We can’t afford it!

We can’t afford it!

This used to be a phrase that I heard often when I was growing up, when prudence and planning were common place and common sense. Now some thirty odd years later, my co-worker and I discuss the fact that it is seldom heard. As we sat in the car and he describe how his wife reacted to his suggestion that they should turn down an invitation to an event because they simply could not afford it. With two girls in University and one soon to start I can certainly see his point. His wife however, did not feel as if they could say or email those words in order to decline the invitation. So he left her to her own devices to tell them in some other way that they would not be going.

But that is not my point; he actually said the words and meant it. Restraint when it comes to finances is something the entire nation has definitely lost a grip on. Just this month I read reports that the average family spends 163% of the money they bring in. I know math in high school was hard people, but come on, you and I can both add. This is a huge problem that left unchecked is exponential in nature and destroys families and generations to come. Indulging every whim and want has proven to be a bad plan. The buy now and pay later mentality needs to be put to rest, I mean how can anyone gripe and complain about a government who is only doing what its citizens are doing? This mind frame is permeating every level of society and every age. Credit cards once considered an emergency source of funds are now the normally way that people live.

Just for fun let’s do a little math together. Say we have an imaginary friend named Jim and he makes $2000.00 per month and so does his wife Jill. That’s a combined total of $4000.00 not bad right? Now picture them with a house they didn’t put any money down to buy, a wedding they are still paying for, schooling they still owe, two cars in the driveway and kids on the way. Now it doesn’t seem like that big a number does it? So on average they spend; let just use 150% of their combined income, $6000.00 per month. That is a loss of $2000 per month or $24,000.00 per year, as you can see things get out of hand quickly.

My point is this, why do we always need to newest thing, the leading edge technology, that flat screen TV and why do we feel that we can’t wait until we save for it? Are we so obsessed with what others think of us, that we are forced to keep up with appearances and the Jones? How can someone justify this type of mentality and expect a different result other than debt and eventual bankruptcy? What about retirement, how are you ever going to stop working if you keep spending more than you make? The average working life span is from 25 to 65 that means 40 years. If you therefore spend 150% percent of your income that means by age 55 you have spent 65 years of money, 10 years’ worth of income disappears and there is nothing to show for it. I would also like to point out that this calculation does not consider interest at all.

I humbly suggest that this is not a way to live but a way to imprison you. Having debt and worrying about it, is unhealthy and I know that those reading this don’t need me to tell them about the pressures of life, so why not start to today, make a plan, live life and find financial freedom. Learn how to say “I Can’t Afford It,” and be okay with it.

For those struggling with their finances, one great resource that I have come across is Tom Copland’s Financial Ministries which can be accessed at http://www.biblefinance.org/

“UN deems contraception access a human right”

“UN deems contraception access a human right” was the title of the article that I read this morning printed in the 24 Hours Nov 15, 2012 edition, which can be found below. As I continued to read I realized that this catchy title was not only that, but an actual quotation from the United Nations.

The meat of the story is that developing countries would save $11.3 billion annually in health-care costs while also “allowing women to choose how many children to have and when.” It further mentions that, “Governments, civil society, health providers and communities have the responsibility to protect the right to family planning for women across the spectrum, including those who are young or unmarried.” And the conclusion of the article stated that in order to, “meet the need, $4.1 billion more is required each year — over and above the monies pledged by donor countries,” and that “Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women — and men — are denied this human right,”
I pondered for a long time before writing this post because of the potential sensitive and emotional nature of the topic and yet I am compelled by something deep within me. For that reason I will address the article point by point in a deliberate and methodical response. Those who know me will appreciate how difficult this is for me.

"The United Nations has declared access to contraception “an essential human right” and says providing it to women in developing countries would save $11.3 billion annually in health-care costs.
“Governments, civil society, health providers and communities have the responsibility to protect the right to family planning for women across the spectrum, including those who are young or unmarried,” says the State of the World Population 2012 report, which was released Wednesday.
Allowing women to choose how many children to have and when to have them has far-reaching benefits not only for individuals but for the economy and the world at large, the report says. Women who
use contraception are “generally healthier, better educated, more empowered in their households and communities and more economically productive,” said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund.
The report predicts that giving an additional 120 million women access to contraception would prevent the premature death of three million babies.
But for developing countries to meet the need, $4.1 billion more is required each year — over and above the monies pledged by donor countries.
“Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women — and men — are denied this human right,” Osotimehin said.— "

1. The Title: “UN deems contraception access a human right.”
While I agree that we need to fight for human rights, I cannot see how access to contraception falls into the category of a human rights. I see human rights as intangible things, such as freedom of speech, of liberty, of religion, or freedom to defend one’s self not something to be purchased. The title also does not touch on the other point I wish to bring up which is that with every right we claim also comes a corresponding responsibility.

2. “Governments, civil society, health providers and communities have the responsibility to protect the right to family planning for women across the spectrum, including those who are young or unmarried,”
While I agree that we need to protect the rights of others with respect to family planning, I believe that our current laws do so. For example no one can force someone to have sex with them and if they do it is a crime punishable by the courts and judicial system. On the flip side society as a whole cannot prevent someone from having children. In both of these scenario’s access to contraception has no impact.

3. “Allowing women to choose how many children to have and when to have them has far-reaching benefits not only for individuals but for the economy and the world at large,” the report says.
Um, I thought women already had choice regarding their bodies? This paragraph basically infers the women should now also consider the good of the economy, the state, and the world at large when it comes to family planning. I don’t know how the ladies feel about that.

4. Women who use contraception are “generally healthier, better educated, more empowered in their households and communities and more economically productive,”
This is a generalization and therefore a prejudicial statement. What about the women who chose abstinence? Where do they fall, or how about the women who believe that family planning and having children are a natural result of having sex/intercourse and have nothing to do with contraception? Are they also stating that women who don’t use contraception are stupid, submissive, uneducated and non-productive?

5. The report predicts that giving an additional 120 million women access to contraception would prevent the premature death of three million babies.
How is having access to contraceptives going to prevent the premature death of babies? If you use contraceptives you won’t have any babies? If you are not using contraception, you trying to have them and in that case we must ask, why are they dying? I mean even if you argue that health care in developing countries is not as good as in North America, are you also saying that only the rich or those with access to good health care should have children? Or is this a comment on unwanted children and perhaps discussing the abortion issue?

6. But for developing countries to meet the need, $4.1 billion more is required each year — over and above the monies pledged by donor countries.
As a citizen of a donor country I believe this money could be better spent on other things, including, but not exclusive to education and the feeding of the numerous parentless children around the globe.

7. Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women — and men — are denied this human right.
As I mentioned above, while I agree that we need to fight for human rights, I cannot see how access to contraception; under the guise of Family Planning, falls into the category of a human rights. Also having a child or children is a privilege and should never be seen as only a right. Too many men and women have children and then simply choose to ignore them and allow society to mold them. I am more inclined to think that these children have more rights than the parents. They have a right to be raised properly, since their parents chose to exercise their privilege to have them. As one of my friends wrote the other day, parenting does not end with the birth of a child; it is an ongoing state which needs to evolve and change with the growth of a child.

The bottom line is this; human rights exist and need to be championed to ensure that they continue to exist. Bringing attention to human rights is necessary and important; however should you chose to do so, I would urge you to ensure that printed articles are thoroughly examined before being printed. And lastly; while I believe the decision to have a family/children is an important one and not to be taken lightly, I cannot agree that the report’s conclusion that having greater access to contraception will have an impact on it, nor will making it a human right.

If you are interested you can view the full State of the World Population 2012 report.