What Happens if You Give Teens Free Birth Control?

[Frodo]

The answer should please pro-lifers...

And here's the link to the original study.

[user12345]

!!Shocker!!

[IceSpear]

Well, it would be good news for the pro-lifers who actually want to stop abortions. It wouldn't be very good news for the ones who want to punish women for having sex and couldn't care less about abortions, babies, or children.

[DC Al Fine]

Well, it would be good news for the pro-lifers who actually want to stop abortions. It wouldn't be very good news for the ones who want to punish women for having sex and couldn't care less about abortions, babies, or children.

[King]

Well, it would be good news for the pro-lifers who actually want to stop abortions. It wouldn't be very good news for the ones who want to punish women for having sex and couldn't care less about abortions, babies, or children.

Don't act like they don't exist.

[IceSpear]

Well, it would be good news for the pro-lifers who actually want to stop abortions. It wouldn't be very good news for the ones who want to punish women for having sex and couldn't care less about abortions, babies, or children.

What? Are you denying the latter types of "pro-lifers" exist?

[King]

Whether you like it or not, a good subsection of the pro-life community are mostly like this gentleman whose number one concern is girls girls girls fornicating after listening to rap music.

[AggregateDemand]

...and if we gave everyone free food, no one would go hungry.

It's your job to understand the micro/macro forces at play, determine why free contraceptives aren't already provided to everyone in the u-24 demographic, and where we spend most of our public health funds.

You'll soon realize that the moral-purity-movement has nothing to do with it.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

...and if we gave everyone free food, no one would go hungry.

Now there's an idea. You and your kin will argue against it, though.

It's your job to understand the micro/macro forces at play, determine why free contraceptives aren't already provided to everyone in the u-24 demographic, and where we spend most of our public health funds.

It's not a matter of funding, it's a matter of people literally saying that giving teen girls free birth control is a bad idea.

You'll soon realize that the moral-purity-movement has nothing to do with it.

Incorrect.

[Cassius]

Such a policy would be mildly expensive, and, in any case, would be dependant upon the assumption that  teens are always both sober and sensible, which is, to put it mildly, a foolish assumption.

[afleitch]

Such a policy would be mildly expensive, and, in any case, would be dependant upon the assumption that  teens are always both sober and sensible, which is, to put it mildly, a foolish assumption.

Adults use birth control. The idea that they are always sober and sensible is a far more foolish assumption. So why should it matter?

[Lief 🗽]

As some of my esteemed colleagues have pointed out, not only does this not please "pro-lifers" but it is in fact horrifying to them. Teenaged girls freely having sex and not being punished for it? Nothing disgusts, and indeed terrifies, them more.

It is a complete inversion of the rigid patriarchal order they hold so dear.

[AggregateDemand]

...and if we gave everyone free food, no one would go hungry.

Now there's an idea. You and your kin will argue against it, though.

It's your job to understand the micro/macro forces at play, determine why free contraceptives aren't already provided to everyone in the u-24 demographic, and where we spend most of our public health funds.

It's not a matter of funding, it's a matter of people literally saying that giving teen girls free birth control is a bad idea.

You'll soon realize that the moral-purity-movement has nothing to do with it.

Incorrect.

The fundamentalist right-wing echo chamber is not the reason for anything, other than bad rhetoric. Free contraceptives are not available as a matter of public policy because the government is more interested in spending money on people who can vote or who will vote. Contraceptive methods are also very personal, and they are available almost everywhere for extraordinarily low cost.

[bedstuy]

As some of my esteemed colleagues have pointed out, not only does this not please "pro-lifers" but it is in fact horrifying to them. Teenaged freely having sex and not being punished for it? Nothing disgusts them more.

Exactly.  That's the Republican mentality.  It reminds me of Kohlberg's theory of Moral development.  Republicans are stuck in the adolescent stage of moral development (stage 4).

[Cassius]

Such a policy would be mildly expensive, and, in any case, would be dependant upon the assumption that  teens are always both sober and sensible, which is, to put it mildly, a foolish assumption.

Adults use birth control. The idea that they are always sober and sensible is a far more foolish assumption. So why should it matter?

Why indeed, for I have no objection to people using birth control. But, since the government doesn't (as far as I'm aware) fund free birth control for adults, I see no reason as to why this should be applied to teenagers.

