We do know the GOP likes to claim it’s the “party of ideas.” Too bad they wage war on actual thought.

In today’s installment, we see yet another story about how abstinence only education doesn’t work, hasn’t cut the number of teen pregnancies or STDs or even the age when sexual activity begins:

“Vast sums of federal monies continue to be directed toward these programs. And, in fact, there is evidence to suggest that some of these programs are even harmful and have negative consequences by not providing adequate information for those teens who do become sexually active,” Dr. Margaret Blythe of the American Academy of Pediatrics told the committee.

These programs, backed by many social conservatives who oppose the teaching of contraception methods to teenagers in schools, have received about $1.3 billion in federal funds since the late 1990s. …

<snip>

Experts from the American Public Health Association and U.S. Institute of Medicine testified that scientific studies have not found that abstinence-only teaching works to cut pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases or the age when sexual activity begins.

The American Psychological Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also issued statements to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform criticizing the abstinence-only programs.

Comprehensive sex education programs should emphasize abstinence as the best way for a teenager to avoid pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), Blythe said.

“Those adolescents who choose to abstain from sexual intercourse should obviously be encouraged and supported in their decisions by their families, peers and communities. But abstinence should not be the only strategy that is discussed,” Blythe said.

And so here we have a person talking sense. Abstinence should be taught, but it cannot be the only thing taught, because this is tantamount to flushing your tax dollars down the toilet.

Like I said, sensible. Unless you’re Republican:

Rep. John Duncan, a Tennessee Republican, said that it seems “rather elitist” that people with academic degrees in health think they know better than parents what type of sex education is appropriate. “I don’t think it’s something we should abandon,” he said of abstinence-only funding.

I tell you what - this is my favorite quote of the week, and might be my favorite quote of the year.

It’s elitist to think. Those people who have studied this and done surveys and crunched the numbers - bunch of snobs. Far better to base government policy and spend tax dollars on the gut feelings of moms and dads who are terrified little Johnny or Jenny might be getting it on, and want the big government to put a stop to it even though their preferred method of doing so has been proven ineffective.

But, what is this “proof” of which you speak? Surely the whole idea of “proof” itself is elitist.

There’s always been a strain of anti-intellectualism inherent in the conservative movement, but I like this emerging meme of thought as elitist. Instinctual animals, conservatives are. Which maybe explains why conserative Johnny and Jennie are ignoring the abstinence bit in the first place.