Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Abstinence costs $50 million

No wonder sex sells. It's a helluva lot cheaper than abstinence. Not to mention that it's been linked to multiple health benefits like boosting the immune system, curbing stress, lowering high blood pressure, burning calories, battling insomnia, and oh yeah, just being a damn good time.
Apparently the newly passed health care bill has a $50 million/year chunk just to tell kids that all of the above is off limits...until marriage.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, programs that are funded by this bill must "teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems." I can buy that. The only CERTAIN way to not die when you leave your house is to never leave your house, but we see how many even keeled folks follow that logic. They must also teach that pre-marital sex is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects." The only harmful physical effects I've noticed are the ones that come with a smile...if you know what I mean.
But, that kind of ruffage is probably the work of the devil anyway. Sex is for procreation. Oh, and god hates gays.
There is however, another $75 million set aside for "personal responsibility education" which teaches about both abstinence and contraception. It's nice to know that what could potentially save hormone crazed kids from having kids gets less funding than telling them "just say no." Have you ever met a teen? Have you ever been a teen?
One of my favorite memories from high school was when my psychology professor started class with saying, "I'm not gonna tell you not to take drugs. I'm gonna show you what they do and let you make up your own mind." I have respected him immensely since that day.
Choice is the catalyst for thinking. If you give someone only half of the facts, how can you expect them to make wise decisions? If you tell them what to do and don't allow choice, how are you teaching them? Trust that the minds you say you care so much about will be strong enough to handle the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Trojan condoms.

No comments: