Obama Budget Eliminates Funding for Abstinence-Only Sex Education

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I have always suspected that the GOP forced abstinence-only to cater to their Far Right base. Keep in mind that the policy created jobs for the Far Right Wingers to fill....and they would 'donate' money to the politicians who were responsible for their jobs. Kids need to know all the Facts about sex BEFORE they begin being mislead by hearsay, OR partaking of it. Lust and Love are two entirely different emotions, but humans are not born knowing the difference. Having parents, teachers, family doctors who are able to educate young people is essential for kids' physical and emotional well being,IMO. Ignorance is NOT bliss. Ignorance and impulsive carelessness can cause damage that will haunt them for endless years.

Toby of IN 1:47PM May 08, 2009

Despite attending an intercity high school I was fortunate to have comprehensive sex education. A guy from the city health department would come around to all the health classes with slides of people with STDs (not their faces, just focus on an organ or just a patch of skin). Believe me, after seeing those horrifying pictures - we got it. If you're going to have sex, use a condom.
To those who preach that abstinence is the only way that should be taught, what happens when those teenagers grow up, get married, and have sex and one of the partners have as STD? How do they know how to plan for pregnancy? Comprehensive sex education does more than just talk about condoms but also about infectious diseases and family planning.
Cigarette analogies typically do not work because while smoking is harmful and detrimental, sex is a natural part of life. People and animals have been sexually reproducing for quite some time now.

Eimi of NY 12:15PM May 08, 2009

There is room for both to co-exist, but this mentality that they're going to do it anyway is absurd. Ask yourself this what does teenage sex accomplish in the long-run what are the benefits to teens having sex. Pleasure, that’s the only positive that can come from it. Now start naming the negatives, disease, pregnancy, and ruined relationships. More teens are doing drugs now more than ever does that mean we to teach them how to smoke crack properly? I realize you can't govern morality but a line has to be drawn somewhere.

Ymerej of SC 12:00PM May 08, 2009

you wonder why teenagers are getting prego when the fact is adults can control their urges so why should teenagers? in fact teenagers are taught how to protect themselves which can influence them even more to have sex. abstinince does not work everyone gives in to their emotions at one time just some sooner than later so teach them how to be protected, not how to not have sex when their about to.

David Holbrook of NY 11:10AM May 08, 2009

Excellent. Some common sense on this issue from DC after eight long years of that rodeo clown throwing millions of dollars into a black hole!
What abstinence-only proponents need to realise is this: teenagers WILL have sex whether you educate them about it or not. They WILL lie to you and say they won't, haven't or didn't regardless of how good a kid you think they are. They WILL tell you what you want to hear to get you off their backs.
Considering teenagers have strong impulses and lack effective control over them, the only sensible thing to do is teach them how the human body works and how to avoid the unwanted consequences that may arise from using it. Not even adults can resist their sexual urges, so it's not reasonable at all to expect our kids to be able to do so. It is the height of wishful thinking and irresponsibility to give kids no information and just hope they won't give in to their instincts. And if you're one of those people that rant against "abortionists", fine, but try using some common sense and educate your kids how to prevent pregnancies & disease in the first place, instead of wailing about abortions long after YOU could have done something to prevent your child falling pregnant. If you don't like kids having sex but equally despise abortions, maybe it's time you chose the lesser of two "evils" and made sure your kids took preventative measures!
To close, I find it laughable that Bristol Palin is now telling people to abstain - there's no point telling a "look what happened to me" story to a cynical young audience who'll just laugh at you once you're out of earshot. It doesn't matter what political colour you wear or where you stand on sex education, the name "Palin" has absolutely no political credibility. I can't believe there are people in the US who still take those clowns seriously.

Hank 1:24AM May 08, 2009

I agree with Muser of NM. Teach truth. That's all you have to do, is the whole truth! Tell them that sexual activity can lead to depression or thoughts of suicide. Tell them how sex can affect their future and future relationships. Deceases and that they might get prego, even using a rubber with birth control. Also it is true as a teen you can tell if your teacher is for real or not. If they believe in their own message. I think giving the truth about all this stuff would help with deciding what I want to do with my life. But honestly if I don't know all the possible consequences then life may get hard. I think its better to look long term rather than short term.

