Sorry I've been MIA for a little while. It's been a crazy week at work, and when I finally came out from under my employment rock I discovered a lot has been happening in the world. There has been an uproar this week about federal funding for Planned Parenthood and the ethics surrounding the organization. I do not want to get into the politics or ethics of abortion in this post. Everyone can have their own opinion and I don't think that is what this is about.
As a Post Grad without health insurance, Planned Parenthood has been an option for affordable health care if I need it. Annual pap smear? Planned Parenthood. Prescription for birth control? Planned Parenthood. STI testing? Planned Parenthood.
Regardless of Planned Parenthood providing abortions, they provide a plethora of other services that are important, especially for those who cannot afford health insurance. I would like to point out that the debate began over a video that was released showing a nurse from Planned Parenthood giving unsound advise. The video was created by a pro-life group called Live Action and did not mention abortion in the least.
They also provide information about sexual health. Information is the most power we can have and Planned Parenthood makes it available to everyone. Conservatives get upset because they don't want teenagers to be exposed to any of this, but I would like to point out that Planned Parenthood provides information about abstinence in their birth control section, as well as the more controversial options.
Planned Parenthood is currently funded by Title X of the US government. The money is meant for Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs. The House did not vote to de-fund Planned Parenthood directly, they voted to eliminate the Program that provides its funding, Title X.
In trying to balance the budget and get rid of mounting debt, the government is taking away options. Something has to get cut, or money needs to be more wisely spent, but do we really want to take it away from health and planning?
One of the most infuriating things is the fact that most of the people who support eliminating this funding are the same people who want to repeal the health care reform bill. So, not only do they want to take away the legislation that would give more people health insurance, they also want to take away an affordable health care service. No logic.
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