Need any further proof that "abstinance only" programs are a total waste of our tax dollars?

[PA Democrat]

The long decline in sexual activity among U.S. teenagers, hailed as one of the nation's most important social and public health successes, appears to have stalled.

After decreasing steadily and significantly for more than a decade, the percentage of teenagers having intercourse began to plateau in 2001 and has failed to budge since then, despite the intensified focus in recent years on encouraging sexual abstinence, according to new analyses of data from a large federal survey.

The halt in the downward trend coincided with an increase in federal spending on programs focused exclusively on encouraging sexual abstinence until marriage, several experts noted. Congress is currently debating funding for such efforts, which receive about $175 million a year in federal money and have come under fire from some quarters for being ineffective.

The leveling off in teen sexual activity is worrying experts and advocates across the ideological spectrum. The fall of such activity has been one of the key forces behind a historic drop in teen pregnancy rates and has bolstered efforts to protect teenagers from sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/21/AR2007072101275.html?hpid=topnews

[RC]

1. Birth control availability had nothing to do with the drop of

teen pregnancies? And now with the programs being underfunded and destroyed, the lack of available birth control for teens is not a factor?

Abstinence only cannot work because the people pushing it do not understand what human beings really are. We are animals with instincts and pushing false information will do little to nothing to override millions of years of honed species survival conduct.

[PA Democrat]

3. Hush now with all that crazy talk about "animal instincts".

Next thing you know, you'll be trying to tell us that man is descended from apes. And then we'll have to send you off to the Creation Museum for a re-indoctrination course. :sarcasm:

[RC]

6. We are not descended from the apes.

We come from the same root stock. It branched and they went one way and we another.

[clixtox]

2. Nope...

The evidence all indicates results are not even an issue. It is all about political posturing and appealing to all of the religious fanatics who supposedly vote.

[PA Democrat]

4. Another upsetting tidbit of info. The House approved a $28 million increase for abstinence only

programs. From the article:

The House last week approved a $28 million increase in spending on abstinence programs -- Democratic leaders said it was intended to win Republican support for the annual health and education funding bill -- but the Senate is considering a $28 million cut, largely because of concerns about the programs' efficacy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/21/AR2007072101275.html?hpid=topnews

[NMMNG]

5. Time for the taxpayer funded chastity belts

:sarcasm: