More on Collegiate Contraception and Public Subsidy

I am grateful that Michael posted Professor Ellen Wertheimer’s thoughts on our postings concerning the public subsidies of collegiate contraception. I had the pleasure of meeting her almost four years ago when I visited Villanova Law for a couple of days. I am also very grateful for Rick’s thoughtful response. Since I have already spent some time on commenting on this issue, I will present my agreement with Rick’s response to Professor Wertheimer.

However, there is one additional point that I would like to make on this issue. To those who would vote “yes” to repealing the law reducing public subsidies, I pose a question: will the public subsidies end with the underwriting of contraceptives for collegians? I previously indicated that I believe this would encourage more (casual) sex amongst young people: if contraceptives are free or low-cost, why not? What is there to lose? Lots, I suggest; lots. For example, what happens when the incidence of sexually transmitted disease increases if sexual activity is promoted and also increases? Who will pay for the costs associated with these additional expenses? Moreover, who will claim responsibility for the psychological damage that will likely result to young people who come to realize that premarital sex brings other burdens (such as self-objectification and objectification of the other)? What are the costs—financial, social, and individual—that will result when these concerns become manifested? Moreover, what precedents will these subsidies instigate? I can think of several, but I’ll offer a general response for the time being: if someone’s sexual gratification is to be subsidized, what should the response be to claims such as this: “I want whatever gratifies me to be subsidized too!”

If the “yeas” carry the day on the issue of collegiate contraception, will those voting in the affirmative be prepared to vote “yes” when high schoolers, junior highschoolers, and elementary schoolers want their contraception publicly subsidized, too? If any MOJ contributor or reader thinks I am getting a bit carried away on the topic, I take the opportunity to refresh their recollection about what is going on in one region of the country that is contributing to the promotion of sexual activity amongst much younger people in a public school system [HERE].    RJA sj