Reality check - defunding Planned Parenthood

What do Mitch McConnell, Joni Ernst & Ted Cruz - and countless other GOP senators, presidential candidates & pundits - have in common?  They are clueless about how government & other major organizations WORK.  Joni Ernst introduced S. 1881, which calls on Congress to strip Planned Parenthood of all federal funding, redirecting the funds to community health centers & hospitals that provide non-abortion services.  

Okay, Joni & Ted are both freshmen senators, but there is NO excuse for the Majority Leader to seem so D U M B. 

Their actions & the threats of representatives & senators hell bent on a shutdown unless they get the organization's funding has visions of  SENATE  DEFUNDS  PLANNED  PARENTHOOD!!! dancing through the heads of millions of folks who've longed for that day.  They are thrilled beyond measure that Joni's bill could make that dream a reality is as close as September.  

Except for a few niggly details...

For the fact there's no doubt it would be slammed with one of the fastest vetoes ever out of the Oval Office.  And not enough votes to override.  (Never noticed before - veto & vote use the same letters.)

For the fact that if their ultimate wet dream DID become the law of the land, abortions wouldn't be affected because the Hyde Amendment already precludes any federal monies being used to fund abortions (except in the most extreme situation).  

For the fact that Planned Parenthood would probably continue offering abortion services, letting FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Centers) provide other female/reproductive health services.


Ah, the fruitless thirst for a government shutdown.  Let's whip up public emotions around taking down Planned Parenthood!!  Never mind that defunding Planned Parenthood is NOT the equivalent of stopping even one abortion.  If the government guts their federal funding, it's my guess that abortion services would the last ones to be cut.

Here's what I believe...  Something worth protecting begins at conception.  It makes sense to teach ethics, morals & sex ed.  That the right time to have sex is when you're both ready to be a parent - not before.  If you're do have sex & don't want a pregnancy, use a good quality, properly used condom or diaphragm - it might not be romantic, spontaneous, but neither is getting up at 3:00 a.m. for a feeding or to change a diaper.  That people who seek to shut down every abortion clinic in American are acting from a heart & soul commitment.  Ditto opponents to Roe v. Wade.  

And I absolutely positively KNOW that defunding Planned Parenthood will not bankrupt that organization; that it might stop being a provider of other essential women's health services, but will do NOTHING to stop the organization from providing abortion services (which, fyi, account for approximately 3% of all Planned Parenthood health care services).  Supporters might shut down the government, but it will get them no closer to their goal.

A succinct reality check that the outraged Americans currently storming Planned Parenthood's barricades lack either the brains or the will to understand.