This is simply about the keeping minorities opresd... in poverty, ignorance and therefore under control. The Republican agenda
8
Barefoot, pregnant and chained to the stove. Make America a nation FOR the rich overlords, and 90% of the population serfs. Thanks, GOP.
13
More playing to Trump's shrinking base. And this seems right up Mike Pence's severe evangelical Catholic alley.
It is also most disgusting to see that the severe evangelical right will align themselves with someone like Donald Trump (his past behavior and conduct antithetical to them)—in order to smugly and piously inflict their crusading agenda.
And regarding teen pregnancies, any "businessman" could surely perceive the enormous medical and social costs in the future—dwarfing any expenditure for education and prevention programs.
A physician MD
It is also most disgusting to see that the severe evangelical right will align themselves with someone like Donald Trump (his past behavior and conduct antithetical to them)—in order to smugly and piously inflict their crusading agenda.
And regarding teen pregnancies, any "businessman" could surely perceive the enormous medical and social costs in the future—dwarfing any expenditure for education and prevention programs.
A physician MD
12
We use sex to sell every conceivable consumer product. Our entertainment is filled with nudity and sex acts. Why? Because sex drive is a life force (especially among the young) that creates lifelong bonds (and the next generation). Sticking our heads in the sand and saying "just say no" hasn't worked for thousands of years.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" Benjamin Franklin.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" Benjamin Franklin.
10
Those of you complaining, this makes no sense--you don't get it because you're good, decent people.
These programs are being gutted because they want the teen pregnancies, they want the despair, the destitution, and yes, the deaths in childbirth and illegal abortion. These are goals.
This is what's *wanted.*
These programs are being gutted because they want the teen pregnancies, they want the despair, the destitution, and yes, the deaths in childbirth and illegal abortion. These are goals.
This is what's *wanted.*
11
There isn't one thing this horrible misogynist, racist, homophobic, planet destroying, money grubbing administration has done to help this Country. They are destroying everything good.
9
One of the good things about the Trump administration is that it has finally pulled off the last drapes of illusion about America being a modern state…
This game has been played since the 1930s when Betty Davies would ,in a film walk alone into a hotel bar ask a complete stranger (male )to light her cigarette and order a dry Martini… moments later her woman friend would join her to talk about their plans to divorce their second husbands …and all among those amazing and unique New York skyscrapers…The actual reality is that if Davies or any woman walked into a bar more than twenty miles outside of New York she would have been found next day wandering alone dazed and injured having been raped multiple times…Her battered body might even have been found dead….
But America is the nation of great grand illusions and fantasies of modernity…Go West young man! Etcetc..
The reality is that America is a backward primitive wild west nation as it was two hundred years ago…the people are still the same slave minded ,genocidal greedy arrogant (nothing makes you feel good like a heritage of raping genocide in the family archives) people they were in the past and nothing can be done to change this
Its true the greedy openness of American society produces useful things for the consumer but that could still be maintained while introducing some of the controlling factors that make capitalism much more acceptable in European nations etc
Will that ever happen..? Who knows …..
This game has been played since the 1930s when Betty Davies would ,in a film walk alone into a hotel bar ask a complete stranger (male )to light her cigarette and order a dry Martini… moments later her woman friend would join her to talk about their plans to divorce their second husbands …and all among those amazing and unique New York skyscrapers…The actual reality is that if Davies or any woman walked into a bar more than twenty miles outside of New York she would have been found next day wandering alone dazed and injured having been raped multiple times…Her battered body might even have been found dead….
But America is the nation of great grand illusions and fantasies of modernity…Go West young man! Etcetc..
The reality is that America is a backward primitive wild west nation as it was two hundred years ago…the people are still the same slave minded ,genocidal greedy arrogant (nothing makes you feel good like a heritage of raping genocide in the family archives) people they were in the past and nothing can be done to change this
Its true the greedy openness of American society produces useful things for the consumer but that could still be maintained while introducing some of the controlling factors that make capitalism much more acceptable in European nations etc
Will that ever happen..? Who knows …..
1
There is not enough brainpower to understand the removal of programs that are successful with obvious evidence. Is it simply that it was an Obama program? Trump and those that surround him are not doing anything that is for the good of the country. Filthy scoundrels !
7
Who was it that said
'" if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament"
'" if men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament"
7
Whatever happened to the role of parents talking to their kids about unprotected sex? Why do middle class tax payers have to pay for what parents should be doing?
1
This is not about the effectiveness of these programs for teem pregnancy, it is has nothing to do with that. It is the systematic destruction of everything within the Obama legacy that is the target here. The Trump administration is taking apart anything of even minute success that was established during Obama's term. Despicable!
7
This is just another instance of the mean-spirited Christian Taliban trying to impose it's version of Shariah law on all Americans. And the craven Republicans in Congress will support these ignorant jihadists, as they could not get elected without their support.
8
It is stuff like this that is the real damage that Trump is causing. This is another reason that #25 needs to be implemented ASAP. There wont be much left of our democratic social institutions is we can not eliminate these psychopathic religious fanatics, science deniers and education destroyers.
3
Just so disgusted by this administration!
5
Abstinence is sometimes promoted as the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and STDs. This is a lie, pure and simple. It compares successful abstinence to all attempts, successful and unsuccessful, to use birth control and protection like condoms.
Saying that everyone who promises to abstain will abstain is like saying that everyone who starts on a diet loses weight.
Saying that everyone who promises to abstain will abstain is like saying that everyone who starts on a diet loses weight.
3
It's not about abortion or contraception. It's all about the religious right's stealth campaign to make America a Patriarchy again.
10
Mr. Price, if you are married and don't have 10 children, chances are you are a hypocrite. (Does anyone in Congress have the size of household you have if you yourself do not use birth control? Even as you refuse to allow it to be public policy?)
6
Barefoot, pregnant and chained to the stove, forever. Where they SHOULD be. Right, GOP???
5
I thought public schools already included sex education in their curriculum. Why do we need to spend more money on separate sex ed government programs that have not been proven effective. This is a waste of tax payer money which of course does not seem to bother Democrats and liberals.
1
In a logical world, free and accessible birth control should be the sine qua non of the so-called 'pro-life' anti-abortion brigade.
As ever, the Republicans want it both ways. The mind boggles.
As ever, the Republicans want it both ways. The mind boggles.
