Hellobee Boards

I feel like this is one of those topics that no matter how much debate/discussion/ect. no one will ever switch their mind, everyone has their opinion and usually feel strongly about it.

With that, I'm pro-choice, I strongly believe in my rights as a women and my right to choose. I also think that if they ban abortions it's going to have the same problems they had 40 years ago. Unsanitary and illegal abortions will still take place, putting women's lives at risk because they feel there is no other way out but to find someone on the internet or medicine on the internet to illegally terminate their pregnancy. The scarier thing about today's day is that the internet make things so readily available, they didn't have this 70 years ago.

If I were a Republican - even an anti-choice one - I would be disgusted by my party. The GOP endlessly wastes time and resources attempting to restrict women's reproductive rights while the U.S. continues to fall behind on so many metrics (childhood poverty, education, and health care, to name a few).

The majority of the money from the fed gov to PP comes through Medicaid payments. Those are billed individually, just like they would be to an insurance company. So if someone comes in for a Pap smear, Medicaid (i.e. the federal government) gets billed for the Pap smear. If someone comes in for an abortion and their insurance does not cover it (Medicaid does not) then they pay cash.

Because Medicaid's agreed-upon reimbursement rates are so low, a lot of the private donations and grants offset those costs or help pay for uninsured patients.

Many people believe it's one big pot so the money is fungible, but it's not because PP bills for individual services just like any other medical provider.

Abortions (a non-discriminatory, elective medical procedure) is not a good reason to shutdown the government.

I can't stand it. I can't even stand the "but the money doesn't go to abortions!" Because that just makes the pro choice side seem like they -are- guilty about providing abortions, which I don't think we should be! It's a necessary health service, in my opinion.

I also work for the Fed government and this shutdown ish is getting old. I wish the shutdown would actually shut down everything including "essential" services like the FAA. Because then for real, they would avoid it and agree to a budget and do their freakin jobs.

@Truth Bombs: Similarly, I've read a few good articles about how defunding planned parenthood will lead to so many more unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Things will just snowball from there, I'm sure. I can see a push for more abstinence only education and we will go back in time rather than moving forward with reproductive health and rights.

@TrailRunner: @Mrs. Tiger: Same here, also a government employee. I will be so angry if there is another shut down, esp over this!

I also don't like the line that only 3% of PP funds go toward abortions. Even if 100% did, abortions are legal and they aren't doing anything wrong. In fact, I don't really get why federal funds can't go toward abortions.

For those who are pro life, I get the thinking and applaud them for standing up for what they believe in, even if I disagree. However, I think the "fight" they should be focused on is changing what is legal in the U.S., not defunding Planned Parenthood. Even if they are successful at that, It won't change the fact that abortions are legal. And as the law stands, there is no basis to argue for defunding PP.

I thought this about those who oppose gay marriage as well. To me, there is no reason other than a religious one to oppose gay marriage. So if that's what they want to base their opposition on, they should try to get rid of separation of church and state first. As it stands with separation of church and state, there is no basis not to allow gay marriage.

Always seems to me like conservatives are putting the cart before the horse.

@Mrs Panda: Well I just think, too, that how can I truly call myself pro life if I am not concerned about a person's health and life however old they may be. I think most conservatives also drop the ball by forgetting that upholding the dignity and value of each and every life shouldn't just end once they are born.

I think it's an empty gesture and it's aggravating that my tax dollars are paying their salaries (and that they are basing it on videos that have been proven heavily edited, just like all of his videos). If they really want to reduce abortion rates they should be voting to give PP more funding, since they provide services that can *actually* help reduce them, like birth control. And they should stop demonizing integral social services (and the people who need them) that might make women with unplanned pregnancies more willing to consider them.

@coopsmama: While I don't agree with your stance on abortion, I just wanted to pop in and say how refreshing it is to read this perspective...it seems like there are an awful lot of "pro-life" advocates who simultaneously want to insist women carrying unwanted children to term (or maybe even wanted, but unable to provide for), but simultaneously want to slash or eliminate the social services net that would make it easier to give those children a shot at a decent life. I don't consider them pro-life at all, I consider them pro-birth. You, and @DesertDreams88: , seem to actually *be* pro-life.

Just my two cents.

@coopsmama: Agreed. Also wish abortion was illegal.

@shortcake: agree, I don't really see how those are compatible, especially when this has become a big topic for the. Candidates. I probably lean more republican than democrat on some things but would never vote for one simply because of the republican position on abortion and gay marriage. Sadly that only really leaves me with a democrat--I hate the two party system we have.

@lovehoneybee: Yes. I know many people who are "pro-birth" like you say and then forget the piece of what will happen to a child down the road. And it's heartbreaking. Honestly, I have several friends who are foster parents and my own husband is a CASA worker and I think having their perspectives has been so vital into my realizing that not all social programs are as bad as some conservatives might have you believe! If anything, my stance on abortion is directly due to my faith and NOT just because I want to deny someone a right, but as a Christian, I can't reconcile my beliefs completely -- Christ would definitely not be pro abortion but he certainly would not be about slashing programs that help those who desperately need it. It's a tough place to be politically and I agree with @hilsy85: that a two party system makes it impossible to actually completely vote your conscience.

@Mrs Green Grass: Thought you'd enjoy this video of Elizabeth Warren if you haven't already seen it: http://on.fb.me/1NDqUXD

"The Republican plan to defund Planned Parenthood is a Republican plan to defund women's healthcare." YUP.