Planned Parenthood pushes abortion over “choice” Re: “Planned Parenthood does not push abortion,” From Readers, Oct. 11
In assuring us that Planned Parenthood does not “push abortion,” Mr. Doerr writes that Planned Parenthood provides abortions “only to patients who voluntarily wish to end a problem pregnancy.” I know we’re all glad to hear that they’re not forcing anybody.
But one wonders. Society and the Supreme Court tell a woman she has “freedom of choice” to abort — and more and more, society is telling her that it’s irresponsible not to. No doubt there is often some irresponsible man standing up for, and reminding her of, her “freedom of choice” to abort. Parents, friends, perhaps teachers and counselors, sometimes even — tragically — people professing to be ministers of God, will be reassuring her that she has the “choice” to abort.
So how many women arrive at Planned Parenthood convinced that the “choice” to abort is the only real choice they have?
Are we to think that when a woman comes in and asks to get rid of the human life inside her, Planned Parenthood is taking time to show her other choices? If she feels, for example, that she can’t have the child because she couldn’t begin to raise it, do they explain to her that there are other options besides raising the child herself? It seems unlikely, give the virulent animosity of the pro-abortion establishment to those organizations that do try to make choices for life available. No, I suspect they’re rather reassuring her again that she has that “freedom of choice.” They’re the final ones pushing her to “voluntarily wish” to make that choice, by sweeping all other choices under the rug.
As for Doerr’s statement that only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s budget is devoted to abortions, I’d like to know how much they profit from them.
Stephen Kosciesza
Silver Spring
Purple Line comes with heavy price tag
Re: “Purple Line gets federal OK to take next step,” Oct. 7
Your recent story about the Purple Line receiving federal approval for preliminary engineering failed to recognize an important fact: there’s no money to pay for it right now — and not likely to be.
Do we really want an $800 million annual increase to the state gas tax, a raid on future MARC funding of $135 million and a $1 billion construction subsidy from the federal government all for a light rail system estimated to carry a mere 60,000 riders each weekday in 2030, 80 percent of whom are already riding buses? I don’t.
Moreover, do we want to destroy acres of unique parkland — the Capital Crescent Trail? I strongly oppose recreating the trail as a shadeless strip of asphalt next to twin sets of railroad tracks beneath high-power electric lines. Gone forever will be the 20 acres of thousands of trees that make the trail such a natural treasure.
I encourage all readers to get the facts why the Purple Line as planned today will be an environmental and financial disaster.
Ajay Bhatt
Chevy Chase
Casinos would hurt locals most
How much of the state’s “revenue estimates” and Penn National’s “profits” from a casino at Rosecroft will come from the surrounding community: Fort Washington, Temple Hills, Oxon Hill and Capitol Heights? This is what we know: Temple Hills (20748) and Capitol Heights (20743) are two of the top three gambling ZIP codes in Maryland in lottery sales. 20743 and 20748 have also been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis — they are “severe” foreclosure “hot spots.” Prince George’s has 24.5 percent of all the homes in Maryland that are at risk of foreclosure.
Just how much of these “revenue estimates” assume more debt being saddled on the backs of Prince George’s households? The National Opinion Research Center found that 90 percent of pathological gamblers gambled with their paycheck and family savings; and 30 percent reported gambling debts ranging from $75,000 to $150,000.
Are these “estimates” based on outsiders — tourists visiting National Harbor, residents from neighboring jurisdictions in the region — visiting a Prince George’s casino? Well, inquiring minds would love to know, particularly since Arundel Mills Mall and Baltimore City are scheduled to open casinos. Just who are all these customers that will be delivering all this revenue to the state and Penn National?
Isaac Falusi
Lanham
