Time to discuss another very important issue: family planning. Family planning wasn't meant to be a political issue, but because of the controversy surrounding abortion, it has become one. The concept of family planning was developed in the 1960's to improve the health of women and their families and to avoid welfare dependency. A survey taken several years ago showed that nearly 90% of voters supported family planning.

The problem is that a lot of people (conservatives especially) equate the concept of family planning with immorality. They think that family planning is some sort of "liberal code" for abortion. Far from that, family planning prevents unintended pregnancy and therefore helps eliminate the need for abortion. President Bush has been cutting funding for family planning services-just because they may support or even take into consideration abortion, contraceptives, and sterilization-with dire consequences. Without these valuable services, many young and/or poverty stricken women would not get the care they need, including potentially lifesaving tests such as breast exams, STD screening, and blood pressure testing. As it is, only 39% of the eligible women take advantage of family planning, but if funding is cut any more, there might not be family planning to take advantage of.

Nearly half of the nation's 6.3 million yearly pregnancies are unwanted. Couldn't these pregnancies have been prevented by educating women about their options (which include abstinence and contraceptives) at a family planning center? If we continue to let funding for these essential services dwindle, not to mention outlaw abortion, there will be more unwanted babies born to teens and poor women.

Now, I think this post is fairly moderate, but I can't wait to see what the conservatives will pull out of their asses about how it's "liberally biased"... ;)

Originally posted by DarkFantasy96

Nearly half of the nation's 6.3 million yearly pregnancies are unwanted. Couldn't these pregnancies have been prevented by educating women about their options (which include abstinence and contraceptives) at a family planning center?

This isn't the main point of your post, but I sort of doubt that all 6.4 million unwanted pregnancies would be eliminated. People get careless and lazy even when they do know about birth control, etc.

But to your main point. Overall I agree. We'd have fewer abortions and healthier babies with better awareness of birth control and such things. But I don't think the opposition of a lot of conservatives is completely based on the abortion argument, they also tend to view sex education as an open invitation to have sex. Which I don't agree with, but I think that's how they see it. I do see their point in one regard, though. If you really think abortion is unspeakably bad, then why would you give any money to people that might promote it, even if it's only in a few rare circumstances?

:rolleyes: Family planning has never paid for or supported abortion, but they have an obligation to inform their patients of every option that they have. Even if the people who work at a family planning clinic do not support abstinence education as a solution to unwanted births, they still have to inform the woman of all of the ways to stay healthy and prevent pregnancy...

Originally posted by DarkFantasy96
:rolleyes: Family planning has never paid for or supported abortion, but they have an obligation to inform their patients of every option that they have. Even if the people who work at a family planning clinic do not support abstinence education as a solution to unwanted births, they still have to inform the woman of all of the ways to stay healthy and prevent pregnancy...

Abortion prevents pregnancy?

Anyway, I'm not disagreeing with you, but I still think that if you view abortion as really horrible, you're not going want people discussing it.

Bah that's their problem... they can suck my dick lol...

Kidding, by the way, don't jump on me right wingers;)

Originally posted by DarkFantasy96
Bah that's their problem... they can suck my dick lol...
But I thought you...AAAAHHHH!!!
Kidding, by the way
OH THANK GOD. ;)

Now that's one way to prevent pregnancy. If that's your sole sexual outlet, then one thing's for sure: you'll not procreate.

Birth control for men has to be a more viable alternative.

"Family planning centers".....I quote that because that is such a ridiculus name...it's an oxymoron, is it not? I mean, aren't they more about how to stop from having a family?

I digress.

Could you just explain to me why the government should be paying for people to not have babies?

Also, you are a few years late to be talking about this. Wasn't this move made at the beginning of Bush's presidency? I haven't heard anything recent about cuts made to these "centers." Have you? Please share if you have.

Couldn't these pregnancies have been prevented by educating women about their options (which include abstinence and contraceptives) at a family planning center?

I would also like to pick on this statement. I think everyone that gets pregnant knows damn well what they can do to stop it from happening. They are too careless or lazy to do anything about it. And they are too careless and lazy to go to a "family planning center" to "educate" themselves. So that part is a waste regardless of whether you think the government should be involved or not.

Oh dear, look at that! Everything I say has been proven wrong, and all my opinions rendered impotent! :rolleyes:

If that's all you say, then yes, yes you have.

Originally posted by Karankawa
"Family planning centers".....I quote that because that is such a ridiculus name...it's an oxymoron, is it not? I mean, aren't they more about how to stop from having a family?

No, they are about having a family because you "planned" it, not because you had one accidentally.

Could you just explain to me why the government should be paying for people to not have babies?

Simple. It's a lot cheaper than having to help support children that people are not prepared to have.

I think everyone that gets pregnant knows damn well what they can do to stop it from happening.

Oh? Where did these people magically get this information? It certainly wouldn't be taught in the "abstinence only" sex education classes favored by the right wing today.