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March 17, 2007
A Pop Quiz
I don't normally give quizzes here on Abnormal Interests, but I thought I'd try a simple one and see how it works. You don't even need to tell me your answer.
Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?
That's the only question on this quiz. I am sure that the empirically correct answer to this question is "yes" if by contraceptives one means condoms. But just now, I am not so interested if you got the correct answer. My guess is that correct or not, you where able to give an answer and it didn't take you all that long to come up with it.
Now please read this part of a question and answer secession between a reporter and John McCain. This is from The New York Times blog The Caucus and is in follow up to a question about the government supplying contraceptives and counseling on the use of contraceptives.
Q: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”Mr. McCain: (Long pause) “You’ve stumped me.”
Q: “I mean, I think you’d probably agree it probably does help stop it?”
Mr. McCain: (Laughs) “Are we on the Straight Talk express? I’m not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I’m sure I’ve taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception – I’m sure I’m opposed to government spending on it, I’m sure I support the president’s policies on it.”
The question at this point was what McCain thought about a much-discussed fact of the matter and he didn't seem to know what he thought.
The real problem that McCain has, at least on this issue, is confusion between the facts of the matter and policy. Whether or not condoms help stop the spread of HIV is a matter of fact not a matter of policy. McCain may or may not have a position on contraception and while I would hope that it comprehended the facts of the matter, it need not. His position could even be against the facts of the matter. Perhaps even with good reason. Perhaps he sees some more compelling fact that renders the condom issue insignificant. I would likely disagree but I would understand it.
Sure, making a mistake about a fact of the matter can make one look like a fool and no one likes to look like a fool, certainly not a politician. But this is not some kind of obscure issue known only to a few specialists. McCain was not asked how to parse an Ugaritic verb or what the mean distance is between Mercury and Mars or even which wine goes best with Limburger cheese. It is impossible to believe that McCain has not been exposed to the facts of the matter with regard to condoms and HIV.
Policies should be based on facts but facts and policies are quite different things.
Posted by Duane Smith at March 17, 2007 2:36 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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Comments
Since you are doing a poll ...
If we are talking about exactly one perfectly random sexual encounter, then using a condom will reduce the chances of HIV transmission.
On a more general level, however, sexual encounters aren't random. The behavior of the participants will change based on the availability of condoms. Eventually, condoms become tiresome and ...
Anyway, the gays living near my home in San Francisco have both HIV and condoms.
Posted by: Looney at March 18, 2007 7:26 PM
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