Dear Sir,
Pulling the plug on funding to Planned Parenthood which, in addition to providing abortion services to women who choose to do so, provides affordable contraceptive options for the uninsured and educates about the risk of STD's and unprotected sexual activity, is about the most blatantly arrogant shirking of your responsibility to the fundamental democratic principle "Greatest Good For The Greatest Number."
Furthermore, you fly in the face of the freedom of religion granted all citizens by basing your decision on a personal religious issue, regardless of the fact that a large number of your constituents may be religious. Many female Orange County residents live without access to birth control and the other services Planned Parenthood offers based on socio-economic and/or familial circumstances.
Given that abortions performed by Planned Parenthood are paid for by the patient, it seems ludicrous that you would cite abortion as the reason for pulling funding and disempowering the women of Orange County. "Where you stand depends on where you sit," and you, sir, sit on self-indulgent decisions which have nothing to do with the fundamental principles of a democratic society. What gives you the right to choose for the women of Orange County?
You ought to be ashamed of operating under such a thin veneer of religious ideology without offering the women who patronize Planned Parenthood an alternative. Your choice will likely damage the health and quality of life for hordes of women in our area, and you will sit ensconced safely in a little bubble of religious babble congratulating you on the gallantry of your 'death to the abortion machine' move.
Well, I say you should have to buy the birth control pills and pay for the services for the poor women of this county with your tithing masses who move to impose a will on people without offering a viable alternative. And, no sir, abstinence only education has never been effective, despite the systematic attempts by the bible beating segments of society who would skew any statistic to suit their purpose. Read the research.
People will continue engaging in non-religious acts of a sexual nature and continue requiring education, birth control and abortion as such. There is very little you can do to quell that fact.
Get with the times, Mr. Supervisor, and stay out of our pants.
Danielle Cavallucci