes. Japan and the Netherlands have low teen pregnancy rates due to their culture's high opposition to casual sex and awareness.
ReplyDeleteAn addition to the Republican-controlled Congress, the budget cuts are quite necessary. Considering our government is expected to shut down next week, I would think it is in everyone's best interest that 800,000 employees don't go jobless on Monday.
It is an interesting point of view you have. I like how you tried to form a solution by the government only funding the services, and not abortions. I believe that's how it is already. The government only funds contraceptives, STD awareness, etc. My guess and argument if I were a politician would be that many Christians choose to abstain from sex until marriage (although I'm believing the opposite). Therefore, none of the services or help needs should be needed by those who do hold those religious beliefs. Why pay for other people's choices when they can be avoided?
ReplyDeleteWe don't allow lifetime alcoholics to jump first on a liver transplant list. In fact, we don't even give them the choice to get a new liver at all. Self-induced mistake = everyone shouldn't pay for. Only those who use it should.
I will start by pointing out that Planned Parenthood was founded and originally funded by a Republican president - Richard Nixon. So, opposition to Planned Parenthood is neither a Republican or a Conservative point of view. It is a new opposition that has only come about because of extremists like the Tea Party. I do not appreciate you characterizing Americans who, yes, "CHOOSE" to be sexually active as somehow ignorant of the risks of sexual activity or somehow intellectually inferior to Christians who choose to abstain. They are probably more aware than anyone else. Regardless - if Planned Parenthood is defunded, then guess what? All those medical costs will be FULLY absorbed by the United States government through increased claims on the Medicare/Medicaid programs you cite. You would pay for those services if they went through Medicaid/Medicare as well - what do you think that 2.9% o your paycheck is for? The medical services which are claimed through Medicare/Medicaid! What I think you FAIL to realize is that a larger percent of the total cost of a health care service is passed on to the government when a person must file through those entities. The majority of funding that Planned Parenthood takes in is from personal endowments, government grants (which they must apply for) and donations. If you had ever been to a Planned Parenthood clinic, you would know that they ask for a donation with every single service and many people DO have to pay a least a portion of the cost of the service relative to their income. And further more, you ask "But why should every single person in the United States pay for other people to have sex?" Well, I don't agree with the War in Iraq and I have to pay for that and the funding for the war FAR outweighs the funding for health care that helps OUR OWN CITIZENS. The two big medical programs of the United States - Medicare and Medicaid - take about 13% of the United States budget, give or take .5% based on the year of the budget. Planned Parenthood.... .0083%. I don't even want to go into how much of that budget is made up of military spending.
ReplyDeleteAs for your second comment, those arguments should be entirely moot for someones truly interested in upholding our Constitution. Our government is SEPARATE from the churches that choose to worship here, Christian or not.