6
There are few things that are more predictive of: a potential life of poverty, dropping out, welfare use, unemployment, and on and on than early and/or often pregnancy. ANYTHING we can do to help teens (boys and girls) avoid unwanted or undesirable pregnancy is about the best use of public funds I can think of. Do we need to do ongoing study to see which programs are most effective? Of course, but this is an ongoing process. While sex is tied up in just about everything in our prudish, yet hypersexualized society, we need to start with knowledge and frank, open discussions with young people. We take great pride in making young people aware of guns and trying to take the mystery and excitement out of them, but when it comes to sex, it's the opposite. The euros have a much better track record than we do by being very open and honest about sex. Perhaps we should look at their methods regardless of our religious hang ups.
6
Of course, Secretary Price's position makes no sense whatsoever if the goal he is trying to achieve is a lowering of the number of teen pregnancies. But I have long been convinced that lowering the number of teen pregnancies is not, and never really has been, the true goal of religious conservatives. Their true goal is to punish young girls (never boys) for conduct that violates their religiously-based notion of what constitutes acceptable sexual behavior. Once you understand what their primary goal actually is, there actions begin to make much more sense.
8
Because young people don't know enough or have enough brain development to make life plans they are prone to accept cultural memes about sexuality. Combine that with the need to feel important and valued for one's burgeoning sense of self and young girls fall easy prey to the notion that they are sexually desirable. It is so obvious then that they are going to make bad decisions for themselves, decisions that can cut off potential futures for themselves and result in children having children. While not impossible the likelihood is that will not turn out well for either the mother or the child.
This is just another way to turn back the clock, to attempt to get pliant wives and mothers by creating them when they are too young to know otherwise. It is just a legal way to act like Boko Haram kidnapping school girls, just a subtler way to obtain the same result.
This is just another way to turn back the clock, to attempt to get pliant wives and mothers by creating them when they are too young to know otherwise. It is just a legal way to act like Boko Haram kidnapping school girls, just a subtler way to obtain the same result.
5
"Moderate Republicans ought to join them, as should all lawmakers who share the goal of lowering the teenage birthrate by the most effective means possible..
I'm sure they all will. Except for those who happen to also share the goal of getting reelected by the co called Christian fundamentalists.
I'm sure they all will. Except for those who happen to also share the goal of getting reelected by the co called Christian fundamentalists.
3
On the topic of teenage pregnant, Trump = Pope Francis = the Taliban.
All three preach the need to keep women subjugated and pregnant from an early age.
All three preach the need to keep women subjugated and pregnant from an early age.
3
The evangelicals win again.
I would hope my chikdren would discuss these sexual matters with me and their father rather than a total stranger. We know our children better than a teen pregnancy prevention center and some stranger. They know we will give them trustworthy advice and have their best interests at heart. They can trust their parents with open and honest dialogue.
1
If young people have more choices in their young lives, they will live better, happier, more productive lives. Having babies while still ostensibly a baby, is not the way to go. I do not understand how funding can be cut to educate the young on birth control and family planning. This current administration seems to determined to ruin all sense of decency. Dr Price is not interested in real people, just satisfying his boss to the detriment of all citizens.
2
Misogynistic influence of organized religious groups...Pray for the separation of church and state.
5
Here's a musical trip that neatly sums up the wrongness of this "administration's" so-called policies. Listen again to Elvis' "In The Ghetto" followed by any of the great versions of "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?". Willful ignorance is the worst kind.
3
Health insurance cost should be raised of all parents with teenage daughters - same as we already are doing for car insurances for teenage drivers.
2
Okanogan County in eastern Washington has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the state. Of the three newspapers serving the county (largest in the country) only one had an article on this subject and lamented the loss because of the great good programs have been able to do educating kids. A county senior did a study on teens access to birth control at six clinics located thruout the county and the result was most doctors gave a lecture on abstinence only and refused to prescribe birth control even though the student was 18 years old. One even said it was immoral and against his regligious beliefs. Family values must include keeping your kids trapped at home where there are no jobs, raising kids they can't afford just so they'll be around when the parents get old and then unilaterally complaining about those illegals doing the orchard work their kids won't do and those takers on welfare (not them of course).
18
These teen pregnancy prevention centers can be funded with private donations by those who support them. Why should tax payers fund facilities in which they do not approve. If people really want these centers to remain open they will open their wallets and support them. Let's see how serious they are.
2
I don't support war. Why should my tax dollars (50+% of them) go to support the industrialized military complex? Oh wait, because taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society. I'm more than happy to spend less than 1% of my tax dollars supporting teen pregnancy prevention programs, and yes I do also support them with my donations.
39
My son is an adult, yet I happily pay taxes that go to public education. Why? Because I don't want to live in a world full of uneducated people. It makes my community a safer place. This program reduces teen pregnancy and by inference, abortion. If people want to end abortion, maybe they should support TPPP, as well as Planned Parenthood, which does the same. If it's simply about taxes, well you get what you paid for.
5
This is what we get when we vote for a group of extreme conservatives: men who do not care about the evidence or about anyone outside their ethnic or economic group. Trump and the rest of his politburo do not work for all Americans, only the rich ones. In Price's view it's not worth preventing teen pregnancies because quite a number of them happen to women of color or poor women and that's not their constituency. The Koch Brothers, the uber rich, the alt-right, the "pro life" people are the ones who count.
Remember this when we vote again for our senators, congresspeople, and later for the president and vice president. To them the average American doesn't deserve access to a decent life. In their eyes we are peons meant to work until we drop dead for their enrichment. Family values mean nothing to the GOP except as words to say but not to live by. When it comes to having children all of them should be wanted, planned for, anticipated with joy, and loved. And no woman, teen or older, should be denied access to birth control, abortion, family planning, or forced to have a child that isn't wanted. Unwanted children are often abused and neglected. And we know we weren't wanted. That knowledge affects us all our lives. Some of us "act" human but never feel human. I think it's criminal to force a woman to have a child she doesn't want and even worse for the child.
Remember this when we vote again for our senators, congresspeople, and later for the president and vice president. To them the average American doesn't deserve access to a decent life. In their eyes we are peons meant to work until we drop dead for their enrichment. Family values mean nothing to the GOP except as words to say but not to live by. When it comes to having children all of them should be wanted, planned for, anticipated with joy, and loved. And no woman, teen or older, should be denied access to birth control, abortion, family planning, or forced to have a child that isn't wanted. Unwanted children are often abused and neglected. And we know we weren't wanted. That knowledge affects us all our lives. Some of us "act" human but never feel human. I think it's criminal to force a woman to have a child she doesn't want and even worse for the child.
