Common Sense Reigns: Feds Stop Dictating Bathroom and Shower Use [Updated] [with comment by Paul]

Today the Trump administration undid one of the Obama administration’s craziest flights of fancy, a “guidance” that claimed Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 somehow dictates that all bathrooms and showers in schools must be open to students based on the “gender identity” they choose on a particular day.

There was a time, many years ago, when I would have thought that the government not just permitting co-ed showers, but requiring them, was a brilliant idea. Then I turned 17. The Obama administration never grew up, apparently, but adults are now re-asserting control, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions quietly put the Obama fiasco out of its misery:

“Congress, state legislatures and local governments are in a position to adopt appropriate policies or laws addressing this issue,” Sessions said.

Assuming that any policies or laws are necessary at all. As I recall, we got along very well in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s without any “guidance” from governments at any level, as to how we should shower and go to the bathroom. People seemed to have those things pretty well figured out. Maybe people have gotten a whole lot stupider since then, or maybe the freaking government should just leave us alone!

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that when the shower controversy arose, I scoured my dog-eared copy of the Constitution repeatedly, trying to find the place where it says the national government is in charge of gender alignment in school showers. I searched assiduously and repeatedly, and I think I can now report a scoop: THERE IS NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT PUTS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN CHARGE OF SCHOOL SHOWERS, CO-ED OR OTHERWISE!

Apparently this is a breakthrough in constitutional law, which suggests how important the next couple of Supreme Court appointments will be.

PAUL ADDS: The New York Times reports that Betsy DeVos, the Education Secretary, strenuously resisted signing off on rescinding the Obama administration’s “bathroom rule.” The administration denies this, but I wouldn’t be surprised. She seems to have some liberal tendencies.

However, liberals are angry with DeVos. They say she “rolled over like a puppy.”

I wonder whether, at this point, Elizabeth Warren would shake her hand.

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