Nothing says that just because the two college seniors are against birth control and/or abortion doesn't mean that they are into "barefoot and pregnant." (Which some college educated women not only are, but also enjoy being.) But, hey, nothing says "I love you" like telling someone that you don't want to have children with them or asking them to go ahead and kill your unborn child. If women need to get OB appointments (and, seriously, women can't save $1 a week to get an annual pap?), then how about just paying an OB who isn't a part of the multi-million-dollar-profit Planned Parenthood racket? There are plenty of places to get an exam. And I have some serious doubts that people can't come up with less than $60 for a once-a-year doctor's appointment. When you make your health a priority, you manage to find ways to get it taken care of.

[QUOTE id="b4a9291f-95c6-491c-b500-6a83f38e6dd5"] If women need to get OB appointments (and, seriously, women can't save $1 a week to get an annual pap?), then how about just paying an OB who isn't a part of the multi-million-dollar-profit Planned Parenthood racket? There are plenty of places to get an exam. And I have some serious doubts that people can't come up with less than $60 for a once-a-year doctor's appointment. When you make your health a priority, you manage to find ways to get it taken care of.[/QUOTE] When you have socioeconomic privilege, those doubts must seem reasonable. Are you a Penn parent? A Penn parent whose child has less than 3/4 of her tuition paid for in grants? If you answer yes to both, I wouldn't expect you to understand. Being healthy in this country is not a matter of simple prioritizing.

I can't believe that I actually have to say this, but: since when is birth control a part of health care? You don't need birth control to be healthy. If it's too expensive for you, try a condom. Seriously, they're cheap, effective, and have the added benefit of blocking STDs.

While I recognize that they may do some good somewhere, Planned Parenthood is an organization that is directly responsible for killing unborn babies and for encouraging promiscuity. Think about what your money would be supporting, and buy your loved one some roses instead.

[QUOTE id="b29f3be7-2d3c-48c6-a7af-041c5403c146"]I can't believe that I actually have to say this, but: since when is birth control a part of health care? You don't need birth control to be healthy. If it's too expensive for you, try a condom. Seriously, they're cheap, effective, and have the added benefit of blocking STDs.[/QUOTE] Hormonal birth control is actually prescribed for numerous medical conditions, including PCOS and endometriosis. Good for you that you've managed to escape poor health, but some of us didn't hit that genetic lottery.

[QUOTE id="b29f3be7-2d3c-48c6-a7af-041c5403c146"]I can't believe that I actually have to say this, but: since when is birth control a part of health care? You don't need birth control to be healthy. If it's too expensive for you, try a condom. Seriously, they're cheap, effective, and have the added benefit of blocking STDs.[/QUOTE] Consider the woman who is (perhaps in an abusive relationship) with a man who refuses to use a condom. At least she could try have control over whether or not to have a child with this person. I also second the commenter above who pointed out the many uses of hormonal "birth control" pills. The author made it fairly clear that these certificates can be used for (almost?) any Planned Parenthood service, and that PP provides a wide variety of services, including STD testing and ultrasounds. Maybe a mother wants to be sure her daughter is able to access an affordable STD test while living far away. Maybe a woman wants to be sure her uninsured friend gets an annual exam. Maybe a couple (or individual) wants to have a health care professional check to be sure that the child they are expecting is healthy. Keep in mind that PP often makes these services available on a sliding scale of price-- so those who are truly unable to spare much money can access these services at an affordable rate (even free if necessary.) Please attempt to think with more nuance rather than chastising PP and its (to this point, still rare) policy of service certificates based on just two services that it provides. Very rarely can we fully account for/understand the situation of another individual. Be thankful that you are not among those whose desperation has forced them to seek out methods you do not support. And if you have faced these situations, be thankful that you have come through them, and that whichever organizations or individuals have helped you have been there to do so.

Kaitlin, boy am I glad you are not my girlfriend.