28
The issue here is the basis and purpose of religion, the get a foothold in people's minds and to put them on their back foot from the get go to better control them.
In essence original sin, the idea that we are born guilty of some unspecified crime against god, is a way of scarring a person and forcing them to be defensive so that they can be undermined and led. Thus rhetoric that implies and specifies normal human desires or impulses as wrong works to take away independence and by that free thought.
The reason the religious right is so interested in prurient things is because the attempts to enforce their false rules on the topic gives them a false sense of righteous power over others.
The answer has always been obvious, sex ed including birth control and demystifying sex and discussion of the emotional aspects of it and how people end up misunderstanding it because of unrelated personal issues, or developmental problems caused by dysfunction in the home.
The religious object to this because teaching children to be independent and make important choices scares them and removes the false sense of power and control they feel by forbidding.
In essence original sin, the idea that we are born guilty of some unspecified crime against god, is a way of scarring a person and forcing them to be defensive so that they can be undermined and led. Thus rhetoric that implies and specifies normal human desires or impulses as wrong works to take away independence and by that free thought.
The reason the religious right is so interested in prurient things is because the attempts to enforce their false rules on the topic gives them a false sense of righteous power over others.
The answer has always been obvious, sex ed including birth control and demystifying sex and discussion of the emotional aspects of it and how people end up misunderstanding it because of unrelated personal issues, or developmental problems caused by dysfunction in the home.
The religious object to this because teaching children to be independent and make important choices scares them and removes the false sense of power and control they feel by forbidding.
11
I know the Adolescent Health Program at HHS quite well. it is efficient and based on evidence based policy. That is what the dozens of health research projects funded by the initiative are doing. By appointing an ideologue rather than, say, a scientist, the funding cuts are no surprise. That we as a nation could reduce teen pregnancy and single parent miasma seems irrelevant unfortunately.
12
in addition to this, Trump interfered with labor laws, with fiduciary obligations of pension investment advisers, with sleep apnea tests for truck drivers, and a ton of environmental protections and public school encroachments -- all designed to restore corporate dominance over public interest.
In Europe, this was called fascism. My parents' generation fought a war to end it.
In Europe, this was called fascism. My parents' generation fought a war to end it.
23
The New York Times in their Tuesday Science section and Washington Post had articles a few months ago stating that teenagers are engaging in less sexual activity today. The reasons are numerous but it is an interesting fact that liberals do not want to admit. This is one of the reasons for the reduced pregnancy rates. Of course, liberals will not agree with these findings.
2
I'm a liberal, and I fully agree that some of the decline in pregnancy rates represents a decline in adolescent sexuality. I'd bet sex education programs have as much to with that decline as efforts like abstinence programs. Kids who are informed about sex are concerned about STDs and understand that pregnancy has profound consequences. They also learn that postponing intercourse until they have their lives in order is the smart choice. Education helps adolescents make informed choices. Propaganda about abstinence goes in one ear and out the other.
24
I am a liberal, and I think it is great news. Why would I not welcome this news? What is wrong with you?
Sex ed contributes to healthier choices
5
I comment only to express how depraved this willful reversal of health innovation is of a piece with the entire menu of poisoned delicacies offered up by this execrable administration. To me, at any rate, weary of the onslaught of mindless retrogression, there is nothing m ore that I can say. It makes me sick.
13
I strongly recall that Prez Trump's agenda noted the axing of the various programs that are specific handouts each new administration awards as payoffs for various people who get a many-dollared salary and produce a glowing social effort that is ridden to death the next election.
We choose not to make this above political squabble because the births are yet another issue that is used to cloud the completely fogged in legislative arena.
We choose not to make this above political squabble because the births are yet another issue that is used to cloud the completely fogged in legislative arena.
Republicans want less wedlock,less abortion. Who doesn't?
Then how come they NEVER cite to the dramatic decrease in both abortion and teen pregnancy since birth control and sex ed became much more available ?
What happened to facts ?
Then how come they NEVER cite to the dramatic decrease in both abortion and teen pregnancy since birth control and sex ed became much more available ?
What happened to facts ?
16
Every agency head chosen by Trump was a person who hated what the agency did and tried to block it. He got his wish and America got less great again!
14
He did indeed get his wish. He is "praised" by his cabinet and their sycophants.
2
The religious "right" (wrong) at work. They will force their beliefs down the throats of the country, regardless. The people who have been fed a steady diet of propaganda in the form of "christianity" (which would frighten Jesus to the bone) are captives of narrow-minded, frightened men who will do whatever they can to maintain control over their congregations and jobs. Put them in office and you get what this article describes. They make excuses, but only to camouflage what they do. Separation of church and state? Not for them!
Hatred, fear, anger. The three deadly sins. Brought to you loudly by the religious bigots, the disgustingly rich, the liars and cheats, and the people who hold up their own "wonderfulness" at every opportunity. Against science, LGBT rights, black rights, the sick, frail, elderly, and ethnic, against kindness, compassion, honesty and openness. Against clean air, water and land. Against anything that takes away their power.
"Elite" (meaning educated and conscious) is certainly better than brainwashed, controlled, and asleep, but not to them. If we have the government we deserve, then, as a people, we are in very, very bad shape.
Hatred, fear, anger. The three deadly sins. Brought to you loudly by the religious bigots, the disgustingly rich, the liars and cheats, and the people who hold up their own "wonderfulness" at every opportunity. Against science, LGBT rights, black rights, the sick, frail, elderly, and ethnic, against kindness, compassion, honesty and openness. Against clean air, water and land. Against anything that takes away their power.
"Elite" (meaning educated and conscious) is certainly better than brainwashed, controlled, and asleep, but not to them. If we have the government we deserve, then, as a people, we are in very, very bad shape.
20
Which is why atheism is growing!!!!
1
There will be plenty of American babies to adopt soon.
No need to adopt Russian babies.
No need to adopt Russian babies.
6
Tell that to Jared so he won't have to set up secret adoption meetings with the de facto KGB.
3
If DJT and the most of the GOP parents had used birth control we would not be having this discussion.
8
When "welfare" type spending is cut at the same time, there can be no doubt that the goal is to perpetuate and expand poverty, creating a slave class.
16
"Moderate Republicans ought to join them, as should all lawmakers who share the goal of lowering the teenage birthrate by the most effective means possible."
To do that, moderate Republicans would have to grow a spine, and we've seen precious little evidence of that.
To do that, moderate Republicans would have to grow a spine, and we've seen precious little evidence of that.
10
It is somewhat surprising considering Trump's personal sexual history.
9
Vivien
Not surprising at all. The vapid rich have always been more than happy to crush others under a fraudulent vision of morality which they are free to, and frequently do, ignore in their own behavior. Because they're rich, and they can.
Hence the many, many sober and high minded churchmen engaged in affairs: affairs with married women, "affairs" with children, affairs with men, affairs in cars, affairs in turnpike bathrooms (personal favorite), not to mention fraud, robbery, perjury and so ever on.
Still, because they're flamboyantly religious and look OK on TV, they continue leading their mournful flocks. Right off a cliff.
Not surprising at all. The vapid rich have always been more than happy to crush others under a fraudulent vision of morality which they are free to, and frequently do, ignore in their own behavior. Because they're rich, and they can.
Hence the many, many sober and high minded churchmen engaged in affairs: affairs with married women, "affairs" with children, affairs with men, affairs in cars, affairs in turnpike bathrooms (personal favorite), not to mention fraud, robbery, perjury and so ever on.
Still, because they're flamboyantly religious and look OK on TV, they continue leading their mournful flocks. Right off a cliff.
2
Donald Trump outsourced these appappointments to Mike Pence and his circle of misogynist religious zealots, and teens and women will suffer as a result. Pence presided over a rise in HIV cases while he was the governor of Indiana.
5
This is all about controlling women's destiny. Pure and simple. The fact that women are not activated is what is horrifying to me.
10
Every time I hear or read the word "moderate" applied to republicans,I laugh. There are no moderate republicans left. They have all been bought by the NRA, Kochs,Mercers,etc whose agendas are definitely not in the best interests of the majority of Americans. They do not care about unwanted babies or lives destroyed by unwanted pregnancies. They care only about their agendas. Price,DeVos,Sessions,Ryan,McConnell,et al will do their bidding and change this country in ways we cannot yet fathom. Goodbye Democracy,hello ?.
12
Time to go to court, AGAIN. The Tom Prices of the world need to never have this power to stop prevention of health issues, especially those that work. It isn't HIS money, but the peoples. That's probably a lower cost then one day of the US Military in Afghanistan.
What is reality is all these people hide from the rest of society as someday he''ll want the accolades in the New York's of the world, not like the people down in Georgia who couldn't get rid of him because of gerrymandering and voter suppression.
I think it's funny that one of the Koch bros moved to NY City to enjoy all the "liberal" delights.
What is reality is all these people hide from the rest of society as someday he''ll want the accolades in the New York's of the world, not like the people down in Georgia who couldn't get rid of him because of gerrymandering and voter suppression.
I think it's funny that one of the Koch bros moved to NY City to enjoy all the "liberal" delights.
6
So, Ivanka, what do you think about all this? Why isn't the self-appointed spokesperson for women in this Administration speaking out against this ridiculous decision?
17
The GOP wants to force women to have babies and then they want to allow those children to live in poverty. While the fathers get to just walk away. Now that is real Christian rationality. Thanks Tom Price for showing us the way.
10
America, this is what you get when you vote for old white guys that want to turn back the clock. Vote progressive in all local, state and national elections.
9
Republicans like Price want to eliminate sexual education, Planned Parenthood counseling, access to safe abortions, all the while reducing social support programs. When will they learn that their fantasy world of purity and abstinence does not exist?
And Donald trump--an adulterer and abuser--leads their party. Hypocrites.
And Donald trump--an adulterer and abuser--leads their party. Hypocrites.
13
At least this exposes the real agenda of the so-called "pro-life" movement. They don't fight abortion because it's 'murder'. The fight abortion because it's a form of contraception. Their war is against women's autonomy, and our ability to control our lives by controlling our bodies. This is just the fist step. Its significance may be cultural rather than legislative: making it seem that there is something wrong with not wanting to have children and taking rational steps to prevent pregnancy. Science has given us means to decouple sexual pleasure from reproduction. The right wants to reconnect the two. Science has made us fully human. The religious right wants to make us animals again.
98
That is not true. Pro-life people firmly believe that abortion is murder, the direct and planned act of ending a life. It is an immutable philosophy and no one will convince them otherwise. They believe it morally wrong, possible more wrong that shooting someone.
Coincidentally many pro-life people are also anti-contraception, and some are even anti-women, believing that women should not be sexually involved without the goal of pro-creation.
There are three layers of philosophy running through the decisions to limit women's choices and options and pretty much guarantee oppression of people who cannot afford to help themselves.
It is the triple whammy of overlapping oppressive philosophies that make it difficult for women to win anything. Because the pro-life, anti-contraception and anti-sex people all work together to get their individual goals met.
Coincidentally many pro-life people are also anti-contraception, and some are even anti-women, believing that women should not be sexually involved without the goal of pro-creation.
There are three layers of philosophy running through the decisions to limit women's choices and options and pretty much guarantee oppression of people who cannot afford to help themselves.
It is the triple whammy of overlapping oppressive philosophies that make it difficult for women to win anything. Because the pro-life, anti-contraception and anti-sex people all work together to get their individual goals met.
5
Pro life groups oppose abortion because it is indeed murder and the taking of innocent human life in the womb. Many people oppose abortion including women. I am one of those women. We finally have a president and administration who is concerned with the rights of the unborn. We do not want to control women's bodies but save countless babies from the evil of abortion. We have been gaining support from many people and are saving lives from this disastrous procedure. We will continue to speak out against the horrors of abortion.
1
Impossible to grasp the thinking of people who A) don't like poor people and wish they wouldn't vote and would stop asking for things, and B) want there to be as many more poor people as possible. It's just weird.
23
Basically, these people want to create a new class of slaves--white slaves.
1
Perhaps we should be spending the money to inform the parents of teens, so they know how to inform their own children.
1
Really? So you want to fund classes for people who already know about sex instead of those that are immediately impacted by the modern world and current scientific research. That way parents can continue to inflict the misinformation they grew up with on their children and the 50% decline in teenage pregnancy can rise again. Controlling behavior never works better than factual information.
5
Colorado had very good success with their program with LARCs, which resulted in a 40% decline in teen pregnancies and a 42% decline in teen abortions.
Overall, some 37% of pregnancies in the United States are "unplanned." This does not have to happen. Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives are somewhat expensive to put into place, but have a less than one per cent failure rate.
The Colorado program should be carefully looked at before stupidly cutting funding for programs to reduce teen pregnancy. It worked, and it would be still working, had it not been defunded.
