I stand with...defunding ALL companies, Federally

It's a radical notion, I know, but in reality one must ask - is funding special interest groups a role of the Federal Government? The answer is very obviously 'no'. We seem to understand this when it's 'evil' corporations. Of course we don't condone it when the Government pumps millions (and sometimes billions) into what we see as 'for profit' corporations. Or, at least, most of us do not. But when it's a special interest group or a 'non-profit', people seem to take sides based on whether they personally agree with whatever cause the company is peddling. That's an incredibly stupid way to decide how to spend a communal fund of money.

So, why not just stop it all together. We know that healthcare subsidies are a function of STATE governments...not Federal. Why then not let states decide which healthcare companies to run subsidies out of? Why did the Federal Government ever even become part of the narrative where Planned Parenthood funding is concerned? It's certainly not an expressed or even implied role of the Federal Government. In fact, it's far outside any reasonable interpretation of Constitutional functions.

Well, for one, the Planned Parenthood debate provides a platform on which both sides can soapbox come Federal Election time. You see, unfortunately, too many people only care about elections every four years. They might not even know that their own home state funds state run subsidies out of Planned Parenthood and Federal Funding is secondary to that. And while it is one-thousand times easier to make your concerns known to State and Local officials than it is to the nebulous web of insider nonsense that happens in Washington, most rarely utilize that power and, instead, stake all their hopes and dreams on one single man (or woman) who runs for President of the United States - an individual so far removed he or she cannot possibly represent the majority of American people or interests.

In the interest of fairness to the taxpayer, legitimate oversight, and keeping the Federal Government from picking favorites, doesn't it just make good sense to stop wasting Federal Tax Dollars on subsidies of any kind? And can we stop pretending that if you oppose Federal Subsidies you hate women, or farmers, or bankers, or whatever else such advocates imply? If the Federal Tax Rate were as low as it should be, to only handle the issues the Federal Government is required to, then imagine how much more money would be available to State revenues that have a more reasonable opportunity to make efficient and cost effective decisions in regard to safety nets and healthcare for the poor.

The great thing about this Planned Parenthood debate is that it allows us to talk about ALL the lobby groups that buy politicians off to see to their interests (as PP does). But, unfortunately, we aren't having that conversation. The real issue here isn't about abortion at all. It's about the function and role of the federal government. For both sides of the aisle, it's further proof that neither mind lobbying or special interest spending so long as it is their special interest getting paid.