Preview

Critically Reading a Position Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
647 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Critically Reading a Position Essay
Lisa Williams

April 2, 2012

English 102: Comp II

Critically Reading a Position Essay

Due: Saturday
Points: 20

To test the thesis that argument can be found everywhere, read “The Argument Culture” starting on page (636) [634]. In an MS Word document, copy and paste an example of an argument and explain why it can be defined as such. Your example should focus on an issue about which there is significant and rational disagreement. Summarize the issue and spell out the reasons and evidence offered. This is most easily achieved by completing the statement “This arguer wants us to believe . . . because . . ..” (See #1 of “Practice,” page (680) [678].)

“When right-wing politicians and activists go after Planned Parenthood, which has been one of their favorite pastimes in recent years, they often say they are fighting against abortion.

That’s what Representative Mike Pence, the Indiana Republican, said when the House voted to kill all of Planned Parenthood’s federal funding. That’s the excuse Texas lawmakers gave when they slashed money for women’s health services—including of course grants for Planned Parenthood clinics—by two thirds. Texas is now planning to shut down a Medicaid program that serves 130,000 women—in the name of preventing Planned Parenthood from getting money for abortions.

These politicians are telling the truth about one thing: they don’t like Planned Parenthood.

But it’s simply not true that abortion is what’s at stake here—at least not primarily. The Hyde Amendment, which Congress has been tacking onto Medicaid spending bills for 36 years, already prohibits the spending of federal money on abortion services.

Here’s what laws that target Planned Parenthood actually do: They reduce health care options for millions of women around the country who will never want or have an abortion.

As Pam Belluck and Emily Ramshaw reported in the Times today, more than a dozen Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas have closed

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Amici recognize that H.B. 2 and other laws like it serve to disempower the poorest and most vulnerable women. Accordingly, like all legislation that contravenes bedrock principles of the Constitution, this Court must invalidate H.B. 2 and hold that it is unconstitutional” (Women’s1). The groups who files amicus briefs in favor of Texas was pro-life and religious organizations. One was filed by the governors of Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, and South Dakota. They argued that the provisions in the bill are there to protect women from clinics with poor safety records.…

    • 1071 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mules vs. Elephants

    • 1603 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The 2012 Political Party Platform exchanges values across many topics, one of which is the controversial issue of abortion. From the Democratic standpoint, the “party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.” [2012 Democratic Party Platform, p.18]. In a liberal context, women have the right to control their individual reproductive choices, and as abortion is an intimate, personal decision, governmental and political intervention is prohibited. Conservative Republicans identify differently: they “support a human life…

    • 1603 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    and still have enough trouble as is, to their own (arguably limited) devices. Letting the weak struggle strikes ethical concern. Before the Hyde Amendment, Medicaid funded almost one-third of abortions in the United States, and after the Hyde Amendment the government funded just about none. However, another effect of the Hyde Amendment is that while federal funding was cut towards abortions, it did not bar states from taking on the issue. While the government would handle cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment to the mother, the states could decide to cover cases beyond that and fund them themselves.…

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Title X Pros And Cons

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Elected representatives need to be reminded that cutting funds will essentially shut down reproductive health centers and deny access to the most vulnerable in our communities. Consequently, deny access to already-struggling women, lower income families, teenagers and culturally diverse communities.…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Hyde amendment has saved lives, 25% of abortions have been prevented since the act was put into place (Smith, n.d.). Though, if the Hyde amendment was overturned, there would benefits to the low income population because they wouldn’t lack the right to have an abortion without money in their hands. Low income women feel they should have the right to an abortion, whether they can afford it or not (American Civil Liberties Union, n.d.). The Reproductive Freedom Project has a goal to use the state constitutional law of “all men are created equal” to overturn the public funding of abortion (American Civil Liberties Union, n.d.). During a debate, Rep. Hyde stated, "I would certainly like to prevent, if I could legally, anybody having an abortion, a rich woman, a middle class woman, or a poor woman. Unfortunately, the only vehicle available is the HEW Medicaid bill. A life is a life (Fried, 2007)." This statement targets the poor because he admitted he cannot do anything else to help stop women from obtaining abortions.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    He went on to imply that Planned Parenthood ranks next to radical Islam when it comes to the shedding of innocent blood. He accused the abortion giant of not really being all about women’s healthcare but merely deceiving people for money.…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Planned Parenthood Summary

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Planned Parenthood itself isn’t necessarily the problem, but the people that oppose it. Christian Policy Analysist, Sarah Torre, has many things to say on the issue of Planned Parenthood, although she doesn’t necessarily try to see it from a side other than hers. While reflecting upon rumors about Planned Parenthood selling tissue and body parts of unborn babies, Torre presents that government funding needs to be cut entirely from the organization. She supports her argument by making claims such as Planned Parenthood has enough money, and that there are enough other places for women to get the care and services provided there. Being the leading abortion provider in the US is the authors top reason, however, for prompting her “defund Planned Parenthood” campaign, even though abortions only make up about 3% of all services provided. She claims it is immoral for taxpayers, especially those who are against abortion, to be required to pay for an affiliation that provides the very thing they are so much against. The fact seems to be forgotten that although not everybody believes that healthcare, such as programs provided by the Affordable Care Act, are not approved or liked by everyone. Even so, everybody has to pay taxes that fund these programs, and really how is it different from taxpayers money going to Planned Parenthood? Although she is a woman, Torre seems to have forgotten the battles waged in order for women to have free reign of their own bodies, including the right to choose whether or not they should abort a baby that is unwanted. American’s in general need to realize that women should not be dictated by men, or other women for that matter, no matter where they are coming from. Opinions are not always wanted, and just because someone believes something does not make it right for them to force their beliefs onto other people. Americans need to have…