Overall, some 37% of pregnancies in the United States are "unplanned." This does not have to happen. Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives are somewhat expensive to put into place, but have a less than one per cent failure rate.
The Colorado program should be carefully looked at before stupidly cutting funding for programs to reduce teen pregnancy. It worked, and it would be still working, had it not been defunded.
14
A foolproof approach to unwanted pregnancy is abstinence. This has been a proven fact. It also does not cost any money in grant programs to the taxpayer. Why don't we try this method and see the positive results.
1
Well, well, well WMK - for your information abstinence has been tried for umpteen centuries and, believe it or not, folks simply do not abstain 100% of the time. So, useful, logical, and successful alternatives are needed. Be practical!
26
How does abstinence education not cost any money to the taxpayer? Who is going to teach and promote this method? Also, who is going to pay for all of the children that result from inadequate access to reliable birth control when they are ready to go to school? Abstinence only DOES NOT WORK?
25
Abstinaence and a chastity belt works, every other form doesn't. The US, which flogs the abstinence theory, has a much higher teen pregnancy rate than countries that provide sex education, free contraception and access to morning after drugs.
If you are aware of any study that shows that abstinence works, I'd love to see it, as every study I have seen shows the opposite.
If you are aware of any study that shows that abstinence works, I'd love to see it, as every study I have seen shows the opposite.
21
It is time for all government officials who cannot fulfill their oath to uphold the Constitution to resign. The only reason these 'officials' have for ending these programs is their radical right Christian religion and their need to help their all-powerful God enact his curse on women.
28
Time for the states to take or not care of their people by themselves rather than relying on the Feds. Grow up states.
I feel that way about our military. We shouldn't have to fund a federal military because I personally don't believe in war. Grow up states.
1
The current administration has reverted to the old saw that women should be kept barefoot and pregnant. We need to counter this at both state and federal levels by recalling that "a woman's place is in the House and also in the Senate.
By the way, why didn't Sen. Elizabeth Warren join with Senators Collins and Murkowski in contesting the Senate's assault on healthcare?
By the way, why didn't Sen. Elizabeth Warren join with Senators Collins and Murkowski in contesting the Senate's assault on healthcare?
14
What exactly is your point about Sen. Warren? All 48 Democrats and independents voted unanimously against all versions of the GOP healthcare bills -- which of course includes Sen. Warren. to imply that the two GOP defectors led the opposition is completely counter-factual.
11
She did. All 48 democratic and independent Senators (which includes Senator Warren) plus 3 republican Senators (Collins, McCain, Murkowski) voted NO on the repeal of the Affordable Health Care Act, resulting in its defeat by a vote of 51 to 49.
8
It is so hard for me to imagine what these reactionary bigots have in mind when they seek to curtail these programs.
Could it be unwanted children, raised in poverty, poorly educated, adding to the supply of low wage workers eager to groom don's golf courses at minimum wages? Modern day slavery?
Could it be unwanted children, raised in poverty, poorly educated, adding to the supply of low wage workers eager to groom don's golf courses at minimum wages? Modern day slavery?
28
Yes.
1
Is it possible to get the tom Price rebuttal to this article?
2
Price should be prosecuted for insider trading since he bought big pharmacy and medical device companies stock and then voted and encouraged legislation on those exact companies growth. So he's completely unethical and self-serving which is in line with Trump's lack of moral decency.
12
No shock that this is what Republicans wanted, draconian social policy turning back the clock to the days of coat hanger abortions. Ironic that we're fighting the Taliban, for the religious right and the (no)Freedom Caucus are the American Taliban. Trouble is those who voted for third party candidates or stayed home in protest or apathy really do not want the policies of a Trump cabinet. This is what happens when you treat the election of president as an American Idol competition forgetting the ramifications of a conservative judiciary, trickle down greed nonsense, and 19th century social policy
22
Fewer teen pregnancies = fewer abortions. If the Christian Right has a problem with abortion, why do they get rid of a program that has reduced teen pregnancy by half?
168
Because they want a reason to punish girls-what better way than encouraging pregnancy, thus ruining their chances for a better education, etc.
I've heard that the Christian Right have involuntary hissie fit seizures if they think there are people out there actually having fun.
1
They really don't care about kids lives. They just don't want them to have sex.
2
And, once again, instead of all of us paying for prevention, we will be paying child support by way of welfare to the teenage mothers who drop out of school and have no skills to find a job that will cover their expenses. Cut welfare and they are homeless. How can any of this make any sense at all?
Educating girls, and especially educating boys, is essential these days when abstinence is clearly a dirty word (if the education level reached enables understanding a complex word).
Educating girls, and especially educating boys, is essential these days when abstinence is clearly a dirty word (if the education level reached enables understanding a complex word).
21
I thought that Ivanka was supposed to be speaking up for women in this sorry administration. Teenagers at risk of pregnancy are among the most vulnerable females but programs helping them are on the chopping block. It seems that either Ivanka has zero influence or only cares about wealthy working women who buy expensive clothes and have planned pregnancies.
22
I have yet to learn of an action taken by any Cabinet member or agency head whose purpose is to help the American public. Instead, most of them, like this action, are penny wise and pound foolish and every one of them is motivated by the effort to cut government spending. Most are justified as unnecessary expenditures whether it be for clean air and water, safe food, safe highways or NIH cures for disease. All of these can be done without input from Congress.
All hail Caesar! Being a cheapskate for billionaire tax reform is no crime -- until the bills come in and the public starts to see a rise in sickness and death.
All hail Caesar! Being a cheapskate for billionaire tax reform is no crime -- until the bills come in and the public starts to see a rise in sickness and death.
14
There's simply no convincing those who oppose providing sex education and free contraceptives that there "moral" stand is anything but moral. To deliberately block the prevention of unwanted pregnancies is to turn a blind eye to babies coming into the world whose needs have not been prepared for. These "moral" folk are apparently not even practical enough to realize that it will cost them money in taxes to support these babies. Even Jesus had a stable and a crib. The moralists blame the parents for having sex, but it's the babies they are punishing and, in the long run, society as well.
It's pretty simple. Red states have higher rates of teen pregnancy. That translates to propping up the population of red states. People are net-leaving red states. Gotta keep those babies popping out. Gotta keep those red state electoral votes up.
6
What makes Sander's attractive to many of us is that he stood firm on the principle united we triumph, divided we are conquered and we all are turned into slaves.
We are all gay and we are straight, we are all black and we are white, we are all women and we are men, we are all Christian and we are Muslim, we are all believers and we are non-believers and we are all immigrants period. United we shall triumph. We are all ONE and the earth belong to us.
