home

Condom Wars

by TChris

First they attacked Roe v. Wade, now they're going after Griswold v. Connecticut. The next culture war (as if we need another one) will be waged over contraception, according to this article in the NY Times Magazine.

"We see a direct connection between the practice of contraception and the practice of abortion," says Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, an organization that has battled abortion for 27 years but that, like others, now has a larger mission. "The mind-set that invites a couple to use contraception is an antichild mind-set," she told me. "So when a baby is conceived accidentally, the couple already have this negative attitude toward the child. Therefore seeking an abortion is a natural outcome. We oppose all forms of contraception."

Contraception prevents abortion, an obvious reality that doesn't deter this crowd from arguing that sex without procreative intent is "anti-child." Sex without procreative intent is fun, and it seems a hard sell to convince people otherwise. The article informs us that a growing number of evangelicals are trying to do just that.

Many Christians who are active in the evolving anti-birth-control arena state frankly that what links their efforts is a religious commitment to altering the moral landscape of the country. In particular, and not to put too fine a point on it, they want to change the way Americans have sex.

Edward R. Martin Jr., a lawyer for Americans United for Life, sees contraception "as part of a mind-set that's worrisome in terms of respecting life." It's easy to think of things that are more disrespectful of life than condoms: the war in Iraq, global warming, and the death penalty are just a few.

Opposition to contraception is really opposition to using sex for pleasure. It's fueled by the same logic that promotes ineffective "abstinence only" sex education programs.

Contraception, by this logic, encourages sexual promiscuity, sexual deviance (like homosexuality) and a preoccupation with sex that is unhealthful even within marriage.

"Logic" is a kind word in that sentence. The fight against birth control has caused the usual Washington suspects to tell the usual lies.

Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who is also an obstetrician, has led a campaign to force condom makers to indicate on their labels that they may not prevent certain S.T.D.'s, specifically the human papillomavirus. In 2001, when he was in the House of Representatives, he issued a press release entitled "Condoms Do Not Prevent Most S.T.D.'s." Sex educators say this is a twisting of data to suit an ideologically driven anti-sex agenda. "An N.I.H. panel said condoms are impermeable to even the smallest S.T.D. viruses," Cynthia Dailard of Guttmacher says.

Truly offensive is the administration's assertion that there is an acceptable, government-approved standard of sexually decent behavior:

As the 2007 federal guidelines for [abstinence education] program financing state, "It is required that the abstinence education curriculum teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity."

Is it "expected" that we not stray from the missionary position, as well?

