Interview

This is an interview with Kim, a recent college graduate, about the controversy revolving around Planned Parenthood and whether or not it should receive government funds. 

 

Q: Is this a problem you think is important?

A: Yes, Planned Parenthood helps numerous women with their health concerns and this would not be possible without government funding.

Q: Do you think others in our community think this is an important problem? 

A: Yes and no. People who know all of the services Planned Parenthood provides are most likely going to be for government funding, but many people think Planned Parenthood is solely about contraceptives and abortion, so they would be against it.

Q: Do you think people are even thinking about the issue?

A: Most definitely, it is a major issue right now, especially with the election next month! The two presidential candidates are at opposite ends on this issue, Obama is for government funding and Romney is completely against it. It is a heated topic among many people and I think anyone who had never heard of Planned Parenthood before, has now, because of the election.

Q: What policy, if any, does government now have to deal with this problem?

A: Well, as of right now government funding is granted to Planned Parenthood, but again, the election could reverse that decision and take away funding for Planned Parenthood. So, the policy is the problem.

Q: Do you think there is a way to find middle ground on the policy, a solution that could make everyone happy?

A: No. Like I said before, you are either for funding or not, you cannot be both.

Q: The policy right now supports government funding for Planned Parenthood, what are the benefits of this policy?

A: There are tons, but many people aren’t aware of them, which is why I think picking this topic to blog about was an excellent choice. Government funding for Planned Parenthood helps numerous people get healthcare they may not otherwise be able to get. They use a system called the sliding fee scale, which enables people with low incomes to get financial assistance in order to receive healthcare. Planned Parenthood is not solely about contraceptives and abortion, they also provide cancer screenings, abuse counseling, mammograms, physicals, and a ton of other services that people aren’t aware of.

Q: Where can I get more information about this problem and the different positions people take on it?

A: Visit their website, they have a ton of information and links to other sites that discuss the issue. Facebook has a lot of pages and groups you can join with posts from various people, that might be a good place to see different points of view on the issue. The newspapers also have information about Planned Parenthood and the debate over whether or not it should be granted government funding because it is such a huge topic in the election.  

I want to thank Kim, for letting me interview her about the Planned Parenthood Controversy. By conducting this interview, I learned a lot about how strong the campaign for supporting government funding actually is and I am glad that more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of Planned Parenthood.