Posted by Dunder on November 2, 2006, at 5:42:17
In reply to Re: Federal government urges abstinence » madeline, posted by zeugma on November 1, 2006, at 10:53:43
I see an analogy with drugs policy here. I believe that the government trying to persuade people to abstain from drugs or sex is a pointless exercise. People will continue to take drugs and have sex regardless (and perhaps because) of the fact that their leaders disapprove. I think that the best a government can hope to achieve is to educate people as to the risks involved and how best to minimise those risks.
Bush's policy with respect to only funding sexual health programs that encourage abstinance in Sub-Saharan Africa has been a disaster in terms of their ineffectuality in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS. In my view, those tax dollars would be far better spent on providing people with condoms and education on STD's and particularly HIV/AIDS.
poster:Dunder
thread:699389
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20061009/msgs/699713.html