Yozzie of CA 1:14AM May 08, 2009

It's like the cigarette argument. "You smoke cigarettes? Well you shouldn't but if you do smoke filtered ones."

Rite of FL 12:58AM May 08, 2009

Studies have never shown the decrease in STD's as well as pregnancy with any condom pushing programs. Now let's admit it this is all a money move. In order for abortionists to stay in business which are people obama support, they need teens to be sexually active. If there is a consequences who better to go to (abortionists/condom pushers). Christian or God believer, please. Not even close. Plus all studies show and even the studies that the safe sex messages say; mixed messages DON"T WORK. It's like me saying "Oh you smoke cigs? Here I have a filtered one. Don't ever smoke with out the filter!" In that scenario it would not be helping anything and in the long run make it worse. Plus taxes! For all those that want to be sexually active and get pregnant, they should pay for their abortion. It's like me helping out the guy who hates his life, uses drugs and is on welfare. I have to pay for all that, when I am doing what I can to survive a healthy life! In the end “we the people” are no longer going to be "we the people". Things are changing folks and if you believe that changing in this way is good...well we all got something coming. It should be obvious. I work in a state where abstinence groups and contraceptive groups get along just fine. They both understand that they are there to help the teen as much as they can. If a teen chooses to be sexually active then get the professionals who can help the teen. Someone who believes in there message. BUT if you get someone that does NOT believe in there message they are definitely not going to be successful. Common Sense! It's funny even the teens are smarter than that. Another thought; ask any teen what’s so positive about teen sex. Believe me you will only receive one main answer pleasure. What about goals, dreams, personal values, beliefs, deceases, pregnancy, depression, parents, true love, future relationships or future in general? Think about it, your own life. What are some of the consequences you have experienced? NOT knowing how to have a healthy relationship is just going to cause more hardship and more breakdown in families, JUST LIKE IT ALL STARTED IN THE 60'S. This country is becoming the total opposite of what we were founded on. Even some abstinent and safe sex programs get along well. This is not about destroying abstinence, but about destroying our teens aka FUTURE LEADERS. Giving them the option which goes back to believing in your message gives true opportunity. Believe me you tell me to teach about something I don't think works or is possible...HA! I have met all types of people in all types of relationships that choose abstinence. It's a choice and if you don't have any support in it then why even try?.! In my home town 15 years ago teen pregnancy was number 1. 15 years ago abstinence education came in and knocked teen pregnancy to number 17. Understanding that both abstinence and safer sex groups need to work together, not teach both!

Chavez of NM 12:52AM May 08, 2009

Give them all the tools available and let them choose. If you only teach them abstinence, they won't know how to be safe when they do have sex. If you teach them EVERY POSSIBLE METHOD, then you've done all you can to protect them. Anything less is selfish and negligent. Just spend a moment wondering if you're trying to serve the best interests of the living, or your imaginary friend in the clouds.

El Stiko 11:35PM May 07, 2009

His actions during the first 100 days in office and the fact he spent 22 years under the pastoral-ship of a hater of the US and of whites and didn’t protest by leaving his flock until he realized it might cost him votes, displays President Obama’s true colors. Don’t judge me; (If you listen to any of the Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.’s sermons, you’ll know what I mean.) You’ve got to ask yourself, what kind of a Christian is our President Obama. He has gone out of his way to overturn the restriction on funding to NGOs that deal in abortions, restrictions that former President Bush had placed. He has lifted the restriction on the study of embryonic stem cells, which prevented the culling of cells from potential humans. On gay marriage, he is the first to defend the immoral unions, read for yourself at, http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/p/BarackObama.htm. So when it comes to eliminating funding for abstinence-only sex education, we shouldn’t expect any beter.

Matteo Anello of NY 7:48PM May 07, 2009