Let's Wrap It Up

Planned Parenthood.  A federally-funded organization that provides reproductive healthcare to those who normally would not be able to afford it.  An organization that founded itself in the early 1900’s by birth control activist Margret Sanger. 

I have given you the history of Planned Parenthood, as well as the services it provides.  I have gone in depth about certain services such as abortion, and I have even discussed where Planned Parenthood gets its money from.

With all of this information readily available, I ask you to make an informed decision on whether you choose to support Planned Parenthood or not.

I have tried to keep my opinion about the organization out of the way (although I do apologize since it may have slipped out in my writing) – but now, in my last post, I will share with you what I think.

I am pro Planned Parenthood.  I believe the organization does a lot of good for society, and should continue to be funded by the government. 

Now you’re opinion might be different from mine, and that is completely ok.  My goal was not to sway you guys into thinking the same way as me (I already turned in my persuasive essay), my goal was to inform you.

Inform you on the history of Planned Parenthood.  I discussed with you Margret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, or what was originally known as National Birth Control League.  I talked about how she fought the Comstock laws, laws that prevented the spread of knowledge about birth control, and created an organization that not only would provide free birth control, but lots of other reproductive services. (x)

Inform you on the different types of services provided by Planned Parenthood.  These are things such as STD testing/treatment, contraception, cancer screenings and prevention, abortions, and other women’s health services. (x)

Inform you in detail on certain things such as abortion.  Abortion, as I stated before, is the early termination of a pregnancy so that the child being developed is not born. (x) It also makes up only 3% of the services provided by Planned Parenthood. 

And finally, inform you on the funding of Planned Parenthood.  I discussed where Planned Parenthood gets its money from (a large portion of it comes from the government) and what they do with the money they get.

Planned Parenthood has been a long standing organization since its official founding in 1932.  It has gone through many trials and tribulations, and has (so far) withstood the heat of those who wish to defund it.

What does the future hold for Planned Parenthood?

The presidential election is quickly approaching, and each presidential candidate has a different view on Planned Parenthood.

Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton, the two democratic nominees for the 2016 presidential election, both support Planned Parenthood.  The democratic party has a long standing tradition of supporting the organization, since it believes women should have access to free reproductive healthcare.

Ted Cruz, a candidate for the Republican party of the 2016 election, is against the funding of Planned Parenthood.  He is pro-life (someone who is against the practice of abortions) and believes we as Americans are spending too much on Planned Parenthood. (x)

Donald Trump, another candidate for the Republican party of the 2016 election, is also against the funding of Planned Parenthood.  He has stated that if he becomes president, he will not only defund Planned Parenthood, but overturn Roe vs Wade, the supreme court case that took place in 1973 that made abortions legal.

So there you have it.  As I finish my final post for this blog, I hope I have educated you on the true nature of Planned Parenthood, so you can make your own decision on whether you support the organization or not. 

Let's Talk Funding

Planned Parenthood’s mission is to provide free reproductive healthcare to those individuals who otherwise would not be able to afford normal health services.  They are one of the nation’s top healthcare providers, and have been since they began their work in in the early 1900s.  And with Planned Parenthood being such a large national organization, you must think to yourself, how can they afford to provide these services?

And no, unfortunately, it is not through donations (at least not most of it is).

Planned Parenthood is a federally funded organization.  They have received funding from the government since 1970, when president Nixon signed into law the “Family Planning Services and Population Research Act”, or better known as “Title X”.  (x) The purpose of this act was specifically designed to provide poor and/or lower income families with access to free healthcare.

At the time, Title X had the support of both the Democratic and Republican party.  Now, however, we start to see the Republican party go against Planned Parenthood – mostly over the issue of abortion, which I discussed in my last post. 

Planned Parenthood receives half a billion dollars each year from the government.  This money is provided through two specific government programs: Medicaid and Title X.  (x) Medicaid is a social health care program, again provided health services to those who would otherwise not be able to afford it.  In 2014, 65 million people were on Medicaid, which is a large portion of our nation. 

Although most of Planned Parenthood’s money is received from the federal government, a portion of what they earn comes out of state funds.  Title X is a federal program, however Medcaid operates through federal and state funds. 

In 2015, Jed Bush, a politician who served as the governor of Florida, made a jab at Planned Parenthood saying they’re “not actually doing women’s health issues”.   He also stated he’s “not sure we need half a billion dollars for women’s health issues.” (x)

He’s not the only one.  Many people, politicians and average citizens alike, wish to defund Planned Parenthood. 

As I stated before, this is mainly due to the issue of abortions.  While they only cover 3 percent of the services provided by Planned Parenthood, some people believe abortions are morally wrong, therefore wish to see any organization that provides them eradicated.  According to the law, Title X is actually not allowed to fund abortions.  However, Medicaid on the other hand is.

There was actually a scandal last year claiming that Planned Parenthood was improperly disposing of fetal tissue and selling baby parts.  While the organization denied the allegations, it still sparked controversy that called for the defunding of Planned Parenthood. (x)

Bills have set out in the past to try and defund the organization.  However, none of them actually passed.

According to Planned Parenthood themselves, 67% of their funding goes toward “medical services”.  16% goes toward “non medical services”, 10% goes toward “management and general support”, and 5% goes toward “fundraising”. (x)

And as far as how and where they get their money, 45% of it comes from the government.  25% of it comes from non-government affiliated health services, 26% of it comes from private contributions (so I guess more than a quarter of it does come through donations), and then 4% is just listed as other. (x) 

What would happen if we were to defund Planned Parenthood?  In actuality, the money probably just go another organization providing women's health care.

In my next post, I will wrap up all things Planned Parenthood.  I will go over it's history, the services it provides -- in hopes for you to better understand what the organization is about and be able to make an educated decision on whether you support it or not.