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  • MONDAY NOVEMBER 19 2007 4:00 PM

Noticed Your Birth Control Costing More? Tell Congress

Submitted by Bitch_PhD

Edited by Bitch_PhD

Tags: birth control, reproductive rights, congress, politics



Remember this piece about birth control costs for college students going up because the Bush administration cut the funding that helps subsidize it?

Well, college students around the country, with the help of NARAL, organized petition drives on campus, and as a result of their work, there's a bill wending its way through Congress now--HR 4054, the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act--that does just what its title suggests: restores college and university access to low-cost birth control.

this fall, college women returned to campus to discover that the birth control that previously cost them $5–10 for a monthly supply now cost $40–50 per pack, making it far more difficult to afford. Due to a provision included in the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), as of January 1, 2007, every college and university health center and hundreds of safety-net providers were unintentionally cut off from accessing low-cost birth control and passing on the low price to college women and low-income women. The result has been an increase in the average price of birth control on college campuses, often to 10 times the previous cost.

Rep. Crowley’s legislation, The Prevention Through Affordable Access Act, would bring down the soaring cost of birth control at college health clinics and safety-net providers and increase access to affordable birth control. This legislation will not cost the taxpayers a single dime, and would restore the voluntary benefit to college health clinics and safety-net providers. (My emphasis.)



Should be a no-brainer, but you can't count on that in a world where plenty of legislators think Plan B causes abortion (it doesn't) or that it's a-okay for pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions to women.

So take half a minute to click through and send a letter to your representative urging them to support HR 4054.

Bitch_PhD can't wait for a decent national health program that'll cover birth control for everyone.

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Comments
ninetysevencents

ninetysevencents

Rochester, NY
August 2003

NOV 19, 2007 06:52 PM

FreakPirate said:

Cairo said:

Well, that didn't take long.



Well heck, let's just get this all over with shall we?

Birth control is a privilege, not a right!!


Condoms are cheap! Use them!


If you don't want to get knocked up you should be responsible enough not to be fucking!


I PAY FULL PRICE FOR MY BC, THE REST OF YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE I SAID SO!!



Did I miss any of the stupid shit that's going to come up?



how about:

Making birth control affordable only promotes people to have more sex resulting in more unwanted pregnancies!

or

Only godless heathens use birth control and I shouldn't have to subsidize sin!


?

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

NOV 19, 2007 06:56 PM

Ooh... thanks. I knew I was forgetting something.

Nixon

Nixon

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

NOV 19, 2007 07:02 PM

MrOuijaAK said:


How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



A) You are not alone. You are part of a community. Get used to it.

B) would you prefer to help subsidize birth control for college students,obviously women trying to be a boon to society, or have those same women get pregnant and drop out, lowering their lifetime incomes permanently and raising the likelyhood that they end up on welfare, now with kids that need food, housing, an education and healthcare.

You're obviously a cheap bastard. Pick the cheaper option.

mamet

mamet

Charleston, SC
March 2005

NOV 19, 2007 07:02 PM

Formus said:

MrOuijaAK said:
Government subsidization only helps to elevate the already high prices for everyone.



Yes, because cutting prices makes them go up, duh. I guess this is what happens when you take Freakanomics seriously.

Unless you mean the extra, like five cents you'd pay on your tax bill. In which case, POOR YOU. frown



But it's his five cents, goddamnit! whatever

Formus

Formus

Milwaukee, WI
May 2007

NOV 19, 2007 07:09 PM

mamet said:

Formus said:

MrOuijaAK said:
Government subsidization only helps to elevate the already high prices for everyone.



Yes, because cutting prices makes them go up, duh. I guess this is what happens when you take Freakanomics seriously.

Unless you mean the extra, like five cents you'd pay on your tax bill. In which case, POOR YOU. frown



But it's his five cents, goddamnit! whatever



He should be able to use it how he pleases! By getting four M&Ms from those machines at the mall and then fucking himself with his ego!

MrOuijaAK

MrOuijaAK

Anchorage, AK
September 2005

NOV 19, 2007 07:12 PM

MrStitches said:

MrOuijaAK said:

FreakPirate said:

Cairo said:

Well, that didn't take long.



Well heck, let's just get this all over with shall we?

Birth control is a privilege, not a right!!


Condoms are cheap! Use them!


If you don't want to get knocked up you should be responsible enough not to be fucking!


I PAY FULL PRICE FOR MY BC, THE REST OF YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE I SAID SO!!



Did I miss any of the stupid shit that's going to come up?



How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



Because unwanted children a fuck ton more expensive than birth control subsidies? That being the most obvious answer that even a sign language gorilla could figure out.



We shouldn't be paying for unwanted children either. Charities, welfare, etc. etc. Most people in those situations choose to be in them. Barring extenuating circumstances, the government should not be bailing them out. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.

MrOuijaAK

MrOuijaAK

Anchorage, AK
September 2005

NOV 19, 2007 07:13 PM

FreakPirate said:

MrOuijaAK said:

How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



You probably didn't notice but I live in Canada. Right now other people are paying for my shit because my income is so low. Next year (thanks to a new job) my health care won't be subsidized and I'll be paying to subsidize someone else's. Know what, I'm just fucking peachy with it. The system isn't perfect but it's better than a country full of selfish assholes and people not getting the care they need.



That'd work great, if everyone were like you. But unfortunately there are too many people out there that take advantage of the system and just mooch off of the rest of society.

