First even old Europe understands the difference between sin, which is between you and your God, if you even believe in on, and the criminal code.
the fundamental issue, I believe, is a psychological one. They cannot stand the idea of other folks doing things that might be fun, but they don't allow themselves to indulge in. Sort of like finding out your neighbor three blocks way has open invite, free for all, sex orgies twice weekly. It is far enough away that it is not a personal nuisance, and let us say that the direct neighbors have no problem and may even be particiapnts, but instead the nuisance is the voyeuristic enticement of the whole thing. You cannot stand the notion that someone else might be having some fun. I am about to hear about transmission of STD's and car accidents by drunker revelers, and broken marriages, and a host of ills that follow.
It is an old Calvinist strain that tears our country apart. Ever notice how Eurpeans have high walls around their properties for privacy. Sometimes, in summer, they sunbath NAKED behind those walls. NAKED people out of doors where god and their fairy godmother can SEE them. Ever note that in lots of American neighborhoods you cannot have high fences around your property. WE have a right to see what YOU are up to.
You never spoke truer words. The hardcore moral NKVD on Free Republic is pretty much tied into the Calvinist/Reconstructionist world view.
Judging by screen names, there are no more than 8-10 of them, but clearly they have time to post like crazy.
I used to argue with them a lot. Until I remembered the old adage about why one should never wrestle with a pig.