Liberal Economics Political Debating Forum

After spending the weekend reading through the exciting novel we call healthcare reform, I was certain that I would at last stumble upon a topic that so desperately required attention.  With nineteen million new cases of STD infections each year in the U.S., I was certain that there were be an entire section, or at least a paragraph, devoted to this vital topic.  After finally coming across it, I almost wish that I hadn’t.  Apparently, a pandemic of this type is only worth about one hundred and fifty million dollars.  That may sound like a lot, but it’s less than half a buck per person.

While most of you are sure to think that this doesn’t affect you, you are wrong.  Over fifty percent of these infections hit people between the ages of 15 and 24.  That means that they are your children, your grandchildren, your cousins, or perhaps even your friend.  And in situations where you don’t even know or come across the person who is recently infected, you’d be surprised to find out how many times it’s your tax dollars that go for their treatment.

While one hundred and fifty million might seem like a lot, it’s not even ten percent of what sexually transmitted diseases cost our healthcare system each year.  With nearly $16 billion spent to fight the effects of these diseases, it would only make sense to spend a much larger proportion in order to fight them off before they even happen.  Since these diseases can be as silent as they are deadly, a proactive approach is an absolute requisite.

One simple way to combat this epidemic is regular STD testing, and a willingness to have open and honest discussions regarding STDs and other sexual health issues.   We need to stop arguing about whether or not sexual education is the right thing to do, and start worrying about what message we want to send.   If you talk with most teenagers who are considering to become sexually active, the majority of them will tell you that their major concern is an unwanted pregnancy.   What they also need to be concerned with are the many different life threatening conditions that STDs bring to play.

Whether we like it or not, sex is here to stay and we might as well accept it. The birth control pill has ushered in a new era of sexual freedom for many people, and many people now feel like they are doing all that they need to do to be sexually responsible .  The truth, however, is that it’s also opened up a Pandora’s box of other issues that are still seldom ever talked about.  If we look at the continent of Europe, we can get a better picture of what possible changes might benefit our nation.   They are much more sexually active, and much more sexually open too.  It’s the latter part that has led them to have a much lower STD rate than our nation.

A year ago, there was $400 million in the stimulus bill for STD testing and HIV testing.   However, both parties had a change of heart for some reason and quickly removed it.   Regardless of your political beliefs, this is one investment that can have a return for our nation that would make any corporate executive salivate .  Until then, however, we will continue to pay the price for this and other equivalent past decisions.