Cairo

Cairo

SUICIDEGIRL

Maryland, USA

NOV 19, 2007 07:13 PM

MrOuijaAK said:
How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



Bitch_PhD said:
This legislation will not cost the taxpayers a single dime



Reading comprehension is your friend.

FreakPirate

FreakPirate

Canada
November 2002

NOV 19, 2007 07:16 PM

MrOuijaAK said:

That'd work great, if everyone were like you. But unfortunately there are too many people out there that take advantage of the system and just mooch off of the rest of society.



Yeah... I just don't buy that.

Formus

Formus

Milwaukee, WI
May 2007

NOV 19, 2007 07:20 PM

MrOuijaAK said:
We shouldn't be paying for unwanted children either. Charities, welfare, etc. etc. Most people in those situations choose to be in them.



Jaw, meet floor.


























Speechless. Utterly speechless.

MrStitches

MrStitches

Brooklyn, NY
November 2003

NOV 19, 2007 07:22 PM

MrOuijaAK said:

MrStitches said:

MrOuijaAK said:

FreakPirate said:

Cairo said:

Well, that didn't take long.



Well heck, let's just get this all over with shall we?

Birth control is a privilege, not a right!!


Condoms are cheap! Use them!


If you don't want to get knocked up you should be responsible enough not to be fucking!


I PAY FULL PRICE FOR MY BC, THE REST OF YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE I SAID SO!!



Did I miss any of the stupid shit that's going to come up?



How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



Because unwanted children a fuck ton more expensive than birth control subsidies? That being the most obvious answer that even a sign language gorilla could figure out.



We shouldn't be paying for unwanted children either. Charities, welfare, etc. etc. Most people in those situations choose to be in them. Barring extenuating circumstances, the government should not be bailing them out. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.



You're kind of an idiot aren't you?

MrOuijaAK

MrOuijaAK

Anchorage, AK
September 2005

NOV 19, 2007 07:22 PM

Formus said:

MrOuijaAK said:
Government subsidization only helps to elevate the already high prices for everyone.



Yes, because cutting prices makes them go up, duh. I guess this is what happens when you take Freakanomics seriously.

Unless you mean the extra, like five cents you'd pay on your tax bill. In which case, POOR YOU. frown



*sigh*

Company A sells product for 10 dollars.
Some people can afford 10 dollars, a large amount of people can't.
They can't make money on their product, because not enough people can afford it.
They change the price point to 8 dollars. They're still making profits, due to increased sales.

OR

Government decides to subsidize the cost for those who can't afford 10 dollars.
Company raises price to 12 dollars, because even if the 10 dollar people can't afford it anymore... the government is subsidizing the cost difference on the large population of people who cannot afford it.

As for your "5 cent" comment. You can marginalize every government program in that way. "It's just 5 cents to you, why do you care?" Allow enough nickels to be wasted, and eventually you'll be losing dollars.

mamet

mamet

Charleston, SC
March 2005

NOV 19, 2007 07:24 PM

MrOuijaAK said:

MrStitches said:

MrOuijaAK said:

FreakPirate said:

Cairo said:

Well, that didn't take long.



Well heck, let's just get this all over with shall we?

Birth control is a privilege, not a right!!


Condoms are cheap! Use them!


If you don't want to get knocked up you should be responsible enough not to be fucking!


I PAY FULL PRICE FOR MY BC, THE REST OF YOU SHOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE I SAID SO!!



Did I miss any of the stupid shit that's going to come up?



How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



Because unwanted children a fuck ton more expensive than birth control subsidies? That being the most obvious answer that even a sign language gorilla could figure out.



We shouldn't be paying for unwanted children either. Charities, welfare, etc. etc. Most people in those situations choose to be in them. Barring extenuating circumstances, the government should not be bailing them out. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.



Do tell: what's it like to have no idea what you're talking about?

Formus

Formus

Milwaukee, WI
May 2007

NOV 19, 2007 07:25 PM

MrOuijaAK said:
Company A sells product for 10 dollars.
Some people can afford 10 dollars, a large amount of people can't.
They can't make money on their product, because not enough people can afford it.
They change the price point to 8 dollars. They're still making profits, due to increased sales.



In Reagan Fantasy Land maybe. But not in real life. Which, in case you didn't notice, exists.

MrOuijaAK

MrOuijaAK

Anchorage, AK
September 2005

NOV 19, 2007 07:27 PM

Nixon said:

MrOuijaAK said:


How is it stupid that I don't want to pay for other people's shit?



A) You are not alone. You are part of a community. Get used to it.

B) would you prefer to help subsidize birth control for college students,obviously women trying to be a boon to society, or have those same women get pregnant and drop out, lowering their lifetime incomes permanently and raising the likelyhood that they end up on welfare, now with kids that need food, housing, an education and healthcare.

You're obviously a cheap bastard. Pick the cheaper option.



A) And I want my community to be improved, by having members who pull their own weight.

B) No. I'd prefer that people were forced to be more responsible about their choices, instead of depending on the government to bail them out. I'd also like forced paternity tests for men, and more laws to take the burden of unwanted pregnancies solely off the heads of mothers.

My mother raised me on her own from birth, she doesn't come from a family with money, and she never had to go on welfare. She took responsibility for her actions, despite my father not, and didn't need a free ride on the taxpayers dollar.

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