With statistics like this how can you NOT be a Democrat?

[politicaholic]

Since the correlation between poverty and abortion has finally come to the forefront(no matter how disgustingly it came out of Bill Bennett's pie hole); below is a serious issue that completely eludes the pro-life religious right. It just proves that (like the Iraq agenda) the pro-life agenda is poorly thought out and devoid of an exit plan.

Being raised by a very poor single mother I understand this issue intimately.
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http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/13/marriage.age.ap/index.html

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The Census Bureau analyzed data from the American Community Survey from 2000 to 2003, developing state-by-state averages on marriage and fertility for the first time.

Among the study's findings: 29 percent of all new mothers were unmarried. Among the unmarried mothers, half were poor, compared with 12 percent of married mothers who lived in poverty.

"Single parenthood and poverty are about as closely related as you can get," Popenoe said.

The states with the most unwed new mothers also tended to be the ones with the highest percentage of new mothers living in poverty.

Washington, D.C., had the highest percentage of new mothers who were unmarried, at 53.4 percent. The city also had the highest percentage of new mothers living in poverty, at 36.3 percent. West Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana also had high percentages of unwed mothers living below the poverty line.
-snip-
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Indiana's recent marriage/birth legislation anti-gay fiasco brings to light that the country must make things change through education and contraception. Abstinence and bible thumping IS NOT WORKING.

The Bushs just need to stop talking about things they know nothing about and simply walk a few blocks down from the White House to see what's really going on in this country.

[SteppingRazor]

1. But will education and contraception?

An interesting book came out a while back by two women (name of the book escapes me) who were both feminist sociologists. The book posits that poor women often have children because motherhood is the only viable longterm goal they have -- marriage and a successful career both being seeming impossibilities.
If that's the case, then contraception would be about as effective as abstinence -- poverty itself would be the cause of single parenthood.

On edit: Book is "Promises I Can Keep" by Katheryn Edin and Maria Kafalas.

[ClintonTyree]

2. Where are the fathers of these children?

What is it with men that makes them abandon these women and the children? How can any self-respecting man do this?

My ex-girlfriend and I never married, but when we found out she was pregnant (after we'd broken up) I vowed that I would always be there for my daughter financially as well as emotionally. We never went to court to hammer out custody or child support, we worked it out between ourselves. Granted, things were not always amicable, our lives were forever changed and we were connected forever whether we wanted to be or not. But we both accepted that as the responsibility of bringing a child into this world.

Our daughter is 21 now and a Senior in University. She is without a doubt the center of my life, a normal well adjusted member of society who's life was made as near normal as possible even though she was born of an un-wed mother. All because two people cared enough to put their differences aside for the benefit of someone else. Through all of the emotional and financial hardship over the years there hasn't been one moment when I would change a thing.

How can other men NOT take the responsibility for their actions? How can they walk away from someone that they helped bring into this world? I just can't understand it, I've never been able to. They have children in this world that they'll never know, never share in their triumphs and tragedies, never be a part of their life, and they can LIVE with that? I can see why so many women are turned off on men. Many consider themselves mere sperm donors and think that's where their responsibility ends. That's where it begins, and until men realize this I hope the poverty that these women and children live in will haunt them for the rest of their days.

[Caoimhe]

3. All great questions

Good job dad! I am sure your daughter feels blessed to have such a smart, responsible and liberal minded father!

[politicaholic]

4. You're right, very nice post...

I have never met my father and he has never attempted to contact me even though he is a highly respected pseudo-celeb in the Jazz world. That is a question I always wanted to ask him (How could you just turn your back on me and forget?), but I know if I contact him it will only lead to disappointment and frustration. I'm 35 now. I've pretty much given up on that notion.

I've always believed in accountability. I supposed that's the only thing he's ever given me.