< General at the NSA Doesn't Know the Fourth Amendment | Increasing Violence in Iraq >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#1)
    by Bob In Pacifica on Sat May 06, 2006 at 10:18:20 PM EST
    The fundamentalist movement isn't anti-life. It's anti-sex. They are against abortion and birth control, which is sex without the consequence of pregnancy. They are against sex education for schoolchildren, because they want children to be afraid of sex. That is why they are also against pornography and the fear that children will see pictures of people having sex. Homosexuality is pleasure without pregnancy. It was the same in Germany, where the home and hearth of the Fatherland demanded the good mother, not the good sex partner. Same here in the Homeland. All religions that seem to last have strictures against sex. It works with totalitarian states too, often in tandem. The more control that the rulers have on personal sex lives, the more frustrated people are, the more their frustrations can be used for the state's benefit. Orwell described it well in 1984.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#2)
    by Zeno on Sat May 06, 2006 at 10:19:47 PM EST
    This is classic Catholic dogma, but it surprises me to see the American Life League speak so openly about it. Judie Brown and her minions have become emboldened in a way I don't understand. Do they really feel that the Alito confirmation has doomed Roe v. Wade and it's okay to raise the stakes? On those rare occasions when I accompany my parents to mass, I'm accustomed to hearing praise for "the culture of life" and attacks on "the culture of death" and "the contraceptive mentality". In fliers found in church bulletins and the pews, Judie Brown speaks quite frankly to her co-religionists about banning both abortion and contraception. However, attacking birth control outside Catholic circles is something that strikes me as new. Foolhardy, too, I hope.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#3)
    by Al on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:20:37 PM EST
    Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who is also an obstetrician, has led a campaign to force condom makers to indicate on their labels that they may not prevent certain S.T.D.'s, specifically the human papillomavirus.
    That's a good idea, because guys always stop to read the label before putting on a condom.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#4)
    by glanton on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:25:08 PM EST
    I am one of many people who called this a long time ago. No big surprises. It will get worse than this, far worse. Just Uhmerrikuhns being Uhmerrikuhns.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#5)
    by Edger on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:34:24 PM EST
    a campaign to force condom makers to indicate on their labels that they may not prevent certain S.T.D.'s, specifically the human papillomavirus... ... is simple fear mongering. They are against abortion and birth control, which is sex without the consequence of pregnancy. They are against sex education for schoolchildren, because they want children to be afraid of sex. They are projecting their own fears and insecurities and self disgust. In their desire to label anyone who doesn't feel the same self disgust as they do with their shriveled little black hearts as immoral they define themselves clearly. In other places they are called taliban.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#6)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:43:19 PM EST
    Just for the white kids though. We need more white kids. Condoms are for brown kids. Do the priests use them too? Just wondering.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:54:55 PM EST
    [Condoms] may not prevent certain S.T.D.'s, specifically the human papillomavirus.
    Aren't these the same people who are holding up the FDA's approval of an HPV vaccine?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 02:27:13 AM EST
    Contraception prevents abortion, an obvious reality
    TChris. Please stop quoting reality, it shows liberal bias. As a coincidence my comments a few minutes ago in the open thread address much of this issue.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#9)
    by HK on Sun May 07, 2006 at 02:58:12 AM EST
    I have been through three hellish pregnancies, including one I was very lucky to survive. The life of my baby was also in danger. I have been told that this life-threatening condition could well recur if I got pregnant again. Therefore, when I use contraception, is it not a pro-life decision?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#10)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 04:52:38 AM EST
    HK - according to these idiots it's the will of god. You obviously have a negative attitude towards the children you carry, and you've created the hellish medical problem yourself by rejecting gawd's will and by the amorality that keeps getting you pregnant. You would not have gotten pregnant if you hadn't enjoyed yourself so much, BTW. You carry a heavy burden of sin. Pray hard and long dear, and if god calls you home, well, it's his will. Maybe self flagellation wil help? Ostracism? Exorcism? Crucifixion? (/sarcasm)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#11)
    by jondee on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:00:32 AM EST
    Every sperm is sacred, every sperm is great - when any sperm gets wasted, God gets quite irate.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:00:45 AM EST
    Che: Do the priests use them too? Just wondering. How disgusting can you get, Che? You know you're going to burn for that, don't you? Oh hell, let's go all the way... How do you get a catholic nun pregnant? Easy...just dress her up like an altar boy. Ahem.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#13)
    by lilybart on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:27:23 AM EST
    HK. you are to try to have as many children as possible, and if you die, you will be rewarded by God. don't think of your motherless-children here on earth, god will care for them I am sure

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#14)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:03:22 AM EST
    Et al - I'm dead set against the premise of these folks, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Condoms truly do not protect against all STD's and if worn/handled impropely or if they tear/burst, they protect against no STD's. So the best disease and pregnancy protection is abstinence, and teenagers should be made aware of all the problems. So teaching abstinence and the proper use of condoms is best. Unfortunately both sides seem to enjoy screaming about each other to consider what's best for the children.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#15)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:17:23 AM EST
    heh...heh, heh... ahhh, on second thought I won't say it. Stating the obvious would be just... stating the obvious. heh. ;-)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:28:42 AM EST
    Edger. And There I was thinking nobody else would see the humour.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#17)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:30:55 AM EST
    Oscar, I'm still laughing so hard it took me awhile to get back up on the chair... heh, heh...

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:34:36 AM EST
    It's too easy though. When it comes to free material it puts dub to shame.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:35:03 AM EST
    ppj, you can talk abstinence forever, but it don't do crap, when people get horny they have sex. Condoms are about 99% effective, which is a lot better than no protection.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#20)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:39:30 AM EST
    Oscar, it even beats Stephen Colbert:
    "The greatest thing about this man is he's steady," Colbert said... "You know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change; this man's beliefs never will."
    Heh.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#21)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:42:49 AM EST
    Oscar, edger, Knock it off or we'll lose our funding.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:42:55 AM EST
    Three instinctive traits that have ensured the survival of the species. 1. I'm a bit peckish. 2 Fear- mind the dinasours don't getcha. 3 I better not.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:50:31 AM EST
    In fairness I must admit to have practiced abstinence myself, usually as a result of hearing the words, "You can't be serious"

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#24)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 08:50:36 AM EST
    Stop it Che... I had almost stopped laughing...

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#25)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:03:13 AM EST
    I think I'll just abstain from abstenance, thanks. That should satisfy them. No? Three ladies are having tea and talking about life:
    "I think my husband is having an affair" says the first "I found a pair of panties in his jacket pocket". "What did you do" the second lady asked? "I went into his office over the weekend and I stapled them to his office door, right where his secretary, co-workers, and boss would all see them." The second lady said "I think that my husband is having an affair also. I found a condom in his jacket pocket." "What did you do" the first lady asked. "I took a pin and pricked it full of holes and then I put it back" said the second lady. The third lady fainted.


    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:06:20 AM EST
    I think this condom issue is all hot air.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#27)
    by HK on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:08:10 AM EST
    Condoms truly do not protect against all STD's and if worn/handled impropely
    Jim, the improper use argument is a complete bum steer (pun intended). You can't seriously argue that something should not be promoted because of the risk of improper use...then again, following 9/11, maybe they should ban airline commercials, just in case... Everyone else: these posts are so good, I can't remember a Sunday this much fun since the week I hit 16, renounced Catholicism and stopped going to church. (I'm busy having my misspent youth now.)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#28)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:12:11 AM EST
    HK: the improper use argument is a complete bum steer (pun intended) Was that an innuendo? You know, an Italian suppository? ;-)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:15:16 AM EST
    " I never approve, or dissaprove, of anything now. It is an absurd attitude to take towards life. We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices. I never take notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do." OW

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:19:15 AM EST
    HK "How strange a thing this is. The priest telleth me that the soul is worth all the gold in the world, and the merchants say it is not worth a piece of clipped silver" OW

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#31)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:24:11 AM EST
    She began to suspect that he was less sexually experienced than he claimed...

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#32)
    by HK on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:52:47 AM EST
    Speaking of imagery...
    Condom Wars
    Now there's a fight I'd like to see!

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#33)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 09:55:38 AM EST
    Every "problem" they invent and go to "war" aginst just gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger...

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#34)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:04:50 AM EST
    Jim is not getting the thrust of this article.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#35)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:15:34 AM EST
    Too deep, Che?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#36)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:30:13 AM EST
    Maybe not deep enough.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#37)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:31:39 AM EST
    Che. Look, I think we better abstain from taking this any deeper. ;-)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#38)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:44:42 AM EST
    I've just been out in the fresh air, nice to be back in the fold. Nice to know you can manage without me.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:47:31 AM EST
    An improved last line. How did you manage without me?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#40)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:47:59 AM EST
    It's hard, Oscar, but we do manage to keep it up.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:50:00 AM EST
    Q: Mr. President, you and your administration have a long record of encouraging abstinence as opposed to teaching the use of contraception. Did you and your wife practice abstinence in limiting your family ? Did you personally practice abstinence prior to marriage ?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#42)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:53:02 AM EST
    You wouldn't be giving the soft cell?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#43)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:53:28 AM EST
    Mr. President...Did you personally practice abstinence prior to marriage? I wish his mother had been moral enough to.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#44)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:56:13 AM EST
    If G H is truly G Ws father it makes carnage of my "spore theory"