As some of my esteemed colleagues have pointed out, not only does this not please "pro-lifers" but it is in fact horrifying to them. Teenaged freely having sex and not being punished for it? Nothing disgusts them more.

Exactly.  That's the Republican mentality.  It reminds me of Kohlberg's theory of Moral development.  Republicans are stuck in the adolescent stage of moral development (stage 4).

You're not trying to tell us that's a bad thing surely.

[Chilltown]

Such a policy would be mildly expensive, and, in any case, would be dependant upon the assumption that  teens are always both sober and sensible, which is, to put it mildly, a foolish assumption.

Adults use birth control. The idea that they are always sober and sensible is a far more foolish assumption. So why should it matter?

Why indeed, for I have no objection to people using birth control. But, since the government doesn't (as far as I'm aware) fund free birth control for adults, I see no reason as to why this should be applied to teenagers.

Out of pocket costs for birth control are expensive, and are more likely to be out of reach for younger and lower-income people, who are obviously also more likely to have an unintended pregnancy.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Plausible, but the magnitude of the reduction being suggested is not supported and seems unlikely.  Studies like this should have control groups, which this one doesn't.

[AggregateDemand]

Exactly.  That's the Republican mentality.  It reminds me of Kohlberg's theory of Moral development.  Republicans are stuck in the adolescent stage of moral development (stage 4).

What should we say then about liberals who believe people should be financially punished for making money?

[TDAS04]

Well, it would be good news for the pro-lifers who actually want to stop abortions. It wouldn't be very good news for the ones who want to punish women for having sex and couldn't care less about abortions, babies, or children.

They exist. 

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Such a policy would be mildly expensive, and, in any case, would be dependant upon the assumption that  teens are always both sober and sensible, which is, to put it mildly, a foolish assumption.

Surely the cost will pay for itself, due to the societal cost of underage pregnancy (pulls girls out of schooling and work, they often require higher benefits, housing strain etc.)

I don't really see how the second point is relevant, assuming girls are being fitted with long-term contraceptives like IUD coils.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Exactly.  That's the Republican mentality.  It reminds me of Kohlberg's theory of Moral development.  Republicans are stuck in the adolescent stage of moral development (stage 4).

What should we say then about liberals who believe people should be financially punished for making money?

It says a lot about conservatives' attitudes toward government that they think paying taxes is a form of punishment.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Well, it would be good news for the pro-lifers who actually want to stop abortions. It wouldn't be very good news for the ones who want to punish women for having sex and couldn't care less about abortions, babies, or children.

Stop being so purposefully delusional, Al.  You are telling me you can look at the entire history of American conservatism and women's health/sexual issues and not see spiteful shaming by people who think a woman's sex life should be used for one thing and one thing only?  Be real.

Abortion rights, contraception, abstinence-only education, opinions on masturbation, etc.  Every single stance the right wingers take has the effect of attempt to prevent females from experiencing consequence-free pleasure or exploring her sexuality in non-reproductive means.  All a coincidence though, right?

[AggregateDemand]

It says a lot about conservatives' attitudes toward government that they think paying taxes is a form of punishment.

The same could be said for people who believe children or being required to buy your own contraception is a form of punishment. Actually, I think conservatives have a much stronger argument in this case.

If the government used tax dollars for economic productivity perhaps the situation would be different, but the money is burned in the bonfire of "social justice".

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It says a lot about conservatives' attitudes toward government that they think paying taxes is a form of punishment.

The same could be said for people who believe children or being required to buy your own contraception is a form of punishment. Actually, I think conservatives have a much stronger argument in this case.

If the government used tax dollars for economic productivity perhaps the situation would be different, but the money is burned in the bonfire of "social justice".

A little of my taxpayer dollars that are paying for the trillions of dollars of the military-industrial complex, including the $20 billion a year more that Congress spends than even the Pentagon wanted, can go to the far far far cheaper birth control that will actually save money by not having so many unwanted babies.

Lets take that $20 billion, and pay for free birth control in every 3rd world country.

[memphis]

Teenaged girls are pretty bad at remembering to take their pills as directed. Giving them pills is better than nothing, but it's far better to place an IUD up there and remind her that's she still at risk for infections, including incurable ones like herpes and HIV.