teresawprice's review against another edition
3.0
This book has an incredible amount of information on the policing of sexuality and how that threatens liberty that it presents very clearly, but it’s often reductive on other issues. The author managed to write a whole book on America’s unique crusade against sexual freedom and individual autonomy that is still heavily steeped in American exceptionalism. Based on this book, one might get the impression that the United States has moved on from all prejudices not based on sexuality if it weren’t for all the times the author makes sure to emphasize how oppressive the U.S. is by comparing it to an Asian country.
It also barely covers the sale of sex. The sale of sexual material is covers extensively, but not the sale of sex. To be fair, America is less unique in this regard, but considering the theme of eroding individual rights through the regulation of sexuality, I’d expect more on how the criminalization of sex work grants the government the power to limit our bodily autonomy. Recently, these limitations were cited by Justice Alito as evidence that the government has the right to ban abortion.
It also barely covers the sale of sex. The sale of sexual material is covers extensively, but not the sale of sex. To be fair, America is less unique in this regard, but considering the theme of eroding individual rights through the regulation of sexuality, I’d expect more on how the criminalization of sex work grants the government the power to limit our bodily autonomy. Recently, these limitations were cited by Justice Alito as evidence that the government has the right to ban abortion.
gregorydelaurentis's review
5.0
Mr. Klein pulls no punches as to how well he sets up his arguments involving sexual freedom of expression and liberty that all Americans should be able to enjoy on a personal basis. He is excellent in his power of reason and logic and skilled in his presentation of important facts. With a level of intellectual professionalism he brings forth the arguments and tactics of the Anti-sex communities, organizations, and misguided leaders. He reveals their biases and hatreds and sets them against the cold hard facts in regards the 'American Democratic Covenant', where we all agree, as Americans, to accept the discomfort that the choices of others give us for the greater benefit--that is being able to live together as a single pluralistic society. But as Mr. Klein brings out, many on the religious left believe that sexuality falls outside of this covenant, and patently refuse to accept the discomfort that some individual's sexual choices cause them, even though these people accept the discomfort that the choices of the left cause them. Mr. Klein does an excellent job in clarifying one fact that is for certain: this war on sex is not just limited to the sexual choices of a segment(s) of American society, but ALL choices of ALL Americans because to succeed, the anti-sex groups have to attack, directly, the pillars of the Constitution, the foundation of this great nation.
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