FDR delivered us privacy. Republicans want to take it away, and then leer into our bedrooms.

Busybody: "A person who pries into or meddles in the affairs of others." (Dictionary.com)

Above: "Private Road," an oil painting by George Henry Melcher (1881-1957), created while he was in the WPA, 1939. People need some degree of privacy; a place or mental state free from obnoxious busybodies. Image courtesy of the General Services Administration and the Long Beach Museum of Art.

Above: The description for this photograph reads, "Named to Supreme Court. Washington, D.C., March 20 [1939]. William O. Douglas... was today nominated to the Supreme Court Bench by President Roosevelt. This picture of Douglas... was made today shortly after the announcement from the White House." Douglas would serve on the Court from 1939-1975. Photo by Harris & Ewing, courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Above: Douglas was a committed New Dealer and, over time, became increasingly interested in protecting civil liberties. Photo from The Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine), January 1, 1938, from newspapers.com, and used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.

FDR, William Douglas, and Privacy

FDR put William Douglas on the Supreme Court in 1939. And, like many other judicial instances, FDR's appointment led to increased equality and personal freedom. In Griswold v. Connecticut (381 U.S. 479, 1965), the Supreme Court held that married people have the right to learn about and use contraception.

In the majority opinion, Douglas asked, "Would we allow the police to search the sacred precincts of marital bedrooms for telltale signs of the use of contraceptives? The very idea is repulsive to the notions of privacy surrounding the marriage relationship. We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights older than our political parties, older than our school system."

And yet, here we are, well into the 21st century, and our Republican Supreme Court does indeed want the government to police our bedrooms. Republicans want to know: "Who are you married to? What are you doing in your bedroom? Did you put a condom on? I don't think I like that. Are you taking birth control? Let me see it - I need to see it. What kind of sex are you having? I need to know. Maybe I'll watch you two, to make sure you're not doing things I wouldn't do. Are you pregnant?? Oh wonderful, I now appoint myself as your family manager. You can email me your weekly reports."

In the recent abortion case, the Republican Justice Clarence Thomas expressly stated that it's time to overturn the Griswold ruling. However, Republican Justice Brett Kavanaugh tried to calm things down by writing, "First is the question of how this decision will affect other precedents involving issues such as contraception and marriage - in particular, the decisions in Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U. S. 479 (1965)... I emphasize what the Court today states: Overruling Roe does not mean the overruling of those precedents, and does not threaten or cast doubt on those precedents."

Nonsense. Some (if not all) of the Republican justices lied to get on the Court. They led Senators to believe that they would not overturn Roe, and then they did just that, without hesitation. Now they're telling us, "Hey, don't worry, we won't go any further. Trust us." Do you believe them? If so, the justices are also selling the Brooklyn Bridge. Maybe you can buy that too.

What Kavanaugh and the others are likely doing is playing the long game - waiting until the furor of the recent decision dies down. Next, they will remove protections for same-sex marriage. Then for sex acts that can't result in pregnancy, for example, using contraceptives. You see, even something as simple as a condom sometimes had to be sold "under the counter" back in the day, lest the busybodies see you and call the police (see, "The Birth Control Controversy in Connecticut" eCommons, University of Dayton School of Law). 

And over the long-term, as Americans keep electing Republicans--in the name of "limited government"--our freedom and quality of life will continue to deteriorate. "Inter-racial marriages?? That's not in the Constitution. Stop it! Integrated schools?? Where does it say that? Go back to your colored schools! Social Security?? No, no, no... the general welfare means nothing, if it means anything. Back to the work houses and poor houses, you oldies!"

Make no mistake about it: A vote for a Republican (or not voting at all) is a self-destructive act against your privacy. You're inviting the government into your bedroom, to leer at you and take notes.

And it will be interesting to see, during the midterms, how many people are willing to give up their right to privacy, in the hopes of saving a few bucks at the gas pump, or to carry a pistol around like Wyatt Earp, or to "own the libs."

"I prefer and I am sure you prefer that broader definition of liberty under which we are moving forward to greater freedom, to greater security for the average man than he has ever known before in the history of America."

--President Franklin Roosevelt, "Fireside Chat," September 30, 1934.