Contraception as Stimulus? In What Parallel Dimension?

One of the many troubling aspects of the pending "stimulus" package being assembled in the House by Nancy Pelosi and her lieutenants was the inclusion of "hundreds of millions of dollars" for contraception. I have yet to see an exact number on how much money is involved, but sources on both sides are in agreement that it's a big number.

"Since when does contraception stimulate the economy?" asked Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. Similarly non-plussed was ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who asked Pelosi on Sunday's This Week program: "Hundreds of millions of dollars to expand family planning services. How is that stimulus?”

Pelosi answered, "“Well, the family planning services reduce cost. They reduce cost. The states are in terrible fiscal budget crises now and part of what we do for children’s health, education and some of those elements are to help the states meet their financial needs. One of those--one of the initiatives you mentioned, the contraception, will reduce costs to the states and to the federal government.”

“So no apologies for that?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“No apologies. No,” the speaker responded. “We have to deal with the consequences of the downturn in our economy."

Now there is word that President Obama is backing away from Pelosi on this one item, which would be a good thing if it happens.

I do not think that the advancement of abortion and contraception is a goal that showcases an enlightened, just society, and I question why taxpayer dollars should be spent on it. This is an argument, however, that we will hear more and more as the nation moves toward socialized health care.

But an even bigger question we should be asking is this: Why for so many "progressives" is the answer to any crisis the prevention and/or elimination of new human beings?

The answer may well suggest that there is an opposing spirit operating behind the scenes to help create and perpetuate the culture of death, one that sees human life as a rebuke to itself, as something to be stifled, perverted and crushed.