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[ms] · Est. May 2002

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Forums / Politics

Birth Control

31 durable postsStarted 2005-02-18Latest 2005-03-08
#10154Post 1 of 31

Ok, so I was thinking about this earlier today for some weird reason. I was high, so that maybe explains a lot, but anyways, Do we have some type of program to give free birth control to lower income families? Possible crackheads. Im not talking about giving condoms either, I mean giving the pills to all the women who dont have medical insurance.

We might already have a program out there like this, but if we dont it would not be a bad idea. Think about it though.... Think how many kids would not have to grow up with a crack head for a father or a mother. If two crackheads dont reproduce then there would be one less crack baby in the world and then a lot of issues would eventually die out on there own like, mother with no money with 6 children, crack babies, possible gang violence because of poor family upbringing and guidance.

Anyways, just wanted to hear what people thought of that...

#363107Post 2 of 31

i would but i have said it b4 and ill say it again.

If you cant feed em, DONT breed em.

no kid should be brought into the world to live a life of misfortune beacsue mommy and daddy couldnt control themsleves.

#363112Post 3 of 31

I'd be will to go a step further... if you applying for welfare (this would only work for women) than you would get the implants in your arm that sterilize you for 5 years. Now for the guys maybe as vasblock (I'm not really familiar with them, I hear they do them more often in Australia).

#363116Post 4 of 31

Re: Birth Control

See I would be in favor of sterilizing people with an EXTENSIVE criminal record and drug problem. That sounds like such a right wing conservative view and it contradicts a lot of my other beliefs that arent nearly as conservative but I see lot of benefits from it happening.

#363211Post 5 of 31

I'd be in support of free condoms. low cost, does what it is supposed to do. It won't stop the blockheads that just keep having kids b/c they're irresponsible, but nothing will. just b/c you give someone pills doesn't mean they will get used...

#363335Post 6 of 31

nop...i donmt agree.....US$20,000 a year? I think money is not an issue to make a decision in that matter

#363347Post 7 of 31

Are people seriously talking about STERILIZING folks against their will?

I grasp that people don't always make the best decisions in the world, but this is the stuff of sci-fi novels. C'mon...

#363415Post 8 of 31

Re: Birth Control

ya seriously guys. do you really hate poor people THAT much?

#363500Post 9 of 31

it seems that people around here likes the easiest solution....hope that was a joke.....well he was stoned..so what the hell.......its not serious i hope...

#363544Post 10 of 31

[quote=Marimba]it seems that people around here likes the easiest solution....hope that was a joke.....well he was stoned..so what the hell.......its not serious i hope...[/quote]

yeah I was stoned but I think I would still be in favor of sterilizing two crackheads that were fucking!

#363597Post 11 of 31

i don't know if birth control should be given out. Ideologically its wrong b/c it costs taxpayers more money and some of those taxpayers don't believe in birth control or supporting its distribution. From a pragmatic point though, it keeps children from being born to deadbeat parents or parent.

Since its such an obvious moral conflict the government shouldn't be involved in it at all and these people should be left to fend for themselves.

#363773Post 12 of 31

[quote=mylexicon]i don't know if birth control should be given out. Ideologically its wrong b/c it costs taxpayers more money and some of those taxpayers don't believe in birth control or supporting its distribution. From a pragmatic point though, it keeps children from being born to deadbeat parents or parent.

Since its such an obvious moral conflict the government shouldn't be involved in it at all and these people should be left to fend for themselves.[/quote]

Thats a very interesting point of view.., Thanks, didnt look at it that way. I wouldnt say I agree to let them fend for themselves, but I think ideally in a "democracy" that would have to be the viewpoint, but do we really live in a "democracy"?

#363880Post 13 of 31

[quote=toasty]Are people seriously talking about STERILIZING folks against their will?

I grasp that people don't always make the best decisions in the world, but this is the stuff of sci-fi novels. C'mon...[/quote]

How is this against their will? If they apply for welfare they are making a choice. Unfortunately I know a couple who is on welfare. We met them through some friends of friends. It looked like they were trying to make it and get off of welfare. We tried to help them in various ways. The male got into a vocational program doing car stuff and the female got a job at a hamburger joint. Couple months go by and the male is kicked out of the program and the female is "laid off" (how many burger joints do you know of that lay people off?).

These people don't give a damn. There is not even any shame in the fact that they are on welfare as they pretty much tell everyone they pass. Needless to say we no longer associate with them.

The really sad part of this is they have 3 kids, who don't even have a mattress to sleep on at night.

I understand not everyone abuses the system, but if companies can choose not to hire you based on you being a smoker, or firing you if you gain weight, I think we should be able to put stipulations on the assistance we offer. After all my mom came to this country with 80 dollars in her pocket and never has my family used welfare as an option.

