I saw this video about a floor speech Rep. Todd Tiahrt (Kansas, 4th district) gave about abortion subsidies:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Now assume that Rep. Tiahrt wasn't sending out some subterranian racist code when he mentioned Barack Obama's and Clarence Thomas' mothers. That in his mind he could just have easily used Bill Clinton's mother and still make his point. Even if you take that leap, it still means that Rep. Tiahrt's world view is one where decisions about abortion are based on market forces.
In Tiahrt's mind's eye is a little scene that runs along the lines of:
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Poor, Unwed Pregnant Girl: How much is it for an abortion?
Abortion Provider: About $375
PUPG: Are you crazy! I'm going to take the far cheaper route and carry this pregnancy to term and not do anything unsafe to try and miscarry. I'm totally going to provide the proper nutrition and care it takes to help promote healthy development and give the baby up for adoption to nice heterosexual, small town couple with judeo-christian values. (To Stomach): Grrr. You're lucky Todd Tiahrt is fighting to keep abortion a finacial decision on par with buying a Playstation 3. Sooo lucky.
AP: But without your $375 how will I maintan the luxurious lifestyle I've come to expect from working at Planned Parenthood?
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I would really like to ask Rep. Tiahrt what sort of cost/benefit analysis he thinks women and girls in countries where abortion is illegal (and presumably not subsidized) or in Pre- Roe v. Wade America performed before seeking illegal and unsafe abortion providers or before doing the very dangerous things it takes to create a situation where medical personel are forced to preform an abortion to save the life of the mother.
Someone should sit him down and explain to him that abortions aren't the same as corn. Subsidizing abortions isn't going increase abortion production the way that farm subsidies has resulted in high fructose corn syrup being in most of the items in my grocery store. I've heard lots of reasons why women choose to get abortions, none of them were: "Because it was such a bargin!" I don't think subsidies would change women's decisions, it will just help them get safer, better care.
In conclusion, I'd like to stress that it is the warped world view of the congressman that I find funny and not the subject of abortion itself.