Sterilizing Drug Addicts

Washington Times | Liz Trotta

[strider44]

This is a tough call. Permanent sterilization is pretty severe, but I can see the arguement. Thoughts?

[KantianBurke]

"the women treated had had a total of 1,322 abortions, with some having had 15. "

Is having 15 by one woman even possible??

[AppyPappy]

Darwin would love this one.

[weikel]

Im against the WOD but I see nothing wrong with this. Indeed I applaud the efforts of any private group using non coercive means to sterilize undesirables

[lodwick]

I like it a lot.

Thanks for the post.

[MrLeRoy]

The city's Health and Hospitals Corp., which runs 11 municipal hospitals, said in a statement that it is "philosophically opposed to coercing women, economically or otherwise, to make reproductive choices."

There is no such thing as 'economic coercion'; men and women who don't want to be sterilized can simply not take the money and be no worse off than before the offer was made.

[TBP]

Maybe we should just resort to Bob Grant's old proposal: "Give them all a free overdose."

[humblegunner]

Works every time.

[strider44]

Yes, but playing Devil's advocate - you can argue that these drug addicts/drunks are most likely not in a sober state of mind to make a life-altering decision like being sterilized. They see a quick $200 for more drugs. Of course you can make the counter-arguement that someone who is so willing to throw away arguably their most important bodily function for a quick fix of drugs doesn't deserve the right to procreate in the first place. However, people can change their behavior.

[Lichgod]

1322 abortions is pretty severe. Not to mention who knows how many crack babies left to die or stuck in a hospital suffering until they die.

They don?t mention the type of sterilization. Perhaps it is reversible with an operation (tubes tied? vasectomy?)

[Centurion2000]

I don't like abortion but if they can talk people into getting vasectomies and stuff I really don't see the problem.

Strange that people should be able to be talked into genetic suicide though.

[weikel]

Yes, but playing Devil's advocate - you can argue that these drug addicts/drunks are most likely not in a sober state of mind to make a life-altering decision like being sterilized.

You make the mistake of thinking I care. Drunkeness is no excuse for anything.

[strider44]

I have no idea if it's possible to have 15 abortions. What I do know is that even if it's half that number, the money to pay for them far exceeds the cost of being sterilized. Do we assume that these abortions take place at Planned Parenthood? Does that organization receive any public funding? One more question for anyone out there - Is it possible for a woman to be chemically sterilized? I've heard of this being used on men, like repeat child molesters and serial rapists. I'm just not aware of a permanent chemical "shot" that makes pregnancy impossible in the long-term.

[strider44]

Maybe I'm slow, but I don't understand the Lysol picture. Spray it in an unmentionable place I assume?

[eno_]

It is completely voluntary, and does not involve abortion. What's not to like?

[squibs]

I think this is great.
The taxpayers support a junky birth a heck of a lot longer than 2 years. It's a lifetime of being on the welfare books , both medical , criminal , and shrinks.
Plus not having taxpayer paid abortions helps.
Long term birth control doesn't necessarly mean sterilization.
How many addicts really change their behavior anyway? 1%?

[rellimpank]

--make it (permanent sterilization) a prerequisite for any kind of welfare or relief payment--

[strider44]

The only "not to like part" is if you have any belief in human redemption. Believe me, most of these people in this position deserve little if any respect. I agree with this program in general. I just think it presents as an interesting ethical dilema.

[strider44]

there's exceptions to every rule you forget. It is possible for an otherwise decent woman to have her marriage destoyed and be left with children and no means to support them. Should she be sterilized? I would say continued assistance should be terminated if the woman has new children out of wedlock.