We are all gay and we are straight, we are all black and we are white, we are all women and we are men, we are all Christian and we are Muslim, we are all believers and we are non-believers and we are all immigrants period. United we shall triumph. We are all ONE and the earth belong to us.
4
The evidence is clear indeed...52% of woman voted for Trump (and some presumably because he purported to have a fundamentalist belief in God).
The only question pregnant teenage girls unfortunately are left to ask is, "Mommy, did you vote for him?"
The only question pregnant teenage girls unfortunately are left to ask is, "Mommy, did you vote for him?"
5
Isn't that 52% of WHITE women, not all women? I could swear that HRC won the popular vote -- it was in all the papers. Taking away funding for these programs is punishment of women, period.
4
What percentage of children from unwanted pregnancies eventually enlist in the military?
5
Interesting question.
Another brick on the road to complete Theocracy?
7
Conservative, evangelical "Christianity" in politics in this country is setting our country backwards, and not "Making America Great Again"! Too many of Trumps cabinet leaders are a destructive force with ideology apparently formed by their religious beliefs. Separation of Church and State is critical if our country is to be the country for all of us!
9
Make atheism a requirement for elective office!
1
Just Plain Crazy.
From a very early age, our children are exposed to hyper-sexualized content. It is impossible to keep it from reaching them.
We need more, better, smarter programs to teach children age-appropriately about healthy sexual expression, expectations in relationships (specifically, Consent & Mutual Respect), how to be safe from predators, how to report abuse and to whom. Everyone needs to be taught biology in order to better care for their body & reduce health costs as much as possible over their lifetime.
Wouldn't it be amazing if all kids could be counted on to get all that vital knowledge from their parents and/or grandparents? Well, they don't. Cutting health education programs is just plain crazy.
From a very early age, our children are exposed to hyper-sexualized content. It is impossible to keep it from reaching them.
We need more, better, smarter programs to teach children age-appropriately about healthy sexual expression, expectations in relationships (specifically, Consent & Mutual Respect), how to be safe from predators, how to report abuse and to whom. Everyone needs to be taught biology in order to better care for their body & reduce health costs as much as possible over their lifetime.
Wouldn't it be amazing if all kids could be counted on to get all that vital knowledge from their parents and/or grandparents? Well, they don't. Cutting health education programs is just plain crazy.
12
More pregnancy, more perpetual poverty, more people in need, etc. This is one area where we can save taxpayer dollars with prevention. It makes no "cents."
18
The facts: As of today, most of the funded organizations in this program (75%) deliver tailored evidence-based education to high-risk young people -- kids in foster care, juvenile detention, homeless shelters, kids in high-rate pregnancy areas of the country, etc. These programs are ALREADY demonstrated through research to work. About 25% of the the programs are being evaluated -- they're innovative approaches that may or may not work. This is called SCIENCE. It's how every advancement in health care is made. Refusing to pay for research because any individual effort may not work is the height of ignorance.
31
One thing this editorial didn't say was that five organizations funded to make these teen pregnancy prevention more effective (through training and technical assistance) were cut overnight, effective immediately. Since one of the goals of such assistance is to help programs coordinate with their communities to reach the most vulnerable, under-served kids, ending this funding as of this July was a deeply cynical effort to hobble these programs before killing them altogether. And to think, all this is happening without Congressional approval...
29
Were they cut because of this article?
A five year program offering long-term birth control at no charge to teens and young adults in Colorado led to a 42% drop in teen abortions and a 40% drop in unwanted pregnancies. It was funded by a private Foundation but saves the State of Colorado FIVE TIMES ITS COST in public Healthcare expenditures.
Last year, at the end of the program's study period, legislation was introduced to make the program permanent with public funding. EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN in the Colorado legislature voted against it.
Sure, Tom Price is a small-minded, vindictive idealogue, and that's a problem. But make no mistake, the problem festers in the entire Republican political movement.
Last year, at the end of the program's study period, legislation was introduced to make the program permanent with public funding. EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN in the Colorado legislature voted against it.
Sure, Tom Price is a small-minded, vindictive idealogue, and that's a problem. But make no mistake, the problem festers in the entire Republican political movement.
78
Please elaborate. Does the program actually furnish birth control pills or devices? If so, it has nothing to do with the rhetoric paid for by the current government hog trough slop. These programs are always a flash in the pan serving whatever political party won and gets in line first. They sound good, they always serve the poorest and under recognized. Yet they disappear after they are written up by national papers praising them to the sky for their results.
Why if the results were so spectacularly successful did the private foundation choose not to continue? Why in heaven's name should such an important choice be a political football? I am sick of hearing about it when it is obvious any serious action can be taken at any time and completely removed from the much hyped political arena. Isn't 75 years long enough to toy with our children's future?
Why if the results were so spectacularly successful did the private foundation choose not to continue? Why in heaven's name should such an important choice be a political football? I am sick of hearing about it when it is obvious any serious action can be taken at any time and completely removed from the much hyped political arena. Isn't 75 years long enough to toy with our children's future?
1
The program continues with private funding, following its defeat for public funding in the State Legislature. I didn't say that it did not continue. You could easily check the NYTimes site or Google to answer your questions, but here, let me do it for you:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/science/colorados-push-against-teenag...
As to why it is a "political football," you will have to ask the political party that piously prays (publicly, loudly and often) about the evil of abortion, but then refuses to do anything to reduce it. I think it may have something to do with not wanting to let such a sure-fire vote-getter slip away like a seventeen year old that just avoided an unwanted pregnancy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/science/colorados-push-against-teenag...
As to why it is a "political football," you will have to ask the political party that piously prays (publicly, loudly and often) about the evil of abortion, but then refuses to do anything to reduce it. I think it may have something to do with not wanting to let such a sure-fire vote-getter slip away like a seventeen year old that just avoided an unwanted pregnancy.
3
It is human nature for one to explore their own sexuality and then to eventually want to explore it with another. ( especially with peer pressure, lack of guidance, and the overwhelming images\narratives from media to do so )
Having said that it is purely a numbers game relating to science.
Education ( from an early age ) + contraception = lower pregnancy rates
Taking away one or the other (or both, that right wing zealots and republicans) continue act upon ( let alone trying to eliminate health care and a woman's sole dominion over her own body ) leads to devastating results.
A rise in orphans, foster care and unwanted children that are part of the other set of statistics of life that will grow up with exponential chances of success diminished and even more burden on the state\us
Backwards thinking.
