I completely agree- I think Jackie Speer's most powerful point was that our country has much more pressing issues to take care of. Having personally experienced an abortion, she was able to separate the emotions that are commonly projected onto the issue of abortion from several, often unrelated, viewpoints. Her argument about how a corporation such as Haliburton could just as easily be attacked revealed where the issue against Planned Parenthood truly stands- politics.

Abortion

Wow. I am so looking forward to the discussion tonight. These videos especially were very emotional, and certainly caused me to re-evaluate my opinions regarding abortion. I think that the strongest point, however, in the second video was how absolutely this disagreement needs to be overcome and we need to move on. This is an issue that will forever be controversial, but perhaps at this time other issues need to be on the front burners. How do these people who are so opposed to abortion feel about the distribution of birth control? Condoms? It would be interesting to hear a more detailed debate between the two sides, which is what I'm assuming will take place in class tonight. Looking forward to it.

These videos just continue to frustrate me about path of politics since last year.

Regardless of the fact that contraception and abortion have been declared as legal and protected under our Constitution, people continue to try to pass laws to go around it.

It astounds me that the "moral" agenda of the people who are trying to remove funding from Planned Parenthood can still be a viable political option even though it's essentially illegal.

No one is a "supporter" of abortions. Everyone wishes that the need for abortions would be eliminated, but the simple fact is that things happen, and we need to have backup options. Other people shouldn't have the right to determine whether that is right or wrong.

While the ongoing debate about abortion has been raging for decades, I didn't realize how much political interests factored in the matter. However, I also felt that Rep. Speier's speech was justified. She spoke as a woman of experience, not someone just entangled in a political tug-of-war, in arguing that Planned Parenthood has a right to operate, and a right to provide services and offer abortions. I'm not sure if this was brought up, but Planned Parenthood serves a much larger role than just provide abortions. It also serves to test and treat to sexually transmitted diseases, and provides cancer screening, prevention, and contraceptive services as well. It seems that the anti-abortion groups overlook all this in labeling the organization for its abortion services.

I thought it was really ridiculous to try to restrict funding for Planned Parenthood over abortions, especially since abortions are a tiny part of their activities. As has been said many times before, politicians should seriously try to do things that are a little bit more significant and major an issue. How much further can the debate over abortions and pro-choice be taken anyways.

Even in the event that this debate over abortions continue, I think that opposition should be sensitive to what they are actually saying. It is very inconsiderate and in some ways cruel for people to talk about abortions as if women who made those choices made them lightly, and then to continuously focus on the emotionally negative imaged related to it. Some women genuinely did not have a choice, and most probably suffered a lot more than such speeches would suggest.

Videos and Summary Article

I'm really glad we will be addressing this debate in class since it has been such an important topic lately. I was moved by Speir's speech and it reminded me of what we discussed in class last week, of how abortion is not a decision which women take lightly. I thought she presented that point very well and I was also reminded of our talk on whether or not this debate is a waste of time when so much more is happening in our country. It seems like the debate between "prochoice" and "prolife" will never end but I'm not sure how much farther it can be taken. I think the one of the underlying points is that people should be able to use their insurance for what is needed in their specific circumstance and their privacy should be respected.

Reading Week 7

I am firmly against the Pence amendment, and I thought that Rep Jackie Speier really "pwnd" the opposition. The excerpt read from the book was the worst example of "yellow journalism." Speier also makes a good point that abortion is legal here! So like it or not, government funding should support it simply becuase it is the law. I am disappointed that the House has, in fact, voted to restrict funding (I think). The amendment completely misses the big picture: only 3% of clients receive abortions, so the government is restricting funds to the other 97%. That makes a lot of sense. Additionally, becuase Planned Parenthood also offers contraceptives and testing, the amendment could be said to be increasing the number of abortions demanded and reduce the healthy sex practices that we have worked so hard to instill in people. It is frustrating how short-sighted these opponents of Planned Parenthood seem to be.

First of all I don't agree that the bill is of the "highest priority", I agree with congresswoman Speier that this is hardly what is on most people's minds as they search for jobs. The fact is abortion is not bad for women's health and that abortion procedures only account for 3% of Planned Parenthoods services. Planned Parenthood is the primary healthcare provider for many women (as well as men and families) and should not be under attack when the organization alone makes up so little of our budget. From what I can tell the argument for the bill is just political and doesn't really lead us anywhere. Also a recent Daily Show episode addresses this topic really well.

Week 8

I noticed that there would be tax penalty on employers who offer health insurance plans that cover abortion and individuals who buy a health insurance plan of their own that covres abortion. I'm confused here. Will parenthood have both cut of funding and tax penalty? The debate on funding cut involves so many political reasons. I feel that every political organizations wants to maxmize its own benefit on this debate. I mean even though they say they're concerned with women health, they are more concerned about what kind of benefits they can get from the cut of the funding.Abortion has been legal throughout the United States, but different states have placed varying regulations on it, from requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion to restricting late-term abortions. It seems that people who want to cut the funding focus on that abortion was “a multibillion dollar business” and that “abortion hurts women’s health and puts future children born to women who aborted at significant risk.” However, Planned Parenthood fought back by claiming that there were lies about who they are and what they do. Planned Parenthood insisted that they provided reproductive healthcare, family planning, and sex education for millions by giving its 2009 annual report. It mentions that 3% received abortion services. This does not count a huge percentage. It seems that their idea is that Parenthood should still get federal funding by pointing out their importance on reproductice healthcare.

What I found most surprising in this chapter entitled “Sick and Tired” was the prevalence of double standards. Professional women had more flexibility and support, while working-class women were facing the opposite trend of access to resources. Also, I thought it was interesting what the advent of the pill meant. For instance, it led to increased female college graduation, increased female professional school matriculation rates, and increased age at first marriage rates. The lack of maternal care benefits in private plans is a problem that needs to be addressed as it can have huge implications. Evidence supporting the need for maternal benefits includes the fact that maternity leave before delivery can reduce Caesarean section rates fourfold and extended leave after childbirth can increase the successful establishment of breastfeeding.