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Opinion

Government should support birth control

Nick Somarakis
Opinion Columnist

Few people have actually been inside an abortion clinic. Most have never sat in the waiting room with its empty white walls while the girls sit and wait to be called. 

Not many of us have watched as lonely, young females hold back tears while filling out the patient information form. We have not seen as they look for anyone to lean on during that difficult time. We have not heard them sobbing uncontrollably in the corner of the room only to reschedule an appointment because they cannot go through with it.

Despite the lack of first-hand knowledge, the topic of abortion evokes two very different responses from most people. Some believe that it is impossible and immoral to force a woman to give birth. Choosing this medical procedure is a matter of freedom and choice made by a woman who has control of her own body. 

Others believe that it is a consequence of irresponsible activity and an abortion is immoral and should be made illegal.

Whether you are in favor of leaving the choice to the woman or making abortion illegal, one thing is for sure. Abortions -- derived from unplanned and unwanted pregnancies -- are entirely preventable, or at least they should be.

The U.S. government should ensure that birth control, such as condoms and sponges, etc., are more affordable and available. It should subsidize birth control pills and make the day-after pill available over the counter. 

Making birth control more available to citizens would cause the number of abortions to drop dramatically and would have a similar effect on the number of single mothers. 

The government would spend more money on pregnancy prevention measures, but save money that could be spent on healthcare, education, welfare, adoption expenses and other costs that would be incurred from lack of pregnancy prevention. 

Making abortion illegal would not solve the problem. If it were made illegal, it would not prevent women from aborting their pregnancies by other means. 

They could still get abortions from back-alley doctors or use the infamous coat-hanger method. Women could use illegal drugs or alcohol to destroy the fetus, even though it endangers their own health. Some may even be driven to beating on their own bellies, or have someone do it for them.

Abortion could still be performed even if the medical procedure was made illegal. The government should be more pro-active in protecting its public and bringing them together rather than allowing citizens to be divided over an issue whose potentially harmful outcome is entirely preventable. 

The only true way to stop abortion is to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Somarakis, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at nick_som1@hotmail.com.