We have to [b]pay[/b] into unemployment insurance and when we get laid off or fired we are [b]required[/b] to look and apply for other jobs- if you don't and they find out your benifets end. All this on a system you directly paid into.

Edit BTW the methods I mentioned were temporary sterilization solutions.

#364094Post 14 of 31

I completely agree. The problem is, is that this is not a black or white issue. There would have to be much sctutiny as to how the government would be able to carry this out. Regardless of what you think you would have to see that this would save peoples lives, and especially children. Its not fair for a kid to grow up without a matress. Our solution in America should not just be to give people money and let them waste opportunities and spend it however they like.

"Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."

#364189Post 15 of 31

I don't believe the government has any role in discouraging or encouraging people to have or avoid having children. Frankly, that is none of the government's business. Besides it is wholely an American point of view that poverty is a burden no one should bear. Makes sense in our relatively materialistic society. It also makes sense that in a materialistic society we would approve of the government using small amounts of money to save large amounts of money. Either way it will cause problems b/c capitalism is the driving factor. The only true solution is to end transfer payments all together. Allow citizens to set up charitable organizations to teach and feed people. That way the general public can use their money to support the causes they believe in.

The only other alternative is to allow people to pay their welfare tax to a private institution. That way the government can control how much money is being placed into transfer payments. Of course, we all know that wouldn't work because the government doesn't actually spend welfare on promoting welfare.

#364362Post 16 of 31

[quote=mylexicon]I don't believe the government has any role in discouraging or encouraging people to have or avoid having children. Frankly, that is none of the government's business. [/quote]

Agree 100%. Government should have no role in people's procreation decisions whatsoever.

[quote=neoee]How is this against their will? If they apply for welfare they are making a choice. ...

I understand not everyone abuses the system, but if companies can choose not to hire you based on you being a smoker, or firing you if you gain weight, I think we should be able to put stipulations on the assistance we offer. [/quote]

I think you're comparing apples and oranges here -- the difference between the rights given to a private company to exercise some control over who is employed there (within limits) and the limitations the constitution puts upon the government's intrustions into our private lives. Even if people are only sterilized temporarily and it is done only upon applying for welfare, who are we as a country to say, "Sorry, you've lost your baby-making privileges. Get your shit together and try again in 5 years." That's crazy.

#364531Post 17 of 31

^^^Fair enough in regards to private monies vs. government monies. Let's compare apples to apples.

We do put limitations on other government funds. As I stated before we have unemployment insurance, we all put into the fund and if we find ourselves unemployed we draw from it, but we only get money if we are actively searching for a job.

Some schooling grants/funds available (govt. provided) stipulate that you cannot be employed while attending school, for programs that were funded with said dollars.

When government funds are used in private industry (military contracts for weapons, transport equipment etc.), ISO 9001 compliance is required, security standards must be met (for apparent reasons).

What about research grants? Stem cell research is a primary example. Government funds are no longer to be spent on new embryos for embryonic stem cell research. You don't comply, funding is pulled. This may seem like a far parallel to the topic at hand but...

In all these scenerios a program was applied for (or a proposal submitted), much like with welfare assistance. You mention government intrusion, hardly. This was invited when the application was signed.

Its easy to forget where this 'government money' comes from- our tax dollars. If this was a privately funded operation there would be no questions. Let's take the government out of the picture for a sec. No one is forcing me or you to apply for welfare. When a person applies for welfare what they are saying is that I currently have some unfortunate circumstances which prevent me from providing for myself and I need your (tax payer's) financial assistance for a bit. With that said, how do we say its ok for you to pop out another dependant when you can't provide for yourself? If you can't afford your current lifestyle, do you then go out and buy a new car?

I hope I don't come off as insensitive. I do understand we are dealing with people's rights. Typically my views would be labeled "liberal". I do think the government has already taken too many of our rights away, but this isn't something where the government just arbitrarily picks who can and can't have [more] children, you had to apply for the assistance. We (the taxpayers) are 'investing' in the person applying for welfare, with the hopes that they will become productive members of society. Having them pop out another kid seems like a very bad investment to me.

Let's make this even simpler. Forget I said sterilization. Let's just require that a person who is on welfare is not allowed to concieve a child- if they do, we pull their "funding".

On a tangent, I thought I'd leave you with some more abuse of the system. My g/f works at a higher end hair salon. First off, if your on welfare, you shouldn't be here. I recall a time she mentioned to me how this gal was able to spend 70 dollars to have her nails done yet was on welfare. To be honest, I've got more respect for the some of the panhandlers in downtown than I do for these leeches. :x

#364551Post 18 of 31

^^ I see your point and would be hard-pressed to disagree with much of what you've said, but I do think there is a difference between government assistance that you apply for because you want it and government assistance you apply for it because you need it. No one goes signs up for welfare on prom night -- it's only when things get to a point where they truly need the assistance that they apply for it.

