I have a few friends who are not all that eager to see Planned Parenthood defunded. I’m not sure why they think like they do. They are confessing Christians, so it is hard for me to understand. I can only guess as to why.
But I do have a question for them.
What would it take for you to want Planned Parenthood defunded?
How many hours of unedited video? How many videos of intact dead babies? How many times would you have to hear someone exclaim, “Another boy!” before you thought about defunding Planned Parenthood was a good idea? How many times would you have to hear the cold statement, “it’s all just a matter of line items?”
What would you have to see or know?
Echoes and Stars 
I have no real love for planned parenthood. But I do think their non-abortion services are still needed. Many of the areas really are medically underserved.
And I think that some of this is about politics not real issues. For instance, Jindal canceled planned parenthood’s state contracts but planned parenthood has never done abortions in Louisiana. So who is going to do the work that they are doing?
I am honestly fine with defunding planned parenthood. But we need prolife groups to step up and provide real medical services to underserved communities and not use this as an excuse to shrink government.
Adam,
What does Planned Parenthood provide that the Community Health Centers don’t? There are 10x more of them and they don’t perform abortions.
Yes there are many places where there is overlap and the loss of planned parenthood would not make a big difference. But there are many places where there are not sufficient medical services. Virtually no community health center has extra capacity.
So as I said, I think it is fine for defunding if the finding is replaced and there are replacement services. Continually research says income is the biggest driving factor for abortion. Low cost services are essential to prevent pregnancy from beginning in the first place.
Adam,
Do you how much of those other services are part of what they do? But let’s think about the logic of what you are saying. I only think we should stop funding what we are seeing on those videos IF everything else gets sorted out.
I’m not with you on that. At all. Sometimes you have to stop an evil and then figure out the solution.
But I don’t even think that’s necessary. Send the money to the Community Health Centers which are doing a better job of everything by every measurement (reach and numbers, etc.) and yet not performing abortions, then diving them out and selling the parts piece meal.
90% of the women that go to Planned Parenthood do not get an abortion. Of course I think it is horrible that 10% do.
I agree the 3% number that is thrown around is ridiculous. But I have seen some good looks at that that say that about 88% of visits are not either for an abortion or in preparation for an abortion. So roughly 3 million visits a year are for non-abortion related services.
I am all for community health centers stepping up and taking over the work. But much of the talk I hear is about getting rid of the government funding for family planning and sex education all together.
I am sure that the equivalent money would be better spent and reach more people if it was managed by community health centers. But we need more of them, not less. A friend of mine runs one near me. They are way underfunded and people come all over the county to get services because even in this fairly well off community, there is just not enough resources to see all that need them.
Are you saying we make sure everyone has access to these other services before we shift money from PP to the Community Health Centers?
I am saying that not many that are speaking of defunding are also explicitly saying that we need to move the funds to other locations. And that many of the areas that are most in need of services are those areas that refused to expand Medicaid. So I don’t have any real faith that defunding planned parenthood will result in any less abortions.
I don’t think there has to be prior replacement before defunding. But there should be a prior commitment.
Maybe many are not. But many are. Since that’s what was voted on a few days ago in Congress.
So you would require a commitment for those funds to go somewhere before defunding?
Also, I’m not buying that 90% of women who visit PP don’t get an abortion. Maybe 90% of visits. Or 90% of services. Of course many services are precursors to the abortion. I’m not saying I don’t believe you. I don’t believe them. They continually lie and deceive about what they do and how much they do.
They are called Planned Parenthood and by their own admission 95% of their “pregnancy services” are abortions.
I am not convinced that we need Planned Parenthood for anything. I was a public health nurse in inner cities as well as spending two years working for the Navajo Tribe. There are many services and outreaches to underserved areas via the Public Health services and other government agencies.
I think what is needed is to identify the areas that do not have any access to health care before we say PP is needed. I bet that there are not many.