Planned Parenthood needs federal funding

There has been much talk about possible spending cuts for Planned Parenthood lately, calling into question the validity of certain freedoms for women.

For women of all ages, Planned Parenthood is an important resource, with services ranging from birth control to gynecological services to abortions. Many women depend on Planned Parenthood for their health care and to cut spending would be to cut off reproductive medical services for these women who may not be able to afford it otherwise.

 Women deserve the right to have access to legitimate health care and reproductive rights should be within the reach of every woman. There are many situations where abortion is necessary, such as incest, rape, and when the mother's health is in danger if she has the child.

Regardless of whether or not you think women should have the choice to get an abortion, you can't deny a woman the right to terminate a pregnancy in one of these devastating situations; that would just be cruel.

According to an article in The New York Times, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., spoke on the senate floor about the possibility of cutting spending. She was so moved that she decided to share her personal story about the abortion she had to have due to pregnancy complications.

"For you to stand on this floor and to suggest as you have that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous," Speier said.

Women don't choose to get raped or to have their fetus move into a position that is dangerous to their health. Women don't use abortion as a form of birth control and to think so is ridiculous.

Many women have severe emotional and psychological problems after having an abortion. Even if they know they made the right decision, many of these women will still feel guilty and responsible and have a difficult time coping.

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network website, about 5 percent of women who are raped become pregnant. The website estimates that there were 3,204 pregnancies as a result of rape during the 2004-2005 time period.

Women who experience pregnancy after rape aren't prepared for the emotional and physical trials of an unwanted pregnancy. They shouldn't be forced to give birth to a child that reminds them of such a tragic incident if they don't think they are mentally capable of doing so, especially considering that growing up in an environment like that could have negative effects on the child.

Also, not all contraceptives work 100 percent of the time; condoms break and birth control fails. A responsible couple shouldn't be required to endure a pregnancy that they aren't prepared for and tried to prevent.

As previously stated, Planned Parenthood doesn't just perform abortions. In fact, abortions only account for 3 percent of the services provided by the organization, according to an article in The Washington Post.

Its main function comes from providing contraceptives, but it also tests for STDs and provides cancer screening and prevention.

Politicians need to take a look at their true intentions behind wanting to cut federal spending. Just because a certain politician feels a certain way doesn't mean they should take  women's reproductive rights away from them. Religious beliefs aside, sometimes an abortion is necessary and a politician's beliefs should never interfere with a woman's right to control her body.

If federal spending for birth control does get cut it will be a sad day for women's rights, sending us back to a time too similar to the 1950s.