Or at least that's the way it should be. There are rampant abuses of the welfare system, and it has become a way of life for far too many generations of people. It needs an overhaul. With that said, I can't advocate placing restrictions upon child-bearing which is essentially based upon income level -- that type of thing falls into the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness category, I think. I wish people that can't economically handle children would quit having them, but I have a problem telling them that they can't, whether via sterilization or cutting off their welfare.

#364794Post 19 of 31

But still...sometimes people who are really incapable of supporting their child financially do have them, with all the consequences. I do not advocate forced taking of pills and stuff, but if someone would apply for them, I'd advocate giving them free.

Nice sig, Toasty!

#370220Post 20 of 31

[quote=mylexicon]I don't believe the government has any role in discouraging or encouraging people to have or avoid having children. Frankly, that is none of the government's business. Besides it is wholely an American point of view that poverty is a burden no one should bear. [/quote]

Huh? Why do you think we have marriage? The government encourages marriage in order to encourage kids. There are tax credits for dependents to encourage kids. The gorvernment clearly has a role in encouraging, and discouraging, kids. It encourages marriage to have stable families raise the next generation of workers.

On the other side, it makes a lot of sense to discourage kids for those on welfare. Single women on welfare, for the most part, are very unlikely to be wanting kids. At the same time, they have no health insurance, so they can't afford birth control. It's way cheaper for the government to give away free birth control than it is to offer free medical care while the woman is pregnant and delivering, plus increased welfare benefits to pay for the new child. I don't agree with forced birth control, but it makes a lot of sense to offer it in a voluntary, and I believe it's definitely something the government should be involved in.

As for the other comment, I don't think that's an American view at all. Europe and Canada hold that sentiment a lot more strongly than we do. Our social support systems pale in comparison to nationwide free healthcare and many other services those nations offer. I like our model better, but I I would completely disagree with your statement. We accept poverty a lot more than Europe does.

#370247Post 21 of 31

This sort of laissez faire attitude toward government aid for the poor would be a bit easier to swallow if the government wasn't in the business of aiding the rich. What we have here in this "democracy" is laissez faire for the poor and welfare for the rich. Just think about how much the government promotes business, helps the elite, etc. So government non-interference is impossible, because even if the poor are hard working and intelligent, they are still at a disadvantage to the government aided upper classes.

Not to mention that the government's ideal duty is to promote the welfare of its constituents.

Sterilization is something that should be voluntary, unless the world be overflowing with people and there be a shortage of food. In a country that should have free basic health care but doesn't, birth control would obviously be something that it would cover.

There are many things the government does that the voting public does not condone; just because there is a certain portion of the population that archaically disagrees with birth control doesn't force the powers that be to change their policy. Tax dollars are being spent by the billions on weapons, though many in the country are pacificts, for example- you don't see the government stopping development, do you?

It is typically attributed to traditional conservatives (not the ultra-reactionary Christian right) that they have a stronger grip on "values". I would tend to disagree because what value system condones the disdain of the entire lower class? Conservative "capitalism" (not true capitalism) says that if you work hard enough you can get a good life, without government aid. This is obviously not true; think about how many hard working people you know that make very little money, and think about how many people work very little (inheritors, investors, many CEOs) and rake in huge amounts of money, with government protection and aid all along the way.

Welfare, and, in turn, health care, should be afforded to all. With the amount of money that taxpayers send to the government, it's ludicrous that it hasn't happened yet.

#370362Post 22 of 31

[quote=thesightless]If you cant feed em, DONT breed em.[/quote]

1000% of right.

jula

#370381Post 23 of 31

[quote=Yao]But still...sometimes people who are really incapable of supporting their child financially do have them, with all the consequences. I do not advocate forced taking of pills and stuff, but if someone would apply for them, I'd advocate giving them free. [/quote]

It's the forced action that I'm really against, too. I'm more on the fence when it comes to providing it for free, primarily because of cost concerns. If there were reliable data suggesting that the government would save more in the long run by providing free birth control to people, I'd probably be on board for it, since it is basically just assisting couples in a decision they have already made rather than making a decision for them.

PS thx for the kudos on the sig!

#370395Post 24 of 31

[quote=thesightless]i would but i have said it b4 and ill say it again.

If you cant feed em, DONT breed em.

no kid should be brought into the world to live a life of misfortune beacsue mommy and daddy couldnt control themsleves.[/quote]

but you get an extra check from the gov't, i needs my check

#370419Post 25 of 31

your such a cockhole fishingnut.