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:13:54 AM EST
    When I was young and only sixteen, Had Oscar spied me he'd call me girleen. My youth's not gone, Spirit hangs on. He might have wooed me some sweet biteen.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#46)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:18:06 AM EST
    I'm trying to work but you people keep dragging my mouse over and clicking this thread. Please stop.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#47)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:20:16 AM EST
    It's sunday, Che. Abstain. From work, I mean...

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#48)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:37:45 AM EST
    Girleen come play awhile, for my own business always bores me to death. I prefer other peoples.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#49)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:38:37 AM EST
    Edger, Us godless heathens don't take the day off. I'm trying to update my continuing education requirements for my liscense to practice. Fortunately I can do much of it on the computer, but I have to spend time reading and taking tests. It's easy to get distracted.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#50)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:39:34 AM EST
    Sorry for the OT, TL. Will cease.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#51)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 11:43:47 AM EST
    Go for it, Che. 100%. Best... :-)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#52)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun May 07, 2006 at 12:13:21 PM EST
    HK and Bigunit12 - What I wrote was:
    So teaching abstinence and the proper use of condoms is best. Unfortunately both sides seem to enjoy screaming about each other to consider what's best for the children.
    Something about the above you don't understand? Proper use because the flesh is week. "Just say no" so that they understand the limitations and problems associated with condoms.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#53)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun May 07, 2006 at 12:14:05 PM EST
    HK and Bigunit12 - What I wrote was:
    So teaching abstinence and the proper use of condoms is best. Unfortunately both sides seem to enjoy screaming about each other to consider what's best for the children.
    Something about the above you don't understand? Proper use because the flesh is week. "Just say no" so that they understand the limitations and problems associated with condoms.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#54)
    by Dadler on Sun May 07, 2006 at 12:30:51 PM EST
    Jim, "...screaming about each other to consider what's best for the children" actually doesn't make sense to me. And the flesh may be weak, but the mind is usually weaker. Unless educated and informed. Just WHAT to be educated and informed with is something, I dare say, we'd have quite a divergence of opinions over. On a side not, is Roger Clemens gonna come back with the Astros or what? Or are you a Rangers man?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#55)
    by HK on Sun May 07, 2006 at 12:39:39 PM EST
    teaching abstinence and the proper use of condoms is best
    [my emphasis] Jim, how do you teach both? "Don't have sex, kids, but if you do..." Doesn't that weaken the message just a tad? There are instructions inside every pack of condoms. Even though Al is right in his suggestion that few will read them, you still can't fault the maufacturers. The idea that possible improper use of condoms means that they should be shelved in favour of abstinence is cock and bull (pun iresistable - you guys are a bad influence.)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#56)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 01:07:31 PM EST
    Edger. It looks like just you and I.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#58)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun May 07, 2006 at 02:40:24 PM EST
    dadler - Perhaps plainer would be: So teaching abstinence and the proper use of condoms is best. Both sides enjoy playing politics too much to consider what's best for the children. There is no reason not to do both. Like the lady said, "Can't hurt." HK - It may weaken the message, but on the other hand it gets the facts across. The reasons to not have sex are numerous and real and the kids should understand them. On the other, if they are, they should understand the proper use and limitations of condoms. BTW - What do you mean by "you guys?" All I have done is say teach both. Don't you trust the kids to be smart enough to make an informed choice?

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#59)
    by Sailor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 02:58:18 PM EST
    Until recently, a CDC initiative called "Programs That Work" identified sex education programs that have been found to be effective in scientific studies and provided this information through its web site to interested communities.[8] In 2002, all five "Programs That Work" provided comprehensive sex education to teenagers, and none were "abstinence-only." In the last year, and without scientific justification, CDC has ended this initiative and erased information about these proven sex education programs from its web site.


