Kiss Another $50,000,000 Goodbye, Abstinence Program Gets Renewed - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

Angry American · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

I can't believe that with a Democratically controlled Congress, the totally ineffective Abstinence-Education Program got renewed. Even after it's has been proven not to alter teen sexual behavior.

Quote:

Foes hit continued abstinence funding

By Cheryl Wetzstein
September 30, 2007

Congress again has extended funding for a core abstinence-education program, sparking protests from sex-education advocates who want Democrats to pull the plug on such programs.

"Their actions defy logic and common sense," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth.

First, Congress funds what Mr. Wagoner called unproven abstinence programs. Then it commissions a study that shows they don't work, but lawmakers ignore those results and continue to fund the programs.

"Teens deserve better policies. We all deserve better leaders," said Mr. Wagoner, whose organization stresses rights, respect and responsibility in sex education.

Rep. James P. Moran, Virginia Democrat, said he supported "with frustration" the second three-month extension of the $50 million Title V abstinence-education program and several health programs that serve low-income families.

The health programs are effective, but unfortunately they are "held hostage" to the abstinence program, "which prizes ideology over science and ... harms our children through the provision of medically inaccurate information," Mr. Moran said Wednesday. The Senate passed its extension of Title V and other health programs on Thursday.

Abstinence supporters have been playing defense, especially since April when Mathematica Policy Research Inc. released a long-awaited evaluation of four abstinence programs. It concluded that the programs didn't affect teen sexual behavior.

"Abstinence programs don't as yet have a long track record," Janice Shaw Crouse of the Beverly LaHaye Institute wrote in a paper called, "Why the Left is Attacking Abstinence Programs."

-full story-

Why are our tax dollars being used to support ideology? This in my opinion is a political payout to appease an ideological voter base.

Quote:

US sex-abstinence classes queried

.... Social conservatives have long believed that teaching adolescents about sexuality and contraception could encourage them to have sex.

They would rather promote abstinence until marriage.

The students in this study, which was ordered by Congress, came from a range of big cities across the United States, such as Milwaukee and Miami and from rural communities in Virginia and Mississippi.

They were 11 and 12 years old when they entered the abstinence programmes, which lasted one to two years.

The researchers also looked at the behaviour of their peers from the same communities who did not attend the classes.

The findings show that those who attended first had sex at about the same age as their peers - at 14 years and nine months.

The Bush administration has warned against drawing sweeping conclusions from the study.

-full story-

Damn reality, full steam ahead with the imaginary....

AjaxPress · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

I wonder which will happen first:Congress' approval rating cracks 35% or Americans wake up to the b.s. of the two-party system.

drgoodtrips · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Since when is political funding closely correlated to the effectiveness of a program? I'm not excusing it, but rather pointing out that it's hardly a unique situation in the land of earmarks, a "war on drugs" and other such matters.

Eagle88 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Personally, I believe that we should just leave teaching sex education to parents. That would solve the whole problem IMO. (I learned from my parents.)

drgoodtrips · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle88

Personally, I believe that we should just leave teaching sex education to parents. That would solve the whole problem IMO. (I learned from my parents.)

Seems reasonable to me, though pity the children whose parents neglect/refuse to do so.

Steve · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle88

Personally, I believe that we should just leave teaching sex education to parents. That would solve the whole problem IMO. (I learned from my parents.)

My teacher was this chick named Eileen.

I believe she had a Phd. in the subject...

Angry American · #7 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgoodtrips

Since when is political funding closely correlated to the effectiveness of a program? I'm not excusing it, but rather pointing out that it's hardly a unique situation in the land of earmarks, a "war on drugs" and other such matters.

True, so true, but when a program has a government funded study that shows it doesn't work it should either be modified or not renewed; otherwise why do the study? But hey chalk it up as another pork barrel spending project...

proUSA · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjaxPress

I wonder which will happen first:Congress' approval rating cracks 35% or Americans wake up to the b.s. of the two-party system.

Brainwashing that's what.

The majority of young Americans don't remember what it's like during tough times and so, they'll believe what they are feed by the government and also by what's on MTV and Comedy Central.

And I'll admit; the older generation are forgetting.

proUSA · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgoodtrips

Since when is political funding closely correlated to the effectiveness of a program?

True; sadly but true.

lexiloveslondon · #10 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007

I am a teenager. And while I am not having sex, nor do I have any immediate plans to do so, there are many who do. Abstinence is a personal choice, and having older people come in and lecture us and show us graphic pictures of STDs isn't changing anything. Teens (not all, but some) will have sex anyway. A much better way to help would be half and half- sure, preach abstinence, but at the end of the day, teens are going to benefit more if you teach them "safe sex".
And teaching "safe sex" isn't ENCOURAGING us to have sex. All it's doing is helping lower the risks, because those kids will have sex anyways if they're set on it.
That's IMO.

lexie

AdrienXII · #11 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by lexiloveslondon

I am a teenager. And while I am not having sex, nor do I have any immediate plans to do so, there are many who do. Abstinence is a personal choice, and having older people come in and lecture us and show us graphic pictures of STDs isn't changing anything. Teens (not all, but some) will have sex anyway. A much better way to help would be half and half- sure, preach abstinence, but at the end of the day, teens are going to benefit more if you teach them "safe sex".
And teaching "safe sex" isn't ENCOURAGING us to have sex. All it's doing is helping lower the risks, because those kids will have sex anyways if they're set on it.
That's IMO.

lexie

Good post, lexie. Welcome to the forum.

erikvv · #12 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle88

Personally, I believe that we should just leave teaching sex education to parents. That would solve the whole problem IMO. (I learned from my parents.)

I disagree with that. We need to give every child the objective facts about sex, protection and STDs (and about all drugs for that matter), without telling kids what to do or what is wrong and what is right. I do not trust that some parents will be able to tell their child the entire truth or have enough knowledge about sex.

Steve · #13 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikvv

I disagree with that. We need to give every child the objective facts about sex, protection and STDs (and about all drugs for that matter), without telling kids what to do or what is wrong and what is right. I do not trust that some parents will be able to tell their child the entire truth or have enough knowledge about sex.

What an odd post.

One of the most basic things about being a parent is teaching a child what is wrong and what is right. It's in the best interest of ones' child to be as honest, open, and frank when discussing the subject. Not telling the child "the entire truth" would be stupid. And, if a parent believes it's "wrong", the parent is perfectly within his or her rights to convey that to his or her child.

Bottom line: If it's not your kid, you shouldn't get a vote. Period...

erikvv · #14 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve

One of the most basic things about being a parent is teaching a child what is wrong and what is right.

Yes and I'm empowering the parent to be able to do that by not giving a judgement in schools, sex should be tought there in an objective manner like all other school subjects.

I still think there are many factual misconceptions around about protection and STDs. Only when those are gone can people make good judgements.

Swoop187 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-07-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angry American

I can't believe that with a Democratically controlled Congress, the totally ineffective Abstinence-Education Program got renewed. Even after it's has been proven not to alter teen sexual behavior.

Why are our tax dollars being used to support ideology? This in my opinion is a political payout to appease an ideological voter base.

Damn reality, full steam ahead with the imaginary....

are you a fucking moron?.....when you have kids do you want them to fiznuck when they are 14 or when they are an adult?

you gotta be 14 to bring this crap up....

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