PP is doing itself a service by allowing GC's. The GC's would hopefully be purchased in great amounts by citizens who choose to buy them and (should in a perfect world) relieve the taxpayers from paying any kind of taxes that end up being allocated to PP. Like some of the others, I'm sure that PP has its benefits. I'm also sure that the people who run it also are among the crowd that takes joy in higher divorce percentages and media stories about "brave" single mothers that only indirectly point to one thing: the man isn't needed in your equation, lady, so you might as well get him out of the picture and choose yourself about what is best for YOUR baby. So until then, I'm down with OPP. Other than Planned Parenthood. I would hope that the author WOULDN'T want to get a vacuum cleaner for Valentine's Day. That's like saying, "Hey hon, Happy Valentine's Day, let's go on a trip to Gettysburg or Antietam." Additionally, I might add that only MY wife would want a vacuum cleaner for Valentine's Day. So that I can vacuum.

[QUOTE id="b4a9291f-95c6-491c-b500-6a83f38e6dd5"]Nothing says that just because the two college seniors are against birth control and/or abortion doesn't mean that they are into "barefoot and pregnant." (Which some college educated women not only are, but also enjoy being.) But, hey, nothing says "I love you" like telling someone that you don't want to have children with them or asking them to go ahead and kill your unborn child. If women need to get OB appointments (and, seriously, women can't save $1 a week to get an annual pap?), then how about just paying an OB who isn't a part of the multi-million-dollar-profit Planned Parenthood racket? There are plenty of places to get an exam. And I have some serious doubts that people can't come up with less than $60 for a once-a-year doctor's appointment. When you make your health a priority, you manage to find ways to get it taken care of.[/QUOTE] I'm not sure that you could be any more ignorant. I sure hope if your son or daughter is a student at Penn that they are a lot smarter than you, or they won't be lasting too long here. A few months ago, I got sick and had to see a gynecologist. I do have insurance, though it's not that good. My bills, for two visits, were over $700. I'm not sure where the hell you get the idea that seeing a gynecologist costs $60 if you do not have insurance, or if you are out of network. Moreover, the cost of insurance for the 12 month period, in addition to the co-pay at the doctor's office, would easily exceed $60. That's why places like PP that give gynecological exams (testing for cervical cancer, etc.) at such a discounted rate are necessary. I understand if you're against abortion. You can choose to not condone that PP offers them. However, I do not see it as logical to condemn them for giving gynecological exams to prevent diseases (which if gone undiagnosed and untreated, will end up being way more expensive...oh and taxpayers will be paying for that if they're not insured) at a discounted rate. And don't give me the crap about birth control, many people take it for reasons other than not getting pregnant. As another poster said, it treats hormonal diseases like PCOS, but it also helps to solve acne problems, regulates a woman's period, helps out with cramps, etc. Your problem isn't with birth control, it's with pre-marital sex.

Wow! This has to be the nadir of the DP's already risible standards for its opinion pieces. The Bernard Madoff scandal has devastated thousands of Americans and robbed many of them of their hard-earned savings. They are the victims of the worst Ponzi scheme in history, and we should all heartily commiserate with them on such a travesty of justice. If there is one "silver lining" to this horrible episode, however, it is that Planned Parenthood has lost major sources of funding from groups like the Picower Foundation, which was forced to close in the wake of its Madoff losses. As a result, Planned Parenthood has been forced to make significant layoffs, and for that, at least some modicum of good has come from an otherwise tragic episode.

So College Senior #1, you like your women barefoot and pregnant: Ivy League education, yes! And "Another" of the same: you think when the economy is crashing, that's when we should toss out the birth control? More babies = more jobs! One can't accuse either of you of moral bankruptcy--just idiocy. I have the feeling that the writer is quite relieved that neither of you is her boyfriend, tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum.

Completely outside of the debate over abortion, the perceived implication that a Planned Parenthood gift certificate was given to be used on abortion or contraceptives makes it, at best, an incredibly risky gift to give to a significant other. Although not the sole intention of the program, I can't help but be amused at how well a guy actually getting his girlfriend one of these as a gift would play out.

I know this is response is a bit late, but I thought I would put in my two cents in the form of examples. What woman would be happy to receive any of the following for Valentines Day, a holiday that is meant to be romantic. Feel free to add something I've missed. Maybe Planned Parenthood sells chocolates, flowers, or spa treatments. 1) Birth Control 2) Gynecological exam (any of the various) 3) Abortion