Why do you have an unreliable person working for you and why do you pay him so much if he's so unreliable?

Regarding the birth control thing, I mostly agree. However, once again, I think it is incredibly stupid for people to blame Bush for something like this. I think abstinence is a good thing, but its unrealistic, especially for the people in question. However, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY to protect themselves, its not the job of the government to tell them.

Then it's also not the job of the government to tell people that abstinence is their only option, which is what Bush wants to do...

Also, in your sig, do you mean William Jennings Bryan? That's been bothering me for a while. ;)

I hadnt noticed that actually, I just copied it from the song lyrics, but thanks.

I don't hear Bush saying abstinence is the only option, he just says its the best option (which it is)

It's the only option he wants taught. I don't think that's right.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/109/31.0.html
http://www.irregulartimes.com/abstinenceed.html
http://ww2.aegis.org/news/wb/2003/wb030110.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2004Dec1.html

Of course, the central thing behind this is parenting...It shouldnt be up to our schools to teach kids how to safely have sex.

Yes, but how many of you have parents who grew up knowing about AIDS/HIV? HPV? How to prevent these things? What their symptoms look like? Why shouldn't you use 2 condoms at a time? Can you get x disease from x sex act?

I'm only 21, and I know for SURE my parents don't know crap about STD's, family planning or birth control. I am so thankful that my school system taught inclusive sex ed. Biology, facts, statistics, demonstration, diagrams, the whole nine.


The message was, "The only 100% way to not get an STD/pregnant, is to not have sex. Period. BUT! If and when you DO decide to have sex, here's the ways to prevent things from happening, here's some things to consider about each method, and here's what to watch out for, and here's who to call if you need help, but remember, NOT doing it is the only 100%".

Despite the squeamishness of youth, I am so glad to have got all that info. So amazingly glad I didn't have to try and get the "boys are icky, this is a vagina" talk from my parents *shudder*. Being taught in an academic setting gave it more of a "study" feel. This is information you've got to use, like any other class. Use it wisely.

But if so many of our parents are dropping the ball more through neglect than a purposeful admission, it suddenly falls to society to mitigate the damage of those parents' irresponsible acts -- that damage being more kids with (probably) more irresponsible parents.

The the cost of teenage parents to our social services would dwarf any sort of reasonable preventative measures to keep that from occuring. Abstinence only programs have not been linked to any decreases in the number of unplanned teenage pregancies. However, several studies (do a search on google scholar) have linked these abstinence only programs to increased teenage pregancy rates.

Sometimes, it pays for the government to be a little paternalistic for those who can't/won't help themselves. For the rest of us, there's private school.

I (thank God) did. My mother is a Certified Professional Clinical Counselor, and she's worked with AIDS patients and alcoholics for a majority of her life. They may have been the kind of parents that thought that buying me stuff makes up for quality time, but at least by the time I was at the age that I needed it, I knew all about STDs and how to responsibly handle alcohol. I wish everyone had that, but I know it's not reality.