sexual frustration and deprivation can easily be channeled into ideological fervor and fanaticism. Its hard to get excited about politics right after you've been laid. A cigarette is plenty.

I have no doubt that the puritanical fervor of both fundamentalist Christians and Muslims springs from this source. also, the prudish sexual mores of Stalinist regimes come to mind.

I apologize to Jody for not delving deeper into the website she linked to. Instead, I immediately launched into one of my own pet peeve rants before I fully understood who these creeps were. The link to conservative politics is new to me, though, I thought it only applied to those of the hallelujoid persuasion. I can see now where the fervor regarding homophobia, anti-abortion, anti-sex ed and anti-contraceptives originates.

Don't get me wrong, these are valid moral and religious positions which do deserve respect and a fair hearing, but to a great extent, they arise from the anger emerging from the realization that there are people out there actually getting laid without having to pay a price for it.