Addiction in Society

Addiction—the thematic malady for our society—entails every type of psychological and societal problem

by Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D.

Dear Reverend Santorum: I'm 66, Is Sex Okay?

Mr. Santorum—I'm a senior—can I have sex when you become President?

Published on February 18, 2012 by Stanton Peele in Addiction in Society

This post is a response to America No Longer Works for Half Its People (Or More) by Stanton Peele

It turns out that what divides Americans most of all—to judge from the most heated current political controversies—is ... sex!

Since I am a Democrat—I'm for it! (At least, I think that's our position—maybe not?)

But the Republican presidential candidate who is now leading in the polls, Rick Santorum, has expressed the view that sex should only be permitted within marriage and for the purpose of procreation.

Here's my problem—I'm a senior citizen, and so is my girlfriend, so (a) we're not married, (b) we ain't procreating, (c) but we, ahem... and, God willing, will continue to, ahem...

Rick—we're not going to be banned from, ahem... going to heaven? I hasten to add: We're not gay, for heaven's sake!* Also, we don't use contraceptives—so we're okay there!

So, if you're elected President, will we be allowed to... ahem?

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*Rick, on a personal note, can I ask you—have you even considered that you may be... ahem... just a little bit... and that you might see more of the appeal in... ahem... if you dated within your gender? Just a thought!

** This discussion reminds me of the old joke concerning another reverend—the Reverend Thomas Malthus—who said that the population increases inexorably unless and until it is checked by famine, war, and disease (this was before reliable birth control—remember?): "Considering Malthus, is sex necessary? On the other hand, considering sex (and birth control), is Malthus necessary?"

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Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D., is a pioneering figure who has changed many of our ideas about addiction. He was voted best addiction blogger by All Treatment.

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