    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#60)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 03:18:26 PM EST
    Don't you trust the kids to be smart enough to make an informed choice?
    Normaly I would indeed. But one might be a tad concerned that their education could, on the very rarest of occassions, be biased in just a teensy little way. Unlike the impartiality that the Arkansas board of education shows in this example. New Arkansas educational benchmarks. Teachers at his facility are forbidden to use the "e-word" (evolution) with the kids Snip. But Bob's personal issue was more specific, and the prohibition more insidious. In his words, "I am instructed NOT to use hard numbers when telling kids how old rocks are. I am supposed to say that these rocks are VERY VERY OLD ... but I am NOT to say that these rocks are thought to be about 300 million years old."

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#61)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 04:18:58 PM EST
    Only five words but keep it clean, Subject matter easy obscene. Perhaps better, Francais letter. Nudge nudge no what I mean.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#63)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:10:31 PM EST
    Oscar - Well, you gotta understand. Bill Clinton came from Arkansas. Need I say more? ;-) BTW - Could you give us a link on not teaching evolution? I'd like to read it

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#64)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:20:08 PM EST
    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#65)
    by Edger on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:23:14 PM EST
    Oscar,
    Righwingnut alert! If you are traveling through Kansas, home of "Dark Ages Education," you are likely to see a slick big billboard along the highway directing you to this website: www.scienceprovesit.com

    The rightwingnut promoters of ignorance who brought you the site and the billboard were also behind the stacking of the Kansas board of education with their reps and thereby allowing creationism to take equal billing with evolution.

    If you go to the site you'll see a short (about 30 second) flash movie that near the end displays these two timeless jewels of inspiration and enlightenment:

    Science is NOT the search for truth.

    Naturalism is more important than reality.

    Ummm... if you've ever wondered "when will they learn?" when dealing with these nuts... well, the answer is "probably never".



    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#66)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 05:50:05 PM EST
    Jeebus! And strangely enough I had a tour round that genesis site once. Jeebus again. I do like fantasy, and I'm not being cute here, this little piece is in my big poetry folder, for I quite like writing things fae. If there is an afterlife for me I'm going to faerie land, going to cavort with all those naughtie little faeries. Now don't be cynical and apply Mr Dickens words to other things. Bedtime for me. My best. In an utilitarian age, Of all other times. It is a matter of grave importance, that fairie tales should be respected. A nation without fancy, Without some great romance, Neverdid,nevercan, Never will Hold a place under the sun. Charles dickens. 1853.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#67)
    by Sailor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 07:42:55 PM EST
    Researchers organizing a federal panel on sexually transmitted diseases say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowed a congressman to include two abstinence-only proponents, bypassing the scientific approval process. [...] Scientists have complained about increasing government interference. Last year, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration officials told coordinators of a conference on suicide prevention to remove the words gay, lesbian and bisexual from its program and add a session on faith-based suicide prevention. [...] "At the CDC, they're beside themselves," said Jonathan Zenilman, president of the American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association and conference organizer. "These people aren't scientists; they haven't written anything. The only reason they're here is because of political pressure from the administration." Neither of the new speakers -- Patricia Sulak, an ob/gyn and director of the Worth the Wait program, and Eric Walsh, a California physician -- went through the peer-review process required of other participants, although CDC officials did not explain why. Both panelists were funded by the HHS, although others said they were told they had to pay their own way. [...] "We've spent $1.2 billion over a 25-year period on abstinence-only programs. Shouldn't we have one study that shows that they work?" asked William Smith, director for public policy for the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. He is no longer on the panel. [...] Someone from HHS contacted the CDC and the panel was changed. Two spokesmen said they could provide no details. [...] Coburn spokesman John Hart questioned why the CDC would present data that contradict the administration's policy.
    Because it's impossible to present data showing the misAdministrations policies are working!? Folks, this ain't politics, it's science, if the facts aren't there you can't spin it.


