Last night, I listened to South African Supreme Court Justice Albie Sachs discuss strategies for moving beyond partisan politics in the United States and in his home country. His message of cooperation is similar to that of Barack Obama. Political might is maintained through integration and conversation rather than an imposition of party agendas.
That is certainly the theme of Obama's stimulus package.
The new President spent yesterday with House Republicans in an attempt to gain bipartisan support for the $825 billion spending plan his administration created. In the spirit of cooperation, it looks like Obama's party might drop family planning funding for low-income families. Particularly, they will be removing a provision that eliminates state obligations to ask Federal permission to offer contraceptives under Medicaid.
Despite the wise words of Justice Sachs, the reconciliation process in South Africa has been fraught with problems. Many voices, specifically those most disenfranchised by Apartheid, have been ignored. When trying to appease the powerful right wing, social services were privatized, redistribution programs were abandoned and economic assistance for the poorest of the poor was barely implemented.
Sound familiar?
Family planning funding for poor people getting the axe in the reconciliation process is no accident. The most vulnerable groups are the first to go when compromise with entrenched wealth and power is required.
Still, this may be a blessing in disguise. Family planning funding may create a few more jobs and increase stability for poor citizens, but it's not economic stimulus -at least not the immediate, "get the economy going" kind. Evidence shows that this part of the package will have only long-term positive economic effects.
If Democrats are committed to increasing access to contraception (as evidenced by the repeal of the Global Gag Rule), the funding and policy changes supporting family planning should be openly tabled and debated. Slipping this project into an almost trillion dollar package does not serve the interests of transparency and debate so valued by the Obama team.
This is especially true because family planning and sexual reproduction has, in this country, been too often slipped into the backroom. It is seen as something shameful or sinful and certainly controversial. It is about time this issue, especially, was thrust into the center of public debate. It is also time that barriers to access and education were removed by the political process rather than erected by it.
Ready access to contraceptives for low-income citizens is an essential part of creating a stable, informed and healthy population. There should be a bill aimed at openly supporting this policy. And, maybe, that bill will be the perfect opportunity for Democrats to flex their muscles and push through legislation without worrying about the spirit of reconciliation and post-partisan American politics.
*This column was created with valuable input from Olivia St. Clair