Center for Inquiry Office of Public Policy committed to science, reason, and secularism as critical building blocks of American Democracy.

In an article entitled, "Think Tank Will Promote Thinking," the Washington Post informed its readers about the new wing of the Center for Inquiry: The goals of the new group are to establish relationships with sympathetic legislators, provide experts to give testimony before Congress, speak publicly on issues when they…

Continue ReadingCenter for Inquiry Office of Public Policy committed to science, reason, and secularism as critical building blocks of American Democracy.

Liberal Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives

Michael Moore recently published this pledge in the Los Angeles Times.  I applaud each of these twelve points: 1) We will always respect you. We will never, ever, call you "unpatriotic" simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us. 2) We…

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SEX

I know, a catchy title.  A little unfair maybe, since there’s nothing particularly titillating in what follows.  Or maybe there is, depending on what–what’s the saying?–“pumps yer nads!”   But in view of Erich’s post about our newly appointed head of Family Planning, I thought this might be the time to indulge more than a little in a topic rather close to my heart (depending on where one locates said metaphorical organ).

Did you know that the last week of October is national Protection From Pornography Week?  Yes, indeed, signed into law by our illustrious president, Mr. Bush back in 2003.  I for one had no idea I needed to be protected from it.  How reassuring to know that we are being defended from dangers both real and imagined by the ever watchful gaze of our very own homegrown clerics.

We’ve spent tax dollars on this.  Here is the link to the official White House proclamation.

Seems innocuous enough, even homey.  All that stuff about the destructive effects of porn on children, who can argue?

Has it occurred to anyone throughout the last two decades (beginning, in my opinion, with Ed Meese–anyone remember him?) of the war on pornography that–like alcohol and tobacco–pornography is simply not for children?  It seems a ludicrously simple idea to me–it was never intended for them.  We manage to have reasonable laws about things not intended for children.  We don’t let them drive cars (except at amusement parks, in specially constructed rides), we don’t let …

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Bush’s new head of family-planning programs opposes birth control

You didn't think it could get any loonier at the White House, did you?  According to this article by the Washington Post, Bush's new appointee in charge of family planning is opposed to all effective forms of family planning: The Bush administration has appointed a new chief of family-planning programs at…

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It’s not hunger. It’s just “low food security.”

According to this article, the USDA has revised its terminology to eliminate the word "hunger" from its annual report, replacing it with the unfamiliar phrase "low food security."   In doing so, was the Bush Administration (which has a long history of manipulating scientific terminology to suit its political agenda) merely playing politics again, or was…

Continue ReadingIt’s not hunger. It’s just “low food security.”