I thought socialism was about helping people in need and ensuring that people facing tough financial situations were given a hand up by others. That’s why I was confused, as I often am when trying to decode what a socialist is saying, when the Young Democratic Socialists of America group at the University of Connecticut complained about the pregnancy resource center van on campus, operated by a group connected to the national pro-life group CareNet, a network of pregnancy resource centers.
The student op-ed, published today, is written by the executive board of Young Democratic Socialists of America at the university. The op-ed says, “The van that appears on campus monthly is funded by Caring Families CT, a pro-life group that runs various anti-abortion programs throughout the state. The organization runs the Women’s Center of Eastern Connecticut, a fake pregnancy center that misleads pregnant people in order to keep them from seeking abortions. Caring Families themselves are funded by Care Net, a nationwide pro-life group that runs over 1,100 fake pregnancy centers around North America.”
To be clear, when the students say fake, they mean “doesn’t commit abortions.” Remember that completely socialist countries often end with millions of citizens dying quickly or slowly, so supporting abortion fits in nicely with the pro-death agenda of hardcore socialists.
In fact, pregnancy resource centers provide millions of dollars a year of free services in the form of pregnancy tests, diapers, job counseling, and housing assistance. A 2018 report by Care Net noted the following:
“In 2017, pregnancy centers provided nearly 2,000,000 people, primarily women and youth, in the United States with free services, with estimated community cost savings of at least $161 million annually. Women, youth, and men received services including pregnancy tests, life-affirming options consultation, sexual risk avoidance education, parenting and prenatal education, ultrasound and medical services, community referrals, and material support.
Highlighted 2017 results include: more than seven in 10 locations offered free ultrasounds with over 400,000 performed; one in four locations offered STI/STD testing; 295,900 moms and dads attended parenting courses; and, 24,100 clients received after-abortion support. In addition, it is estimated that 67,400 volunteers gave of their time at pregnancy centers, of which 7,500 are estimated to be medical professionals.”
It always amuses me when pro-abortion activists complain that pro-lifers don’t help women and then also complain when pro-lifers help women. But logic and economics are often incredibly difficult for socialists to grasp, after all.