Contraception crisis .. I just don't get it!

Contraception wasn't legal in this country in all 50 states until 1965 (and then only for married women).  This is a battle I thought we'd already won.  Until this year.


So let's look at this "controversy" in a rational, logical manner, shall we?  The whole flap over contraception is linked to abortion, no doubt about it.   Now, I don't know anyone - not one person - who likes the idea of abortion.  So, what do we do about it? We sure as heck don't limit a woman's access to contraception because that makes NO sense whatsoever!


What leads to abortion?  1) unwanted/unplanned pregnancies or 2) medical necessity


We can't do much about abortions that are needed for medical reasons (and there are quite a few of those reasons, by the way).  But we CAN do a lot about unwanted/unplanned pregnancies. We can make contraception available and affordable!


Contraception >>> fewer unplanned/unwanted pregnancies >>> fewer abortions.


Really ... come on ... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to grasp this concept (unless you happen to be a Republican Congressman, Senator or state lawmaker).  Somehow these GOP legislators don't get it: provide contraception and the incidence of abortion will go down.  Perhaps they should read the results of this worldwide study:


Study Findings - Read it here


In 2010, Planned Parenthood provided 3,685,437 people with contraceptive services.  This includes birth control pills and devices, female sterilization procedures, vasectomies, and emergency contraception kits.  This amounts to 33.5% of the services Planned Parenthood provides ... over a third of the entire program!  Yet Republicans have voted in several states to strip Planned Parenthood funding because some facilities provide abortion services (that's just 3% of the entire program).


Planned Parenthood Annual Report


GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich all say they will gut Planned Parenthood if they end up in the Oval Office.


Wow!  What a way to cut off your nose to spite your face!  Take away the very thing that can reduce abortion!  


My message to the Republicans:  You can't have it both ways!  You cannot reduce the incidence of abortion by denying accessible, affordable contraception!  If a woman has any religious or moral objection to birth control, nobody will force her to use it.  But if a woman wants it - or needs it - no state or federal lawmaker should get in the way.


Maybe the only way to get this message across is to deny Republicans any votes this November ... just like they want to deny women access to birth control.