Having said that it is purely a numbers game relating to science.
Education ( from an early age ) + contraception = lower pregnancy rates
Taking away one or the other (or both, that right wing zealots and republicans) continue act upon ( let alone trying to eliminate health care and a woman's sole dominion over her own body ) leads to devastating results.
A rise in orphans, foster care and unwanted children that are part of the other set of statistics of life that will grow up with exponential chances of success diminished and even more burden on the state\us
Backwards thinking.
23
If Dr. Price would follow evidence based medicine instead of feeding the appetite of Trump's far-right moralistic base, maybe he would have waited to see the results of these grants before ending them. Perhaps he should fund a study to see why affluent physician-congressman like himself seem to have no reluctance morally to help drug companies write legislation in exchange for inside stock trading information. So we have a president unfit for office and an HHS secretary who ignores science, the result of which hurts women and contributes to unwanted pregnancies and more poverty.
227
Dr. B: You are talking of a large group who have abandoned science, its tools, and its knowledge outcomes in the name of political expediency and religion. Good luck getting them to be rational about this.
The situation in my opinion is especially horrible because the perpetrators of this nonsense do not/cannot see that this isn't about sex, it's about controlling people.
Let's just hope the parents aren't shaming and beating their daughters who come home pregnant because of the 'abstinence only' sex ed and non-availability of abortion they have foisted on their young. I've seen it way too often...
The situation in my opinion is especially horrible because the perpetrators of this nonsense do not/cannot see that this isn't about sex, it's about controlling people.
Let's just hope the parents aren't shaming and beating their daughters who come home pregnant because of the 'abstinence only' sex ed and non-availability of abortion they have foisted on their young. I've seen it way too often...
12
There are many other studies that have proven prevention programs - not abstinence programs - work. It's an easy way for him to pander to his base.
56
Again, the left does not understand what is going on. The Federal Government is not responsible for dictating the day to day event of our citizens. And that includes researching what we do. If the States and Municipalities want something this they should be making their budgets and plans.
4
"Dictating"? the word you need is INFORM. Teenagers, of all people need to be INFORMED. And often their parents neglect to INFORM them. Ignorance (of what sex is, or how babies come to be) does not equal abstinence. Why should any state or city want their young citizens to be UNINFORMED and ignorant, and NOT have the tools or information to protect themselves.
97
Why "the left"? Most people of many political persuasions are glad that teen pregnancies are down in the USA. The young women have a chance to further their education and contribute to society rather than having to raise a child, abort it or give it away for adoption. There are fewer babies born to mothers with little or no income, whose healthcare needs to be subsidized by the Federal government and fewer abortions. It is common sense that programs to help continue this downward trend would continue.
I would think you, Mark,(assuming you are on what you consider to be "the right") would see the benefit in this in terms or your values. Teen pregnancy is a public health issue on many levels, and that is the purvue of Tom Price.
I would think you, Mark,(assuming you are on what you consider to be "the right") would see the benefit in this in terms or your values. Teen pregnancy is a public health issue on many levels, and that is the purvue of Tom Price.
23
I'm a Canadian where we don't have "left" and "right" as do the Americans - so what I will say is not a "left" response or a "right" response- it is a "Canadian" response - I think Mark is entirely correct but he does not go far enough. State government is still government. Municipal government is still government - if I chose to burn refuse during this historically hot and dry summer and get fined or arrested, it is the local police who will do this. So I think not only should the Federal government get out of the business of 'dictating' healthcare by virtue of what they fund or do not fund- state and municipal government should also get out of the business of dictating the day to day events of citizens. If I need health care I will set up my own hospital or purchase hospital services that are delivered according to whatever standard a for-profit provider of healthcare can get away with. If I don't want to contract some community-acquired infection, well then I will stop breathing in public places - get the BC Centre for Disease Control or the Federal counterpart OUT of my life. Quite frankly, I am tired of people saying that the State (Provincial) or municipal government should be telling me what to do. If I want something, as a Citizen I will make plans for it and pay for it.
5
There are conservatives who want to reduce teen age sexual activity by using the fear of pregnancy.
Providing information about preventing pregnancy and providing contraceptives is believed to encourage sexual activity.
These views are nuts.
Reducing information and availability of contraceptives will increase unwanted pregnancies and increase the number of abortions.
Outlawing abortion will not decrease the total number of abortions.
There will less legal safe abortions but to compensate more back alley abortion butcher jobs. The expectant mother hemmorages to death from the effects of an inserted coat hanger.
Do conservatives want this.
Dr. Price is an MD.
He should know this.
Does he care.
Providing information about preventing pregnancy and providing contraceptives is believed to encourage sexual activity.
These views are nuts.
Reducing information and availability of contraceptives will increase unwanted pregnancies and increase the number of abortions.
Outlawing abortion will not decrease the total number of abortions.
There will less legal safe abortions but to compensate more back alley abortion butcher jobs. The expectant mother hemmorages to death from the effects of an inserted coat hanger.
Do conservatives want this.
Dr. Price is an MD.
He should know this.
Does he care.
50
This is not about banning abortions; abortion is legal in all 50 states and has been for 44 years.
No woman today would use a "coat hanger" when you can order RU-486 on the internet.
Liberals need to wake up and stop acting like it is still 1955.
No woman today would use a "coat hanger" when you can order RU-486 on the internet.
Liberals need to wake up and stop acting like it is still 1955.
2
And this same group directs all their warnings and admonishments to teenage girls -- because its just a teenage girl problem! (Boys will be boys...our mostly male Congressmen are hypocrites?)
2
"By cutting the grants short, department officials will make it impossible for researchers to analyze the results of these projects,..."
So approximately two and a half years of funded research, money already spent, will be trashed.
What do they have to fear? Results that may not align with their position.
Cowards.
So approximately two and a half years of funded research, money already spent, will be trashed.
What do they have to fear? Results that may not align with their position.
Cowards.
42
Price, and Trump, are despicable. Why so much cruelty in denying health and education for teenagers is incomprehensible.
37
Cutting social services at home while putting vast resources into weapons of violence and mass destruction. What is wrong with the GOP? What is wrong with Mr. Trump? No, something is deeply wrong with the rest of us that we allow this sick value system to play out in broad daylight.
41
This issue is apparently partly why the GOP beats the stuffing out of the freedom of birth choice.
Shutting-down Planned Parenthood is a big brother-keeper stance of the GOP.