    • 1375 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    They would have forced 37 of the state's 42 clinics to close, according to opponents, making it very difficult for women in rural areas to obtain an abortion. (Corbis, Wendy Davis…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Abortion has always been a very controversial topic since it’s legalization in states like Colorado, California, and North Carolina in the late 1960s, and since the Supreme Court case “Roe v. Wade” came to a decision to allow it. From then on, the number of abortionists have rapidly increased to fulfill the abortion demands of the country, mainly because the 1960s was a time period with sexual revolutions and feminist movements. Sexual intercourse became more socially acceptable outside the strict boundaries of heterosexual marriage. Because of this social change, and the introduction of contraceptives such as the birth control pill, out-of-wedlock births, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, and divorce have all risen considerably.…

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The supporters of pro-life base their argument that the fetus is a human; therefore, not only is abortion killing a human wrong, but it is also illegal. They consider the fetus human because it grows like any other human, which is why the followers of pro-life are trying to get abortion illegal. It is wrong in every sense to kill another human being. Likewise, people that kill other people have to go to prison, yet these mothers of these kids get let off. The Supreme Court case in Texas involving abortion is the first step to try and stop the murder of innocent lives. The new law on abortion is asking for tighter abortion laws that led to more abortion clinics closing. It is hoping to “eliminate legal abortion.” 3 This will lead to closings of clinics all around the country and not just in Texas. Texas is even starting to see a change in the number of clinics these past few years from the new law that was placed in 2013. “Texas is now home to 17 abortion clinic, down from 41 in 2012, just before the law was passed.”4 Besides the closing of abortions clinics all over Texas, the state is hoping that increasing the price of getting an abortion by fifteen percent will scare these young ladies from getting the procedure done. The whole point of this new law will hopefully make the mother’s rethink their decision when they have to drive a far distance to get an abortion and have to pay quite a bit of…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Abortion in Utah

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages

    "I can't explain at all what affects those numbers," said Karrie Galloway, CEO of the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, which advocates for reproductive rights. Planned Parenthood also provides abortions in Utah, along with three other…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    These other services constitute ninety six percent of Planned Parenthood's operations meaning that abortions make up only three percent (Source here). The results of defunding Planned Parenthood in the attempt to decrease abortions will be devastating to young woman who rely heavily on Planned Parenthood for completely diverse reasons. Birth control will no longer be easily attainable, resulting in more pregnant women who are unable to support themselves yet alone an unborn child. The results nationwide would be devastating, as millions of women would be uninsured and left with no women's healthcare. In fact a recent study shows that if Planned Parenthood were to be defunded the strain on other women's healthcare facilities would be so great that thousands would end up not being helped. By continuing to federally fund Planned Parenthood we are providing a variety of beneficial services and aiding millions of women in living healthier…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Most prominently, PPFA clinics offer affordable birth control, Pap smears for screening cervical cancer, life-saving abortions, breast exams, and STD tests to women, men, and young people alike. In the 100 years since nurse Margaret Sanger created the organization, the growth and expansion of Planned Parenthood, originally called the American Birth Control League, is testament to thes success and growing need for accessible reproductive health services in the United States (Alter). The organization has become practically ubiquitous as, following the current trend, 1 in every 5 American women will utilize the services offered by Planned Parenthood at some point in her life (Ernst). This is possible, according to the official PPFA website, through “56 independent local affiliates and 650 clinics currently in operation around the country to provide access to quality healthcare and educational services” (“Planned Parenthood at a Glance”). These clinics should receive government funding in order to continue serving the fundamental health care needs of the people, the same mission the organization has upheld since its founding in the…

    • 1531 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Planned Parenthood

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Back in the 1970’s people rebuked the idea of Planned Parenthood. When they thought of it, the thought of abortion was directly connected. In all actuality, you would be surprised at how wrong they are. It is said that above 90 percent of the institutions population have terminated pregnancies, but really only three percent of the entire amount of women getting assistance partake in the procedure. Although, only three percent of the nation’s babies are aborted by Planned Parenthood, pro-life supporters still believe that is enough to terminate the program. To follow through with such a request would not only not decrease the abortion rate but it will also lead these women into the back alleys and liquor sanitized, home-made surgical tools. To rid the program is only asking to endanger hundreds of lives, especially the new lives brought into the world unwanted. The newborn who reminds her mother of the rape she experienced every single time she looks into her little eyes is an injustice…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Planned Parenthood

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides health services for the reproductive system around the United States and globally. Planned Parenthood strives to prevent unintended pregnancies, improve sexual health, and inform individuals to make informed decisions. Several Planned Parenthood clinics provide services such as but not limited to, birth control, long-acting reversible contraception, emergency contraception, clinical breast examinations, cervical cancer screening, pregnancy testing and pregnancy options counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, sex education, vasectomies, LGBT services, and abortion. Based on my research towards the government trying to defund Planned Parenthood, I believe that…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays