One hot button and highly contested issue especially with the overturning of Roe v. Wade poses the question that asks if Planned Parenthood or any other abortion provider should remain on the public dole. For me, holding to my faith principles that tell me abortion involves taking innocent human life that was carefully crafted by the hand of God, it’s clear that funding for them shouldn’t be found in any government budget. Even from an economic standpoint, it makes sense to eliminate their funding. Reducing public expenditures is always a reliable way to improve economic conditions and leaves politicians with less reason to withhold tax relief.
There’s also a broader aspect. When looking at private charitable organizations whether they be non-profit, not for profit, or faith based, they’re all started by private initiative. Whether it’s people who start the organizations or those supporting them, the initiatives taken are based off heart felt conviction. However, taxpayers who often are not guided by conviction to support these causes birthed by private initiative, by force are obligated to do so by the will of legislatures in many cases.
So, this demonstrates that we have another instance of central planning heavily influenced by special interests. The odd thing is that when you look at an organization like Parenthood who receives taxpayer funds, they’re already receiving an enormous amount of private donations including funds from the Hollywood crowd. Many faith-based groups are no exception. Though private donations come in abundantly, taxpayers by the discretion of policymakers support the faith-based groups despite their consciences not necessarily being tied to the organizations.
Not only are taxpayers who by the will of the various legislative bodies obliged to support these causes, but the organizations themselves are subject to the strong arm of government. An enormous amount of time and effort goes into starting non-profits and not for profits. This involves dealing with government red tape and often obtaining legal counsel to maneuver through the process. Much of this is due to our increasingly complex tax system which in many ways dictates the formation of charitable organizations as well as educational and advocacy organizations.
Ronald Reagan once said government should be the car and we should be the driver. Sadly, we the people seem more like marionettes. To reclaim our liberty which is rooted in universal equality and self-governance, it must be made known that we are not bound by the will of anyone but rather our conscience and in the marketplace our needs and wants which we determine.
In His Image 