Rant on.

All generalizations are false…including this one.  And yet, people like to use them so often for so many things.  One example is all most people seem to need to prove their point, no matter how many examples there are to the contrary.  The Creationists like to use this kind of argument, saying things like “Evolution can’t be true if only one thing counter to it is true, such as X.”  X is something usually unrelated, misunderstood or misrepresented by the Creationist arguing for their point of view.  Such folks rarely accept the counter to this, that any evidence of evolution happening makes Creationism impossible.

However, I am not attacking Creationism, at least not today.  My concern today is with a different conservative group which is trying to get federal funding to Planned Parenthood cut.  Part of their basis is a little undercover work they did, wherein they had a couple posing as a pimp and a prostitute walk into a Planned Parenthood clinic and ask for advice for getting underage prostitutes abortions and other sexual health care.  In exactly one case, somebody was fired for not taking the appropriate action to this request.

Now, there are over eight-hundred clinics and health care centers across the U.S. run by Planned Parenthood.  Eight-hundred.  But, according to the conservative nitwits, one example of a Planned Parenthood employee giving advice like suggesting underage prostitutes lie about their age to get care is enough to condemn the entire organization.  The policies of Planned Parenthood run counter to this and the employee was fired for not following those policies, but that’s not enough.  The conservatives want federal funding cut–funding specifically not allowed to be used for abortions–to the organization.

What effect would this have on Planned Parenthood?  According to this article about the scandal, the organization would very much survive, but might have to claim some of the above-mentioned clinics which help out a total of about three million people a year.  This would mean less folks would get the care they need.  It’s important to note here that Planned Parenthood does more than perform abortions.  That is one of their services, but it is far from the only service they offer.  There are many sexual health related things they do and plenty of low-income folks rely on these services.

Of course, there’s also the video itself.  Planned Parenthood is calling it a “dirty trick” and rightfully so.  If a law enforcement officer–policeman or FBI agent or whatever–goes into a business with some sort of video or audio recording device active but does not have a warrant to do so, they get into a lot of trouble.  Such evidence could even be barred from a court of law if there was no warrant for it.  And yet Live Action, the organization responsible for the video, had no qualms about doing this very thing.  They are not a law enforcement agency and so did not have access to getting a warrant.  I would personally imagine they are subject to legal action for what they have done.

Let me make it perfectly clear I don’t condone underage prostitution.  It’s something no child should have to go through, and those employing kids in such a manner should be prosecuted.  I have no issues with prostitution as a profession; I think it should be legal so long as those practicing it are adults.  Having said that, I would prefer that everyone get the health care they need, regardless of circumstance.  I would prefer that and underage prostitute’s situation be reported to the appropriate authorities and their illegal employers suffer due consequences, but I think it’s more important they get their health taken care of.  If their situation is reported, one consequence is going to hopefully be a thorough medical examination anyway, hopefully with health care provided as a result.  Ideally, legal actions are taken when underage prostitution is discovered, but then ideally it won’t happen to begin with.  Since we don’t live in an ideal world, let’s make the best of it we can.

Also, let’s not use a single example to represent a large group or organization.  As the old saying goes, one bad apple doesn’t ruin the whole bunch.

Rant off.