A reader sends this along:

I recently attended a wedding in Madison, WI and this past Saturday morning (9/2) I visited the Farmer’s Market surrounding the capitol.

My family noticed that Planned Parenthood had a table there and they were giving balloons to children. These balloons had their name and logo on them. While I don’t know what can be done about this, I found it to be very disturbing. Society has done much to prevent tobacco companies from marketing to teens; promoting Planned Parenthood to children is equally, or even more disturbing.

I’d say so….the reader points out one of the most persistent irritants in our society’s attitude to young people and health.  In some areas there’s no room for even a little indulgence – total, absolute abstinence is the call. But in others…shrug. Just be safe, you know?

The data’s there. Sexual activity is bad for young people’s mental and physical health. It puts them at greater risk for all sorts of problems and propels them into all sorts of internal prisons, ironically limiting their inner freedom as they’re deluded into believing that they’re living it out. Who thinks that 16-year olds are better off smoking than not? No one, I don’t think. Who really thinks that 16-year olds are better off being sexually active than abstinent? Who? They’re out there, but I have never understood it, not at all.