Funding for abstinence likely to drop

[deadparrot]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Federal funding for abstinence education will likely fall considerably this year as Democratic leaders said Wednesday they will let a $50 million grant program expire on June 30.

The program, known as Title V, has not proven to be effective, said Rep. John Dingell (news, bio, voting record), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dingell's committee has jurisdiction over Title V funding. With a budget deficit and a war, he said the decision to eliminate funding was not a difficult one.

"Abstinence-only seems to be a colossal failure," Dingell said.

To back that viewpoint, he cited a recent report to Congress that showed students in four abstinence-until-marriage programs were just as likely to have sex as those who were not in the abstinence programs. They also had sex at about the same age as students who did not take part in the four programs — 14.9 years, according to Mathematica Policy Research Inc.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/abstinence_funding

[HockeyMom]

1. "until MARRIAGE"

those two words are the major problem I have with this. Abstinence only for unmarried 40 year olds????? ABSURD.

This is all RELIGIOUS based and we all KNOW IT.

[FatDave]

2. Colossal Failure

"Abstinence-only seems to be a colossal failure," Dingell said.

Like that's ever stopped us before!

[Sequoia]

3. Colossal Failure, all our teens are pregnant.

Too bad we didn't tell them about the pill or condoms.

[HawkerHurricane]

4. What's easier to break than a condom?

A promise not to have sex.

[Sequoia]

7. Ha!

[greiner3]

5. After finding out about abstinence recently;

I wish I had been involved in such a quaint idea. According to teens and 20 somethings I've talked to, the silver ring may preclude penile-vaginal sex. What it does not prohibit is oral sex and, get this, anal sex. These good xtians are getting more than I ever did at that age (don't ask!). I say it's not right and it's not fair! Damn it, we have some catching up to do in the sex department. I'm not saying to convert, just pretend you are part of the mind control fuck-you crowd. Mary? God said for you to suck on this!

[donco6]

12. Wow. I guess I'm still a virgin then.

:)

BWA-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

[DemSoccerMom]

6. Yes, let's ALL wait until "marriage"

So, OK. I just thought of something: What about the students who identify themselves as gay or lesbian? For them, "until marriage" would mean never? Gee. The whole CONCEPT of "waiting until marriage" just reeks of fundie dogma, huh?

Yeah, I definitely can't imagine why THIS genius tactic failed. :sarcasm:

[prole_for_peace]

8. i am 41 and unmarried...

my bf and i have been together for 12 years but neither of us wanted kids or really cared about being married. so i guess we aren't supposed to be having sex. i guess i will have to break the news to him this weekend. i don't think he will be very happy.

[rodeodance]

10. te he

[Maeve]

9. Three cheers for the reality-based community!

:applause: :toast: :toast: :toast: :woohoo:

[Q3JR4]

11. Not only has

abstinence-only education been shown to be ineffective, but it has also been shown that students who break their abstinence oaths are less likely to know how to protect themselves when they have sex.

This explains why states that only rely on abstinence only education have the highest birth rates among unwed mothers (*cough* *cough* Texas *cough*).

Q3JR4.

[AlCzervik]

13. it was nothing but a boondoggle for Bush's friends.

[bamacrat]

14. About time...

Hasnt anyone realized that if you tell kids not to do something it makes them want to do it more. Especially sex, we need to educate

[HawkerHurricane]

15. Abstinence Education:

"We don't want you driving cars, so we're not going to teach you the rules of the road"
"No, don't teach about seatbelts, if they know about seatbelts they'll want to drive"
"And don't teach about the speed limit, either, that way if they DO drive, they'll get arrested"

[momster]

17. If They See A Car, They'll Want It

so don't teach them to look both ways before crossing the street, either.

[HawkerHurricane]

18. They shouldn't be allowed to see cars...

at least not moving ones. And no crossing the street without adult supervision.

Movie mentioning Cars: PG
Movie showing cars: PG13
Movie showing moving cars: R
Movie showing people actually driving cars: X/NC17

[fujiyama]

16. It's nice to know

that not everyone in DC is fucking stupid!

Talk about the biggest waste of money...Wow, and republicans claim they can manage money? Hope these fuckers don't come close to winning anything in '08.