Indiana cuts off Planned ParenthoodFollow

You are. They don't choose not to use it. They forget to use it. Or they don't think about it. Or they assume that "it wont happen to me", or "I'll just do this once!", and they end out pregnant. And it's not just about being able to afford it. I'm talking about a larger social effect than just whether one can afford to buy birth control. The problem is that we're teaching kids that because birth control exists, sex is "safe". The government handing out condoms and pills just reinforces the idea that sex among people who have no intention of raising a child together if that should result is perfectly acceptable.

It's not just about the economics of the issue.



You're missing the group of people who, because the government hands out condoms in school, and funds free condoms and birth control via PP (and other organizations), don't think that having sex is such a big deal. Then, when they find themselves in a situation where they're horny and neither of them have actually bothered to go to those places and get their free condoms and birth control pills they're more likely to have sex anyway because they've been taught all their lives that sex isn't a big deal and is safe and whatnot. Add to that other government actions which have removed some of the negative consequences if a pregnancy should occur, and the factors against having unprotected sex are drowned out by the need/desire to have sex. It's short term gratification against the potential of long term consequences. Which do you think teens will tend to pick?



Sure. I doubt any studies have gone that long yet though. We'll see.



Obviously. But only if the rate of misuse and/or failure of the contraceptive is lower than the increased rate of sexual activity.


Here's the problem though. Since the 1950s, the percentage of children born to unwed mothers in the US has increased from 3% to 40%. So, if our objective (as you stated) is to prevent children from being born into the conditions in which they'll will require government assistance, then we have absolutely failed. We can argue about exactly what the cause of this is, but I think it's abundantly clear that comprehensive sex education and providing funding for free birth control hasn't slowed down, let alone prevented that increase.

So at the very least, perhaps we shouldn't be so focused on "provide more birth control and education" as the solution. That's clearly not the way to fix the problem you started out saying these things are supposed to prevent.

Edited, May 11th 2011 7:41pm by gbaji

Twiz, the point I was making is that for people that aren't able to get the pill (or UID, or whatever) through insurance, PP was a nice, affordable option. Belk said that her insurance covers it now and that's great. But 10 years ago when I still relied on the pill, insurance wouldn't cover it.

Are you suggesting that it's not or are you in agreement with them but lack the testicular fortitude to put forth the position?

If the latter, go figure, but if the former, do you know what elective means? No one is suggesting cancer screening is not important, but there is no reasonable argument that can be made to effectively cast is as not elective.

Not so much. Unattended waste water will cause disease & death. Un-screened women may have cancer. I realize it's a fine distinction, but it's worth pointing out, none the less.

EDIT: By will cause I mean has it has been historically shown that it will cause disease & death. By may have I mean who f'ucking knows, but it's a great emotional plea.

Edited, May 12th 2011 9:04am by MoebiusLord

Cancer won't spread to others. Disease contracted from waste water will. It was poor reasoning by Elinda. I agree with Moe on this and I see how others could argue against him/us, but the example Elinda used wasn't an effective route.

Excellent point. I was addressing that which was posited. I'm good like that.

So a medical issue that someone doesn't go to the doctor for can spread? Sounds like someone should go take advantage of one of the other available medical assistance programs that I'm paying for.

You're right, it could be. Requiring every able-bodied, upstanding citizen to carry a firearm could be seen as a public safety service, too, but I doubt you'd buy that, either. At any rate, the best way to control unwanted pregnancies is not to get pregnant. I love how women want to be free to exercise choice but don't want me to be afforded the same courtesy. Public funding for Planned Parenthood forces a woman's choice on me.

Really, my support for Planned Parenthood is based less on any "women" style concerns (oh no, breast cancer!) and more on the basic fact that I'm in favor of government supported health care. It would be swell if all of PP's functions could be transferred to government facilities with no loss in accessibility or service but, until then, funding someone else doing it is the next best thing.

I understand that this basic theory puts me immediately at odds with Moe and his ilk.

I lol'd.

Free at the time of delivery of service.

Their core mission is providing women's health services (primarily reproductive) which includes abortion and contraception. While abortion remains legal, they have all the rationale they need to not capitulate to politically driven attacks.

I would like to know where they plan on sending the money that would have gone to PP.

Also, doesn't PP take donations? If someone is concerned about them, then send them a check.

Other state Medicaid reimbursements, presumably.

Untrue. The original article specifically mentions it, in an attempt to make this about something it isn't. Driftwood then took the bait and called it terrible that they would be taking that away. It was then seized by Guenny, Twizzle & idiggory. I simply clarified the conversation.

You are absolutely correct. They are well within their rights to continue doing it. Continuing, however, proves that this is not about women's health, but politics. When a perfectly viable solution is available, but they choose to press for the contentious they lose the moral high ground.