<a href="http://www.plastic.com/article.html?sid=03/02/15/19555549;mode=flat">Bush Eases 'Abortion' Funding Ban: An Effective Compromise?</a> on <a href="http://www.plastic.com/">Plastic</a> documents a recent announcement from the White House that: <bq>Any agency that provides treatment for AIDS will get the money, as long as none of the funds are used for family planning purposes or for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.</bq> This is a step back in policy for the Bush administration, which heretofore has only allowed money to be used to convince kids that sex sucks. Or rather, doesn't suck, but is bad. They should, in fact, avoid it at all costs until married, after which they should never use contraception because Jesus doesn't like rubbers. Then they should shoot out spawn as fast as they can to either keep themselves firmly entrenched in their proper place in society or generate more soldiers for the everlasting war. It's not that big a step back, though. A lot of money is still going to faith-based charities and organizations. Most of these don't deal with abortion; many don't deal with realistic birth-control. Be observant on what Bush is offering here. Just because he's backing off on his insanely strict no-abortion policy doesn't mean he's being reasonable now. The administration is still not supporting abortion, and isn't really even tolerating it. You see how elated he's managed to make some people on Capitol hill feel? <bq>It certainly is a welcome change from their position on family planning funds.</bq> He hasn't done anything but instill a draconian policy for two years, then release it just a touch to almost the same level it was before he showed up, and then in only certain countries in which he's trying to curry favor, and all of a sudden he's a compromising hero. You've still got less than you started with. Just because he stopped kicking you in the ass doesn't mean you should thank him for punching you in the face.