#370493Post 26 of 31

what's the matter

#370503Post 27 of 31

You remind me of sacredawe.

#370510Post 28 of 31

My ex-gf used to get her pills from the Public Health Clinic. She couldn't go to the gyno and get a prescription because her family would find out. I've also gotten boat loads of condoms from the 'Clinic' as well.

#370635Post 29 of 31

Re: Birth Control

this thread reminds of a great line from the norm mcdonald movie "dirty work"

spoken by the father in the movie

""AAAAHHHHH comon, i mean when i was young we didnt have these fancy methods of birth control, you know.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. . . . . . . . . LIKE PULLING OUT!"

:CrackUp:

#372642Post 30 of 31

[quote=timkell][quote=mylexicon]I don't believe the government has any role in discouraging or encouraging people to have or avoid having children. Frankly, that is none of the government's business. Besides it is wholely an American point of view that poverty is a burden no one should bear. [/quote]

Huh? Why do you think we have marriage? The government encourages marriage in order to encourage kids. There are tax credits for dependents to encourage kids. The gorvernment clearly has a role in encouraging, and discouraging, kids. It encourages marriage to have stable families raise the next generation of workers.[/quote]

Giving people their money back, hardly constitutes as encouragement. Manipulation or coersion might suffice but those are allegations for another time. Besides if the government is giving tax credits for people to have kids we all know what that really means: the government is taxing everyone else extra hard for not having kids. It's cleverly disguised of course, so we don't get mad and change things. It's the same technique corporations use when they give you things for "free". Whether or not you perceive it, you are still paying for it.

[quote=timkell]As for the other comment, I don't think that's an American view at all. Europe and Canada hold that sentiment a lot more strongly than we do. Our social support systems pale in comparison to nationwide free healthcare and many other services those nations offer. I like our model better, but I I would completely disagree with your statement. We accept poverty a lot more than Europe does.[/quote]

That is only partially true. We are more accepting of poverty b/c we still believe that our society is merit-based or freely accessible to all people. However, we have a much lower toleration for the wealthy and for inaccessiblity. People in other countries accept that there will always be rich and poor. Which is why they make transfer payments rather than trying to end bureacracy. Its kind of a peace payment. The rich get to stay on top and they write lots of socialist legislation to keep the poor and middle class right where they are.

#372650Post 31 of 31

[quote=sammwalk]This sort of laissez faire attitude toward government aid for the poor would be a bit easier to swallow if the government wasn't in the business of aiding the rich. What we have here in this "democracy" is laissez faire for the poor and welfare for the rich. Just think about how much the government promotes business, helps the elite, etc. So government non-interference is impossible, because even if the poor are hard working and intelligent, they are still at a disadvantage to the government aided upper classes.[/quote]

I couldn't agree with you more. And this is a perfect time to tell everyone about why this is happening. Progressive - tax brackets. What does the government need? Money. Where do they get it from? Taxes. Who pays the most? The wealthy. You do the math. Corporations and wealthy individuals pay upwards of 40% total taxes. The government is always in a budget bind unless we have a boom economy. They have a vested interest in making sure their "employees" are happy and well taken care of. None of them give a damn about the poor, Republican or Democrat. If tax revenues dip welfare disappears. If wealth is more evenly distributed. Tax revenue falls and the unemployed receive fewer benefits.

Taxes are the greatest shitty prank our government has ever pulled. They are necessary but the way the are administered is an absolute joke. The gov. taxes the wealthy then it turns around and gives the money right back to them b/c the gov. needs goods and services that only capitalists provide. Plus there is historic prescedent to support that the government has been playing this prank for generations. During colonial days income tax was illegal. Then during the civil war they decided they would levy a tax to help pay for the war. The tax was placed only on the wealthy and that's how the income tax got the support of the majority. Income tax was allowed under the constitution and now today the middle and lower class now have to work 2-3 months out of the year just to pay their income taxes.

CLASS WARFARE GETS YOU NOWHERE BUT SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the U.S. a rich man who owns a corporation or a business:

  1. Earns his money
  2. Spends his money
  3. Pays taxes on the surplus

In the U.S. a rich man who works for a corporation

  1. Earns his money
  2. Pays his taxes
  3. Spends what is left ^^^^^^^ There is the source of the oppression. It is not that the gov. lets everyone else off easy.......it is that the gov. screws everyone (without businesses) extra hard. You can either cling to the notion that the government loves the rich, or you can free yourself and realize that the government is really just screwing you because you can't do anything about it but vote.......and nobody votes anymore so the gov. is pretty safe. A new day is dawning, free yourself and demand that you be treated equally under the law. Or you can sit there and think of reasons why you should still be ass-raped every April.....I don't care cause I'm not planning on being the guy who works his whole life for a corporation.

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