Politics, Birth Control, and Zero Productivity



Ben was a smart, hip guy, and probably
would have invented birth control if he
had the technology.

Ben Franklin once said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  We’ve all heard the saying a thousand times, but have we really taken the time to think about it?  I don’t think most of us have to ponder it too deeply, as it just becomes a part of our daily routines.

We are all aware of the dangers of food poisoning, so we take simple precautions to cook our food properly and sanitize our hands and surfaces. Those simple measures can help eliminate some pretty serious illnesses, and who wouldn't want that? We live in an increasingly health conscious society that has a greater understanding of the need to cut back on sugar, fatty foods, cigarettes, and alcohol. Why? Because it makes our lives easier in the long term.  It’s so obvious that it hardly requires much thought.

Here in New York State, we are fortunate enough to have lawmakers who understand that Planned Parenthood provides an important service to society. Here at UHPP, about 90% of services provided at our health centers are preventative. That means women and men are coming to receive STI testing and treatment, birth control, cancer screenings, and other preventative care. Because UHPP operates on a sliding fee scale, many of the women who visit our health centers use UHPP as their primary care provider, when they would otherwise be unable to receive service.

Earlier this year in Arizona and Indiana, legislators passed laws that banned Planned Parenthood health centers from receiving Medicaid funding. This meant that millions of low-income women could not receive the health and reproductive care that they needed. Fortunately, judges in BOTH states struck down the laws, stating; "A state may not restrict a beneficiary's right to select any qualified provider for reasons wholly unrelated to the provider's ability to deliver Medicaid services." This is wonderful news for the women and families of Arizona and Indiana, but it is just another example of lawmakers trying to take down Planned Parenthood Centers around the U.S. 

Now here's where I get cranky. Many lawmakers are anti-choice. We know this, and it comes as no surprise. But if they are trying to stop abortions from occurring, why do they ceaselessly attempt to eliminate funding from an organization that works tirelessly to prevent them? What do they think will happen when women can no longer go to a Planned Parenthood to get low-cost or free birth control pills, condoms, or an IUD? 

Studies have shown that a greater investment in public health substantially reduces health care costs in communities. So why? Is it because Planned Parenthood also performs abortions?  Well, yes, they do, and will continue to fight for women to have that right. But do some lawmakers think that taking away the ability to dispense birth control will somehow, miraculously, lower the abortion rates? No. Studies—and common sense—show the very opposite to be true. So why? Is it simply because they hate us?

There are theories, many not productive, whirling about in my head right now. Sometimes I want to bang my head into a wall because I can't make sense of it. Often, when I'm reading the news, I have to resist the urge to start hollering at my laptop in public. But instead, I take a few deep breaths, and soldier on. New York may not be perfect, but at least here we are safe from these unscrupulous attacks.  For now.