Aside from the completely unconstitutional attempt to force religious institutions to fund behavior that is prohibited in their religion, the entire basis of the mess -- government subsidized contraception-- is an ethical, constitutional mess even aside from religion.
It's entirely antithetical to the underlying foundation of this republic to take money from some people to subsidize other peoples' product purchases. Contraception is cheap and freely available in the market. There's no reason to subsidize it. The idea that promoting widespread use of contraception is somehow an overriding public benefit is both questionable and beside the point. The daily use of toothpaste is an undeniable public health benefit of gargantuan proportions, but nobody promotes government subsidies for toothpaste.
Subsidy of elective regular purchases is also not what insurance is supposed to be for. In no other area of insurance would this be considered sane. Insurance is supposed to insure you against the unexpected catastrophe, not planned expenditures. That's why auto insurance doesn't cover oil changes and wiper blades, and homeowners insurance doesn't cover vacuuming your carpets.
I'm always surprised at how Americans are so tied up in knots when it comes to birth control. Like guns, it seems to set off some kind of trigger in the American social fabric, of the "if you aren't for us you're against us" kind.
ReplyDeleteFascinating people, you Americans.