Obama to scrap funding for abstinence-only programs

[Contrary1]

US president proposes a new $110m plan to help teens avoid pregnancy

"President Barack Obama faces a Republican backlash over his plan to scrap one of the most divisive policies left over from the Bush era: education programmes for teenagers that promote only sexual abstinence.

The decision, which emerged last night when details of Obama's budget for next year were published, will see $138m (£91.2m) a year redirected from abstinence-only programmes to "evidence-based and promising teen pregnancy prevention programmes."

It would eliminate $34m in grants to states for abstinence education and a further $100m spent by a federal department, the administration for children and families, which was in vanguard of abstinence promotion.

In its place, he is proposing a new $110m "teen prevention initiative" and a further $50m to states for pregnancy prevention programmes. The budget says that the most positive results are achieved by programmes that "provide a range of services in addition to comprehensive sex education, such as after school activities, academic support or service learning".

The announcement came in a week in which sex and the family was a dominant topic in the US media, including the launch of a high-profile campaign in favour of abstinence by Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol..."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/08/obama-administration-abstinence-bristol-palin

[Hekate]

1. Proud to be the first KnR

That's Our Guy: filling campaign promises and living up to his potential, using the judgment we elected him to use.

:fistbump: :party: :toast: :fistbump:

Hekate

[MADem]

2. Poor little Bristol Palin, hostage to the right, can pick up the slack.

I do feel sorry for that kid.

[Mojambo]

3. Fuck YES! Rationality in government.

Novel concept.

[ZombieHorde]

4. K&R Obama has had a lot of hits lately, I hope he keeps it up. nt

[Sirveri]

5. how dare he divert money from something that doesn't work!

It doesn't matter if it works, but sex before marriage is evil, and so if they fear getting pregnant because there aren't any abortions or condoms they might live a more godly life!

[izzie]

6. Good. Why don't people study the program from Holland?

They seem to have figured it out.

[leftofcool]

7. Aw, and it worked so well too. Just ask Bristol

[Optical.Catalyst]

8. Good. End the waste of money. Every little bit helps

We have to get the Government to stop wasting money on programs that do not work. Abstinence programs don't work and are as good a place as any to stop wasting money.

[Wednesdays]

9. K&R

:kick:

[Arkansas Granny]

10. I have to admit that abstinence works, but only if it is strictly followed. The problem

is that many, if not most, people find it very hard to adhere to strict abstinence. This has been true throughout history. Comprehensive sex education and readily available birth control methods are a much better solution for reducing teen pregnancy.

[Lerkfish]

11. well, isn't this going to put that lame clown juggler out of work?

ok then, I'm all for it.