    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#68)
    by Sailor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 07:44:32 PM EST
    A fact sheet on the CDC website that included information on proper condom use, the effectiveness of different types of condoms, and studies showing that condom education does not promote sexual activity was replaced in October 2002 with a document that emphasizes condom failure rates and the effectiveness of abstinence.52 When a source inside the CDC questioned the actions, she was told that the changes were directed by Bush administration officials at the Department of Health and Human Services.


    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#69)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:34:34 PM EST
    So the best disease and pregnancy protection is abstinence, and teenagers should be made aware of all the problems. So teaching abstinence and the proper use of condoms is best.
    The best protection against auto crash injuries is to stay out of automobiles, but folks are gonna drive.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#70)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun May 07, 2006 at 10:41:06 PM EST
    The best protection against auto crash injuries is to stay out of automobiles, but folks are gonna drive.
    We don't teach drivers ed. to 13 year olds either. Teaching abstinence alone is stupid, but that's the natural response to your analogy.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#71)
    by Edger on Mon May 08, 2006 at 12:29:33 AM EST
    Sailor - Thanks for the link about the CDC site. Emphasizing condom failure rates and the effectiveness of abstinence at the direction by Bush administration officials is just the kind of ignorance we don't need. And it may be more than just ignorance, it may be part of a larger, not conspiracy, but tendency to place higher value on dollars than on people. Juxatposing seemingly unrelated bits of information leads one to a disturbing suspicion: ETSU student STD infection rate rising
    The levels of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), among ETSU students are on the rise. According to Student Health Services, the rates are increasing at an alarming rate as a result of students having unprotected sex.
    AIDS, HIV & STDs Market Research Reports
    The strategic interplay of of HIV/AIDS diagnostics and therapeutics is one of the most complex that the healthcare industry has ever seen. In order to cope with the challenges and opportunities of HIV/AIDS, companies [more...] Despite accounting for only 1% of global pharmaceutical sales, HIV antiretrovirals have experienced rapid growth between 2000-2004, accounting for $6.6 billion in global sales. Enthusiasm for new once daily FDCs and PIs such as [more...] This brief provides an overview of HIV drug pricing strategies in the US and UK. The US market represents the largest and most interesting market for the pharmaceutical industry. The UK market is also [more...]
    Follow the money? The latest Bush mega-catastrophe is now pharmaceuticals

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#72)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon May 08, 2006 at 10:05:10 AM EST
    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#73)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon May 08, 2006 at 10:22:31 AM EST
    Oh Daniel. Where were you when the Framers were doing there stuff. Please rise again, we need you. You can have the nomination uncontested. We can see it now. "Dan Defoe way to go" "You'd be great in two o eight" (authors note. There be some mighty milage in this one, more to come.)

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#74)
    by Sailor on Mon May 08, 2006 at 10:23:47 AM EST
    I've seen the wackos that claim they're going to heaven ... I'll gladly take hell. The company's better.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#75)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon May 08, 2006 at 10:28:20 AM EST
    Hat tip to Norm, who more than most has kept my skeptical faith in American culture from falling off the edge of the earth.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#76)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon May 08, 2006 at 10:36:49 AM EST
    My name is Daniel Defoe and I approve of this message. This message is paid for by GOP. Forgive me, not being a Yankee the TV terms for the mud slinging that masquerade as ads. over there are a little unfamiliar.

    Re: Condom Wars (none / 0) (#77)
    by kdog on Mon May 08, 2006 at 11:40:10 AM EST
    So the best disease and pregnancy protection is abstinence
    That's an awful boring, pleasureless way to live. I'll roll the dice with the rubbers. While they are still readily available....lol. I mean if they can ban a weed they can ban anything.