The election of a new president has seemingly helped to usher in a very challenging era here in America, one that will be lived through under direction of an agenda that appears desperately concentrated on restoring control of every facet of life back into the hands of the people who govern us. Everything from education to healthcare is set to undergo massive changes, and this has middle and lower class Americans somewhat nervous, largely because they have no reassurance that President Trump and his Cabinet’s policies will not dig them back into the social and economic turbulence that predated President Obama’s two terms in Washington. Perhaps the biggest concern for citizens is what Trump has planned for healthcare. Here, specifically, the nation’s government finds itself at a crossroads, and as mentioned before, the Trump agenda is already doctoring away on what it feels is a failed attempt to accommodate the needs of the American people.
However, Trump is undoubtedly working backwards, if what he considers himself doing to Planned Parenthood is supposed to be a step up from Obamacare. In fact, what he is doing is limiting women and children from receiving some of the most imperative healthcare services out there. Policed Parenthood is what I would call this, because doing away with some of the most invaluable parts of a program necessary to pregnant or non-pregnant women essentially means that our active government believes that its own decrees usurp the consent of those who have the potential to be mothers, no matter the damage or danger the child could present to her. Needless to say, I understand the pro-life/pro-abortion argument that surrounds Planned Parenthood; I myself, do not believe in abortion, but I also believe that the choice to not have the child, for whatever reason the mother deems necessary, should suffice for the men and women in our government. Frankly, the idea that a child conceived by rape, incest, or any other unfavorable circumstance is more important than the woman forced to bear the child is ludicrous.
What is ironic is that for all the attention that the pro-life argument brings to Planned Parenthood, the services regarding that particular facet are not the only ones that will be severed away with the removal of the program. Several others will hit the chopping block alongside it, including cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and prenatal care. As important as these things are, to have them suddenly stripped away will definitely mean consequences for the men and women who will have to go elsewhere for the care they need. What this says to me is that Planned Parenthood in its entirety is a deeper problem for Conservatives than pro-life proponents would admit. There is an economic leverage tied into the ease of access to the services that have been blacklisted. They could make more money if paid for separately of Planned Parenthood, and because they are typically more expensive, this means millions for healthcare providers who traditionally already overcharge middle and lower class families.
The question I would ask amidst all of this is “Why?”. In his haste to make America great again, Donald Trump is deliberately making it worse by complicating the process by which “his” people access the means to live long and healthy lives. And I know there are those out there who will say, “Well those people just need to worker harder to get the money to pay for what they need,” or “They can find other alternatives,” but those same individuals need ask themselves if they really believe that the large majority of Americans who access Planned Parenthood services would rather not have the money to meet their own needs, as opposed to relying on the government to help them be able to attain them. Contrary to popular Conservative belief, many who receive breaks like those given by Planned Parenthood work very hard to support sizeable families, and just cannot find the money to do so. Further than this though, the biggest fear that I have in regards to the risks to Planned Parenthood is, where is the alternative? Because if there is not one, which there hardly ever is, then our government has shown its hand in regards to its priorities pertaining to healthcare: it is not the people who matter, it is policies and premiums.
For starters, under Obama, our national deficit tripled. Our “public” education system has – for many, many years – been in much need of reform; something that the past three Presidents have done little to improve.
And Obamacare is not the “peach” so many think of it as being. For starters, it’s expensive (premiums are not free). Second, government officials don’t always approve coverage for medical services. Third, processing paperwork, etc., for even the simplest of procedures takes a long time, and people have to wait longer than necessary to get the medical attention they need. There are more problems with Obamacare, but I digress.
With regards to Trump and Planned Parenthood, you said: “In fact, what (Trump) is doing is limiting women and children from receiving some of the most imperative healthcare services out there. Policed Parenthood is what I would call this, because doing away with some of the most invaluable parts of a program necessary to pregnant or non-pregnant women ….”
Planned Parenthood “does not” provide healthcare services for children. Planned Parenthood “does not” provide pre-natal care, or medical “check-ups” of any kind. Planned Parenthood does not provide OBGYN services to women. Planned Parenthood does not provide services for STDs. Planned Parenthood does not perform cancer screenings. If you call Planned Parenthood and ask them, you will find that they provide one service, and one service only: Pregnancy termination.
Men and women “already” have to go elsewhere for cancer screening, prenatal care, treatment of STDs, and services for their children. The “only” procedure that “no other” medical facility will provide, that “only” Planned Parenthood provides, is the termination of a pregnancy.
Planned Parenthood (and liberals across the country) promotes a woman’s decision to have an abortion with the motto: “My Body, My Choice”
What about the voice of the unborn child? What about a motto for that child which reads: “My Body, but Not Given A Choice”?
For those with sizable families, who cannot afford the cost of raising a child, there are other options: 1.) Put the child up for adoption; 2.) Take on another job (and be responsible); 3.) Be responsible with your sex life, and take the necessary precautions that prevent a pregnancy from occurring.
The one issue I will agree with, is the fact that making abortions illegal will not stop unwanted pregnancies, and abortions. Those intent on aborting their child, will continue to do so, only now they will do so in the environment of a black market, in someone’s basement, by non-qualified “physicians”, putting the life of that woman at risk – and at a steep street-corner price.
Tywarrenollie,
I have to say you did make some good points in Planned Parenthood and what they do. Pres. trump has definitely been making some serious shake-ups and we still a long way to go. Based on what the other comment stated, I went to the Planned Parenthood site here in Memphis and you are correct with some of their services; unlike what the other person stated.
I do understand that their main task is abortions, but they do other things that help those in middle/lower class. I also believe there is a report going around stating that many of the people who voted for Trump are not in favor of his plan to eliminate or alter the Affordable Care Act. I thought to myself, I guess they still need it but do not want their peers to know it. I do think it should be altered, but the main part for me is not denying insurance to those who had per-existing conditions.
I do like the tax credit help it provides, but even then for quality insurance, people still cannot afford the premiums, co-pays, etc. and the surprise bills that come later.
To Hbyod101,
Many people do have responsibility for their sex lives and not everyone can work multiple jobs. Even I know people who have 1-2 children, 2 parents in the home and 1 works 2 job and can still make ends-meet. Do not be so quick to blame the parent(s). Situations, emotions and mental/health state change. No birth control is 100% fool proof. I can agree with the adoption opinion, but that can be a legal nightmare too.
Healthcare is becoming as expensive as buying a car or college tuition. What they should do is figure out how other countries (or at least the ones Trump has not p-ed off yet) have successful economies with free healthcare and education. How the cost of these are going up but the quality return is not just on Obama; it has been slowly going in that direction for years before him. He did do some great things in that area because I think of how many lives are saved from this “forced healthcare” vs the many people who had gotten too ill to “take on another job” or let alone be able to work 1 job while fighting something like cancer.
Tywarren,
I totally agree with what you are saying. Especially about the POTUS, Donald Trump, is going backwards in his plan about healthcare. All the systems that he is setting into place are sending the the government and even the economy backwards. Also, the way he is making women have kids out of incest, rape, etc.. This is not right in any shape or form. This is basically a way to have control over women without having direct control over them.
All in all,I agree with your entire post.
You made so very valid points about planned parenthood which i agree with. I think that a women should have to right to her body and honestly even if trump does take away planned parenthood it would not matter women will find a way to get an abortion no matter what. So we are going to put young women in danger to make them go to the extreme and get an abortion illegally.