Is there anything the right wing has done lately that hasn’t backfired and caused more harm than good, with the most harm usually inflicted on the very people who were supposed to reap the benefits?
Case in point du jour: Teen pregnancy.
The Bush “Abstinence Only” sex education doctrine has been in place long enough now that we’re starting to see some real results, and they’re just as many predicted: A rise in teen pregnancy rates.
The article on Yahoo is quick to point out that this could be just a stistical blip, not a new trend, but many disagree:
However, some experts said they have been expecting a jump. They blamed it on increased federal funding for abstinence-only health education that doesn’t teach teens how to use condoms and other contraception.
… and much of the data would seem to agree:
The new report offers a state-by-state breakdown of birth rates overall. Many of those with the highest birth rates teach abstinence instead of comprehensive sex education, according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
And research has concluded that abstinence-only programs do not cause a decrease in teenage sexual activity, Planned Parenthood officials added.
“In the last decade, more than $1 billion has been wasted on abstinence-only programs,” said Cecile Richards, the organization’s president, in a prepared statement.
All I can do anymore when a new government report comes out is to roll my eyes and shake my head in frustration.