First They Came For Butt Plugs

As the culture wars rage on, the stakes hit closer to home. If there is any doubt in your mind that the fundamentalist footsoldiers are after more than limited access to abortion and marriage, you can put it to rest. A bill is being considered in South Carolina that would make the sale of sex toys a felony. That means a dolphin-shaped vibrator could cost you five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

You may remember that earlier in the year Missouri banned health clinics from providing birth control including both contraceptives and "natural family planning" (i.e. the rhythm method).

The agenda of the radical religious right is about far more than "traditional family values." They intend to tell you how and with whom you can have sex. They also intend to make family planning decisions for you. And all of this is being facilitated by "tax-cut Republicans" who find the religious right offensive but are willing to play along as long as their stock dividends aren't taxed. Look no further than "straight shooter" John McCain for a poster-child of the mounting power of theocrats. His cuddly relationship with Jerry Fallwell in the name of wooing a conservative base empowers a very dangerous element in our society.

If you can come up with any compelling interest for the government in deciding how consenting adults have sex, please let me know.