Drug Abuse and Teen Pregnancy: Liberals and Conservatives - Research Paper Example

Social work editorials For many decades, the debate on drug abuse control has pitted the conservatives and liberals on opposing sides. Some of the social issues where conservatives and liberals differ in opinions include drug abuse problem, pregnancy, abortion and marriage. This paper will discuss conflicting views of liberals and conservatives on drug abuse and teen pregnancy. Conservatives editorial on drug abuse Editorial one: opposing views: No drug test, no welfare States have the duty to provide public assistance to drug addicts. The debate on drug testing welfare assistance is anchored on the responsible use of public tax revenues. According to many conservatives, there is a dire need of benefit programs to assist the struggling drug addicts, but such programs should not be used to finance the illegal use of drugs. According to the article, many individuals miss on employment opportunities if they fail the drug test. The editorial supports this liberal view. Liberals emphasize that discrimination will maintain the illegal status of the distribution and sale of illegal drugs. According to liberals, such forced drug testing will hurt the right of individuals such as civil rights and welfare transfers to the poor citizens. Liberals advocate for drug abuse legalization rather than forced drug testing or decriminalization in the welfare transfers. Liberals generally assert that drug abuse problem is as a result of social, cultural or psychological causes and mainly stems from inequality in the society. According to liberals, controlling drug problem should entail rehabilitation through education, employment opportunities generation and social skills enhancement. According to liberals, the solution to drug abuse would be to legalize drugs since individuals are capable of making rational choices of their happiness and lifestyles and abstain from drugs that are relatively harmful such as cocaine. The liberals support government-funded drug abuse treatment with minimum punishments and drug testing as an unwarranted intrusion on people’s privacy and liberty (Yee, 3). On the other hand, conservatives advocate for stringent crime control models like discrimination in social welfare transfers or lengthy imprisonment terms for people convicted of drug abuse. Conservatives try to maintain the status quo by asserting the drug abusers generally fail to succeed in the overall economic or political system thus making irrational choices that puts them in to trouble with the authorities. Conservatives advance the use of threat of punishment in order to control drug abuse thus rewarding a drug user with social benefits is immoral. According to conservative views, rewards and punishments will instill self-discipline to each citizen thus employers are right to deny drug addicts employment or stop any social welfare transfers to the drug abusers. Conservatives mainly advocate for total ban on use of government resources in assisting drug addicts and compulsory drug-testing prior to employment (Yee, 7). In my opinion, welfare transfers to drug addicts should not be restricted since this will harm their families. Drug should be legalized since individuals make rational choices of which drugs to consume. The government should ban drug testing since it interferes with their fundamental freedoms and privacy. Editorial two on drug abuse: liberal editorial views Conservatives question the war on drugs The editor of the newspaper editorial starts by asserting that some prominent figures like New Jersey Governor Chris Christine are currently questioning how is the drug policy effective (Greenblatt, 1). Conservatives assert that offering more treatment to non-violent drug offenders is not the best policy rather than imprisonment terms (Greenblatt, 3). The conservatives assert that the current Obama administration has shown little interest in fighting drug abuse. The conservatives assert that providing counseling and treatment will make many vulnerable youths assume that drug abuse is normal and okay with their lives. The editor finally concludes that recreational use of Marijuan should be decriminalized and harsh laws implemented to curb drug abuse (Greenblatt, 6). On the other hand, liberals assert that counseling and treatment of non-violent drug offenders can help control the social problem. Teen pregnancy Editorial three: Liberal editorial The “Safe, legal, rare “illusion These editorials mainly contrast conservative and liberal policies on controlling teenage pregnancy. However, the editor categorically points out that American politics on sex, pregnancy and abortion generally are inclined towards making the practice rare or safe. The editorial view is mainly liberal since he asserts that fiercest conservatives like Rick Santorum have agreed that artificial birth control should be legalized. The writer takes a liberal approach by portraying the differences in liberal and conservative approaches of reaching a common goal of reducing abortions and teen pregnancy (Douthat, 2). According to the liberal view, use of scientific birth control measures such as contraceptives is the best method of reducing teen pregnancy and abortions. Liberals assert that teens have no control over the best time to have babies thus they are more at risk of getting pregnant with the wrong partner. Conservatives points out that about 12 percent of women who procured abortions cited lack of birth control measure. Liberals assert that women should make better choices about their lives and bodies since this assists them to complete their education and attain economic security. According to liberals “unplanned childbearing” is responsible for high rates of poor women and social welfare costs by the government (Douthat, 3). It is estimated that teenage pregnancy costs the US economy about $ 9 billion years in terms of public assistance since the teenage mothers are at a greater risk of both physical and emotional abuse. Conservatives are of the opposing view since they assert that the best method of controlling teen pregnancy is promoting chastity, fidelity and monogamy. Conservatives mainly emphasize the use of religious education and public health campaigns in controlling teen pregnancy through abstaining from sex until the appropriate time with the right partner. They argue that chastity and fidelity not only controls teen pregnancy but also sexually transmitted diseases thus massive public education through all forums should emphasize on chastity and fidelity in controlling teen pregnancy and emotions. Conservative are of the opinion that birth control methods and condoms are “morally unacceptable”. Conservatives believe life begins at conception thus allowing birth control methods is exterminating poor people but liberals counter this argument by asserting that it is generally wrong to keep creating more people thus teen pregnancy can be controlled through contraceptives (Douthat, 5). In my view, birth control measures and public education on teen pregnancy should be implemented in order to lower the high rates of unsafe abortions. Editorial four: Conservative views on teen pregnancy As Ryan looks to focus on Economy, spotlight shines on his other views Robert Pear starts by asserting that Ryan is the best architect of the conservative fiscal policies. This editorial takes conservative views on teen pregnancy, abortions and birth control methods. As a conservative, the editor claims that Ryan has tried to cut down the spending on abortions and family planning (Pear, 19). According to conservatives, the concept of personhood is the main guiding factor in the anti-abortions efforts. Some family planning and birth control methods can simply be construed as murder (Pear, 23). Conservatives like Ryan opposed the Health care law that guarantees free insurance cover for family planning and birth control contraceptives (Pear, 21). On the other hand, liberals endorse birth control methods in order to control abortion and teen pregnancy. Liberals assert that women should receive free contraceptives insurance cover in the Health care law in order to reduce teen pregnancy (Pear, 20). References: Douthat, R. “The safe, legal, rare illusion”. The New York times: Sunday review published on February 19th 2012, Pg 1-5. Retrieved on 13th October, 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/opinion/sunday/douthat-the-safe-legal-rare- illusion.html?ref=teenagepregnancy. (Online). Greenblatt, A. “Conservatives question the war on drugs”. Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-conservatives-question-war-on-drugs.html on October, 18th 2012. (Online). P 1-6. Pear, R. “As Ryan looks to focus on economy, spotlight shines on his other views”. New York Times August 12, 2012, pg 15-23. Retrieved on 18th October 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/us/politics/paul-ryans-views-on-abortion-guns-and- same-sex-marriage-come-to-forefront.html (online). Yee, K. “Opposing view: No drug test, no welfare” USA Today 3/18/2012, Pg 3-8. Retrieved on 13th October, 2012. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-03- 18/drug-tests-welfare-Yee/53620412/1. Online. Read More