The right to choose.

MedicineNet

Now the House has passed anti-abortion legislature. As part of the bill, no federal funding will be allocated for abortion services, including insurance recoups by providers, flex spend account use and other line items that restrict the rights of individual's. If providers cannot get the money for performing the procedures and consumers cannot use funds set aside for medical use, then chances are the abortions will not happen, but then what? "Republicans argued that the measure merely reflects the public's will." (Hennessey, Chicago Tribune) Whose will? What public? I am part of the public, and I do not want to deny women access to decide what they want to do with their own bodies.

According to R. Chris Smith, "There is no doubt whatsoever that ending all public funding for abortion saves lives. When public funding and facilitation isn't available for abortion, children have a greater chance for survival." I can't believe he actually said this. Children have a greater chance for survival? Did he ever consider that those children have yet to be born? Those children are not planned for or wanted in some cases. Does anyone think about the ramifications of stripping women from being able to make this choice?

As a nation, we can barely feed and house who already occupy the country. Removing the right to choose by removing the ability for some to pay for the medical procedure would undoubtedly lead to much larger issues. Haven't we learned from the past? Do we want to return to a time when young girls resorted to secrecy and attempted to rid themselves of fetuses in bathrooms, parks and alleyways? Women in low-income circumstances are forced to keep yet another child whom they cannot possibly care for? The right to choose IS a right--say it any way you like. By cutting funding to programs and facilities where abortions are performed is restricting that choice, and thereby restricting that right.

I am not saying that I personally advocate abortions. Let's be clear. I've blogged about this before. I also feel people should be accountable for their actions, but they should be responsible for that accountability and not the government. Furthermore, I do advocate for the rights of women to choose, the rights of individuals to have the medical resources available to make that choice. It is NOT the job of the government or the conservatives to choose what is right for the individual. It is about the RIGHT and not solely about the act. If the conservatives want to get down to basics, God gave man the right to choose. Who said Man could now come along and take that right away?

Again, I do not know what public Mr. Smith is referring to in particular, but he might want to take another  poll. Once one Right has been taken away without much dissent, then it is only a matter of time before another one will go by the wayside. Do we have any active citizens? Is the country asleep?