Fascinating...I've read it many times, but never quite "looked" at it in the way you've described. Its enough to have me rethinking my position on the matter.
I've long believed though, that the whole matter has been a political football for politicians in strengthening their constituency in order to push for a larger-picture agenda unrelated to the issue, that divides our Nation nearly in half. I don't think my view of that will change, but I always remain open.
Thanks for pointing out something to me that I didn't "see".