William James Moore, Parsons, Kan.

On June 30, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against an Affordable Care Act requirement that employers cover certain contraceptive products at no extra charge, as part of preventive benefits in employee health insurance plans.

This ruling reportedly applied to certain closely held for-profit businesses whose owners object to being forced to pay for certain birth control methods considered in conflict with their religious beliefs. Soon after this ruling was announced, the White House press secretary expressed that the court’s decision “jeopardizes the health” of women employed by such companies. A related question would seem to be: “What about the millions of other women not working for any company?”

Some view this ruling as a long-due victory for personal liberty. Others see it as preventing access to contraceptive products. The debate and the blame game will no doubt continue for a long time and be recurring agenda items in future elections. Regardless of where one stands on this issue, below are a few thoughts for consideration:

Somewhere between birth and death, most people discover there are no free rides in life. Someone pays.

No for-profit company is in business to lose money.

Like other for-profit businesses, providers of homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and dental/health insurance do not exist to supply free products. One can therefore rest assured that there is a clause somewhere in the Affordable Care Act and the agreements with participating insurance companies that makes certain that any cost/loss suffered by an insurance company, as a result of providing government-mandated “free” products, will be duly reimbursed through tax dollars. Again, somebody pays.

How about taxing us less, leaving more of our money with us to responsibly do with as we choose, and backing off on controlling our personal affairs? Believe it or not, contraception can be purchased in the same manner as many other essential and nonessential products we have routine access to. This type of personal liberty has been around for countless years and can be exercised without infringing upon the liberty of others. Just some truly revolutionary ideas to consider.