660 days to go.
Paul Ryan’s argument that “money is fungible” with regards to abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics is interesting. It makes some sense–even if abortions specifically aren’t floated by the federal government, the dollars that keep the lights on at a place that helps with abortions are federally funded. So, Ryan argues, those with moral opposition to abortion have a claim to wanting to keep the lights out on Planned Parenthood.
Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/12/politics/paul-ryan-town-hall-planned-parenthood/
However, a facts-and-figures-lover like Ryan should have to answer some better follow-ups.
1) What level of American Unity on certain “moral standards” is required for complete shutdown of government even being *close* to being involved? Does this imply that Ryan would want to close any Government-funded organization (even if it’s funded in part, with line-items) that are anti-gay, or anti-vaccine? Where does the threshold for personal belief becoming 100 or 0 policy end?
Of course, that’s a lazy question, and pro-lifers would just say “at murdering unborn babies,” because that’s what they believe is happening. Paul Ryan, in his folksy way, would say, “at the point when we cross those lines a majority of Americans hold sacred—and a line they voted my colleagues and I into office—including those across the aisle—to defend.” And as Trump would say, “Yeah, let Ryan take this one, I don’t really care. Won’t affect me.”
Fine. Let’s go to the market question. 660 days to go.
2) We’re in Paul Ryan’s world, and in this world, with regards to Planned Parenthood, money is fungible. I don’t want to dive too deeply into the broader policy questions this raises, it’s an insane Pandora’s box when applied broadly to Government spending—ie, does all military spending necessarily oppress Saudi Arabian women? Maybe, but Paul Ryan will never make that argument.,
In any case, if money is fungible, that would imply a world where Planned Parenthood offers potentially cheaper abortions than so-called “Health Centers.” If Ryan is a man who believes policy should match strength of facts, then his policy of complete shutdown of Planned Parenthood would raise prices.
Scrolling through the lists of prices linked at this source:
https://clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2014/06/much-abortion-cost-draft-theresas/
I found that the evidence is varied when it comes to PP’s abortion costs. I’d love if anyone could show me a metastudy on the abortion market. In some areas, Planned Parenthood is the cheapest option. A lot of those situations seemed to be in Texas, where intense regulation has shuttered non-PP options.
Source:
https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/28/texas-abortion-clinics-have-closed-hb2-passed-2013/
In those areas, PP seems to have avoided exploiting its monopoly: perhaps the only services they give out are truly desperate, emergency cases. Or maybe there simply isn’t demand due to travel costs, which keeps prices low. Either way, Paul Ryan has a solid case! The government is surely subsidizing a service if it is being offered for free. So, congratulations. A pricetag of $500-$2000, not including up to hundreds of miles of travel due to state regulations closing private and public health providers alike.
Do black markets exist in Ryan’s world? Surely he knows that abortion rates are, on average, stable despite the legality of abortion. So by raising prices, he pushes the poorest and most desperate out first, and they’ll turn to cheap and dirty options. Safety becomes a premium few can afford in those markets.
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/world/12abortion.html
But what about those places where Planned Parenthood is higher cost or the same cost as the alternatives? Hurrah! If there are many alternatives, Paul Ryan has taken the federal government out of the abortion business, and state-government subsidized providers and free-market providers will give abortions to all! Another victory for the free-market pro-choice godless liberals! This covers the areas that already have the highest rate of legal abortion. It’s likely that these are the people the GOP voters think about when they want to restrict abortion. “Recreational” is a word I have legitimately heard in conversations about these groups. Never mind the idea of educated women taking control of their health and lives, they just want to have consequence-free sex. Of course, what those individuals are wrong about is that their tax dollars are paying for that freedom.
So by Ryan’s own logic, on an economic level, depending on how regulated a state you live in, he is either going to *increase* access to abortions, or he is going to make it even more expensive and difficult for the already low-access to get the health services they need. PP acts as a low-cost health services sanctuary in many areas.
So what gives? PP seems like a slam dunk. Low-cost services for those most in need, with scaling prices based on income and cultural differences. A last reservoir in areas squeezed by state governments, a federal lifeboat that is relatively cheap for the quality it brings. Good healthcare.
So it comes down to this: the GOP, and those whose specific religious beliefs affect their voting habits and therefore what they believe others should do, do not believe at a fundamental level, that abortion is a health issue. It’s a God issue, a Life issue, and differing beliefs or facts be damned (literally, perhaps). Punish the poor, help or ignore the rich. Sometimes I think Jesus didn’t account for shrink-rays when he was talking about that camel and that needle.
Source:
http://biblehub.com/matthew/19-24.htm
There are 660 days until we can vote those who vote to gut Planned Parenthood out of office. Keep track.
Ps
Whenever I write a rant too long for Facebook, I’ll be using this blog. Occasionally I’ll try really hard and actually edit. You’ll be able to tell.
hellojackh 