Unplanned Pregnancies - Our Nation's Nemesis
Sarah Copeland
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Could unplanned pregnancies be a primary factor causing a potential national downfall? Let's explore how this one issue is connected to the following social controversies: abortion, welfare, education, taxes, and health-care. Then, let's examine a solution. 
Abortion
Now, here's a conflict that has polarized this country for many years. I, personally, am not a proponent of abortion. Although I concede there are situations when it is necessary, I feel that it tends to get used as a form of birth control. Using abortion to resolve an unplanned pregnancy is illogical. It would make more sense to simply not get pregnant in the first place.
Welfare
It's difficult to accurately assess the economic impact of unplanned pregnancies on our nation's welfare system. The dollar value is likely to be in the billions. Because most unplanned pregnancies are connected with low-income families or single mothers, there are expenses covered by Medicaid, HUD, Food Stamps, and WIC. In cases where the mother is unable to function as a mother, then there are also expenses related to child protective services. And don't forget the salaries of the social workers and other bureaucrats needed to administer all these welfare services.
Education
Public school systems continually stress a need for increased funding and smaller class sizes. With so much money going into the welfare system, and since welfare recipients are unlikely to utilize private schools, why would one expect anything other than a problematic outcome?
An important part of a child's education is the attitude of their family towards learning and the examples of how one behaves as a citizen of the community. An accurate reflection of this as a problem is the high number of families with consecutive generations of members relying on welfare and who have poor educations. An unplanned pregnancy also makes completing an education more difficult.
Taxes
Abortion
Now, here's a conflict that has polarized this country for many years. I, personally, am not a proponent of abortion. Although I concede there are situations when it is necessary, I feel that it tends to get used as a form of birth control. Using abortion to resolve an unplanned pregnancy is illogical. It would make more sense to simply not get pregnant in the first place.
Welfare
It's difficult to accurately assess the economic impact of unplanned pregnancies on our nation's welfare system. The dollar value is likely to be in the billions. Because most unplanned pregnancies are connected with low-income families or single mothers, there are expenses covered by Medicaid, HUD, Food Stamps, and WIC. In cases where the mother is unable to function as a mother, then there are also expenses related to child protective services. And don't forget the salaries of the social workers and other bureaucrats needed to administer all these welfare services.
Education
Public school systems continually stress a need for increased funding and smaller class sizes. With so much money going into the welfare system, and since welfare recipients are unlikely to utilize private schools, why would one expect anything other than a problematic outcome?
An important part of a child's education is the attitude of their family towards learning and the examples of how one behaves as a citizen of the community. An accurate reflection of this as a problem is the high number of families with consecutive generations of members relying on welfare and who have poor educations. An unplanned pregnancy also makes completing an education more difficult.
Taxes