Moral decay

Reich and Thoma on public vs private morality, via Thoma.  I don't necessarily agree that what people do in their bedroom is their own business, but I do marvel at the hypocrisy of the Republican candidates.  They want small government, but want to impose serious restrictions on the private morality of people.  I agree that politicians should focus on the public morality side of things, and only private morality when it truly does have serious implications on the welfare of the nation.  Gays being married, I don't think, will tear down the moral fiber of every American, nor will it harm the economics side of things.  Access to contraception, if anything, makes people more productive, as they don't have babies to worry about - that is, of course, if they aren't spending more time canoodling since they don't have to worry about babies to take care of.

I will say that I think there is some private moral rot, but not in ways that the Republicans are suggesting.  I think people should step up and be more responsible and more active, kinder to other folks, etc.  Public moral rot, though, that's deeply concerning, and undermining "the integrity of [our] economy and democracy", that's not cool.