Why is it so difficult to Understand the Motivations that Drive some of the Decisions Made by Certain Public Officials? Sometimes it appears that Opinions on Particular Issues:
- ARE COMPLETELY MOTIVATED BY SELF-INTEREST.
- REFLECT IRRATIONAL PREJUDICES AND HATREDS.
- WANT TO CREATE AND ESTABLISH A RELIGIOUS OR THEOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT, BINDING ON ALL AMERICANS.
THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE ATTEMPT TO ELIMINATE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE TO TEST THE REAL MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THOSE WHO EITHER SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, OR WISH TO END IT.
PART 1.- A PRACTICAL APPROACH.
Here is a RATIONAL STEP-BY-STEP WAY TO EVALUATE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AS IT IS ADMINISTERED BY GOVERNMENT.
Examine and Analyze the Mission Statement.
Why was it Created?
What was the Reasoning that led to it Being
Started?
What Problems was it Meant to Address?
Was it a Moral Decision, Practical Decision, or Both,
that led to it becoming a Government Program?
Administrating the Program.
What are its Goals or Objectives?
Do They Mirror its Mission Statement?
Are These Goals Best Served by
a Government Program?
How does the Funding Accomplish
These Goals?
Continuing the Program.
Has it been Effective in Accomplishing ALL, SOME,
OR NONE of its Objectives?
Should the Budget be Increased, Decreased or the
Program Eliminated Altogether? Under what Set of
Guidelines should we consider ALL OR PART OF
THE PROGRAM A SUCCESS?
What are the Consequences of Keeping or Eliminating
all or part of the Program?
THESE POINTS MUST ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
- If the GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM
ARE CONSIDERED MORALLY "GOOD", HOW WOULD THEY
BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE PROGRAMS EXISTENCE?
- IS DESTROYING A PROGRAM IN ITS ENTIRETY,
THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH ANY PROBLEMS
IT HAS IN BEING ADMINISTERED?
IN ADDITION,
IF THERE ARE ACCUSATIONS BEING LEVELED AGAINST
THOSE RUNNING THE PROGRAM FOR VIOLATIONS OF
CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAW, WHY SHOULD ANY NEGATIVE
ACTION BE TAKEN UNTIL THE TRUTH OF THESE ASSERTIONS
IS PROPERLY INVESTIGATED?
...TO BE CONTINUED.
DESTROYING PLANNED PARENTHOOD- A DESPERATE ACT BY
THOSE WHO DON'T CARE? PART 2.
What is exactly at the Heart of this sudden Desire to Eliminate PLANNED PARENTHOOD?
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
- THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
- SAME- SEX MARRIAGE.
- RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.
What do They all Have in Common?
Yes, They are Deeply Divisive Issues that Cause a Great of Dissension Among
Individual Politicians, Political Parties, and the Electorate.
In Fact, During the past few years in the U.S., You could Argue that these have been the Most Relevant Topics, when Discussing the Outcome of Recent Elections. However, They can give us a Window into the Mindset of Certain Segments of Society, and Those who Represent Them in the Halls of Congress.
THESE THREE ISSUES ARE EXAMPLES OF GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS ATTEMPTING TO GAIN LEGAL ACCESS TO SOCIAL AND MONETARY OPPORTUNITIES, OR HEALTHCARE SAFEGUARDS, THAT OTHERS ALREADY HAVE.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT- TO AID AMERICANS WHO ARE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE DUE TO COST, BY SUBSIDIZING OR OFFERING HEALTH CARE PLANS AT RATES THAT WOULD NOT CREATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THIS WOULD BRING THEM IN LINE WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS WHO DO RECEIVE MEDICAL SUBSIDIES EITHER THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY, LOW INCOME, OR AGE.
SAME- SEX MARRIAGE- COUPLES WHO CAN NOW ENTER INTO A LEGAL CIVIL MARRIAGE, WHICH NOW GRANTS THEM EQUAL STATUS BEFORE THE LAW. THIS ENTITLES THEM TO BE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THEIR HETEROSEXUAL COUNTERPARTS.
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE- A MOVEMENT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE ACROSS THE NATION, WHICH WOULD ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS OF POVERTY BY BRINGING FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT PAY SCALES IN LINE WITH THE COST OF LIVING INDEX. MANY UNION AND CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES ALREADY HAVE MANDATORY INCREASES IN PAY, SO THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE GOAL.
So what do the Above Issues have in common with PLANNED PARENTHOOD?
PLANNED PARENTHOOD- IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE AFFILIATES OPERATE HEALTH CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THEY ARE RUN, PRIMARILY, FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUNG AMERICANS AND/OR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, SO THEY CAN RECEIVE PROPER REPRODUCTIVE MEDICAL CARE.
THIS INCLUDES:
- CONTRACEPTIVES, BIRTH CONTROL, AND
ABORTION SERVICES.
- PREGNANCY AND PRENATAL CARE.
- STD TESTING AND TREATMENT.
- CANCER RELATED SCREENINGS
AND DIAGNOSIS.
...AMONG OTHER PATIENT SERVICES.
SO WHAT DO...
- PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
- THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
- SAME- SEX MARRIAGE.
- RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.
ALL HAVE IN COMMON?
THEIR EXISTENCE IS AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY OR CREATE PROGRAMS ADDRESSING FINANCIAL, MEDICAL, AND SOCIAL INADEQUACIES AND/OR INEQUALITIES IN THE U.S., ALLOWING ALL AMERICANS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO;
1) WORK FULL TIME, AND RECEIVE WAGES THAT TAKE THEM OUT OF POVERTY.
2) THE ABILITY TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE, WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO ECONOMIC CRIPPLING COSTS IN MEDICAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS, OR THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE AFFORDABLE AND PRIVATE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
3) A LAW RECOGNIZING THAT ALL MENTALLY COMPETENT CONSENTING ADULTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE LEGALLY MARRIED TO THE PERSON OF THEIR CHOICE.
THE ABOVE ARE NOT EXAMPLES OF CREATING SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR A CHOSEN SEGMENT OF SOCIETY, BUT RECOGNIZING THAT CERTAIN BASIC SAFEGUARDS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE SOMETHING THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD EXPECT, THAT WILL ALLOW EVERYONE A CHANCE TO LIVE A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE.
Yet, Time and Time Again, the TEA PARTY ACTIVISTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, (AMONG OTHERS), HAVE TRIED TO DISMANTLE, DESTROY, OR PREVENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH PROGRAMS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING FOR TAX CUTS THAT BENEFIT THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS. THIS IS DONE, WHILE DEMANDING THAT ALL AMERICANS ACCEPT SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS GUIDELINES IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM.
IT SEEMS THEY ARE SET ON KEEPING THE UNITED STATES A COUNTRY OF THE "HAVES AND HAVE NOTS", OR THE "PRIVILEGED CLASS VS THE FACELESS MASSES."
Yeah, they're LOOKING OUT FOR ALL OF US...
