Invasion of Privacy, Political Rite or Political Wrong?

Americans have long been guaranteed a right to privacy.  This right has expanded throughout the years as our society has grown and become more diversified along with the onslaught of technology. 

However, privacy rights seem to end up as a political football, tossed up every 8 years or so as a political rite of passage as candidates try to prove who is the 'most conservative' amongst them all, which is really pandering for votes. 

California and, ironically,  Governor Ronald Reagan, agreed on the issue of abortion in 1970 resulting in the most liberal therapeutic abortion act in the U.S.  California has been in the forefront of protecting the rights of individuals dealing with contraception and abortion for many years, yet we seem to become engaged in 'Demogogary 101' with politicians trying to control personal activities. 

It seems that all of those who want a Puritan America lost out and were born at the wrong time.  There is a deep disrespect for the right of privacy when it comes to intimate activity and who makes a choice as to whether they will bring a child into the world. 

Contraception makes so much sense in our world, yet conservative and religious leaders still think that banning contraception will somehow deter teenagers from engaging in intercourse.  It just promulgates unwanted pregnancies which results in more social ills.  Is it not time for politicians and religious zealots to get out of our personal lives? 

It seems that our right to privacy has been on attack for many years now with recording of phone conversations and cameras being installed on every street corner, and of course, whether other Americans have the right to engage in sexual activity.  We certainly should have laws that protect children from sexual activity and abuse, but should we as a nation really be talking about abortion and contraception with our ideals about our right to privacy? 

The point here is that anytime you talk about sex, it is a matter of titillation and we all read those postings on the Internet, but, really, is this what our politicians should be talking about?  Is it not un-American to invade the privacy rights of others?