I for one give-up, and yield to Republicans for making their anti-choice, "hand-maidenesque" misery so convincing.
So, voters are happier campers with repressive politicos in charge--rots of ruck with that.
Trump shall probably appoint more antiabortion authoritarian judges.
It shall be much like it was before Roe circa 1980.
Coat-hangars.
Shutting-down Planned Parenthood is a big brother-keeper stance of the GOP.
I for one give-up, and yield to Republicans for making their anti-choice, "hand-maidenesque" misery so convincing.
So, voters are happier campers with repressive politicos in charge--rots of ruck with that.
Trump shall probably appoint more antiabortion authoritarian judges.
It shall be much like it was before Roe circa 1980.
Coat-hangars.
15
This will lead to more abortions. What helps prevent abortions? Birth control! But the same people who are anti-abortion are also anti-birth control. This makes absolutely no sense to me. You can push abstinence, but it simply doesn't work. You can say that kids take "purity pledges," but they don't work, either. This is ridiculous public policy. And for someone who has such a personal agenda to be allowed to push it on to the entire country is simply not acceptable. What a travesty. Just another in a long string of Trump idiocracies being foisted on us.
51
It is the absolute extreme of hypocrisy and contradiction for people who are intensely opposed to abortion as murder to also oppose family planning education. If it is truly murder to perform an abortion, then it is conspiracy to assist in that murder to oppose family planning and birth control education. Some fraction of unwed mothers will, of course, elect to carry their children to term. Others will be overwhelmed by both the emotional and financial burden of caring for a child at a young age and will make the sad choice to have an abortion. Those who oppose birth control education are fully culpable for each an every one of those abortions.
You can't have it both ways folks. Abstinence and ignorance don't work. You can delude yourself into believing that they work just fine until the choice occurs in your family. Then what!
You can't have it both ways folks. Abstinence and ignorance don't work. You can delude yourself into believing that they work just fine until the choice occurs in your family. Then what!
32
Our President and Price have 5 children between them--obviously birth control works and so does GOP hypocrisy.
3
Newsflash, teenagers have always engaged in premarital sex. Contrary to popular belief we do not live in a theocracy. You cannot disdain poor single parents while denying them access to education that may prevent unwanted pregnancies. Knowledge is power.
Other countries have lower teen pregnancies because they actually educate their children on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs. More and more the US operates like a third world country while pretending to be a developed nation.
Other countries have lower teen pregnancies because they actually educate their children on how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs. More and more the US operates like a third world country while pretending to be a developed nation.
40
In spite of the "separation of church and state" in the constitution, there are elements in this country that just cannot let themselves do just that. While Islam is the very worst of religion intruding in public life (one need only look at the ME to see this) our own "imams" are always agitating to put their personal agenda (gods will of course) on public policy. We will probably elect a Muslim president before we do an atheist. Too bad.
5
Teens who can imagine themselves attaining educational and vocational or professional success will postpone pregnancy and develop their own professional and personal growth. If a girl grew up in a family that expects and accepts an early pregnancy, she may not see other alternatives for herself. If a boy defines his manhood with fatherhood and refuses to use a condom then we will see many children having babies. These teens need better education, not only about sex, but in order to help them imagine higher attainments for themselves. This might help them postpone bearing children until they are able to support them as productive adults (rather than relying on social welfare programs). Education is the key. Inspire these kids to believe in themselves, and to gain a vision of themselves as contributors to their own futures beyond child-bearing.
21
$200 million dollar grants equals = six figure government salaries [with healthcare and pension] for the people lucky enough to administer them.
2
How much money do you think it will cost the taxpayer for unwanted teen pregnacies caused by cutting the funding? The 2010 estimate was 9.4 billion dollars, and that is with the funding Trump wants to cut.
But on the up side for the conservatives, there will be more abortions to rail about, which will keep their voters motivated. Because "murdering" fetuses gets them more votes, so they create a situation that encourages abortion.
But on the up side for the conservatives, there will be more abortions to rail about, which will keep their voters motivated. Because "murdering" fetuses gets them more votes, so they create a situation that encourages abortion.
6
Sebastian Gorka receives a salary on the order of $140,000 to spout nonsense and create chaos in the West Wing. Do you think he should be fired so we can save his salary?
Perhaps you forget that one consequence of unplanned pregnancies is that more children will require other types of public assistance over their lifetimes to become healthy and productive. But of course, those types of costs don't factor into the calculation of someone who sees government programs as designed to pay salaries to administrators.
Perhaps you forget that one consequence of unplanned pregnancies is that more children will require other types of public assistance over their lifetimes to become healthy and productive. But of course, those types of costs don't factor into the calculation of someone who sees government programs as designed to pay salaries to administrators.
4
$200 million equals 150 cruise missiles. You should ask yourself which would you prefer.
5
These are the same people that complain about unwed mothers and lament the expenditures to support their children. Don't they realize that a teen pregnancy
affects adversely the life of the mother who will find her future hindered by her lack of preparation. Moreover, it will reduce the chances of development of the child. It will put a burden on the grandmother who will need to take care of this child. It increases their dependency on social services and put a strain on governmental resources. What is that they are trying to achieve with this incredibly short-sighted and even cruel decision. And this is how you make America Great? This is returning to the end of the 19th century. After they have done their damage and disappear from the political scene, we will have to work hard to really Make America Great again.
affects adversely the life of the mother who will find her future hindered by her lack of preparation. Moreover, it will reduce the chances of development of the child. It will put a burden on the grandmother who will need to take care of this child. It increases their dependency on social services and put a strain on governmental resources. What is that they are trying to achieve with this incredibly short-sighted and even cruel decision. And this is how you make America Great? This is returning to the end of the 19th century. After they have done their damage and disappear from the political scene, we will have to work hard to really Make America Great again.
29
Number ONE reason for poverty is teenage pregnancy. If the government want to save money and cut welfare fund these pregnancy awareness programs. Look at the costs of teenage pregnancy versus the benefits of supporting these progams. The Cost of supporting these program is minimal compared to the outcome of having to pay for the delivery of the child and then having to support the mother and child on welfare for years. The child drops out of school and cannot obtain a job and now is on welfare. It is a vicious cycle.
35
But as we saw from the GOP Congress's health bills ...twice...they legislate for their donors while stiffing their voters.
If you keep unintended pregnancy as solely a problem of the female (who then deserves punishment) it all makes sense.
(Price and Trump have 5 kids between themselves; obviously birth control works for them.)
If you keep unintended pregnancy as solely a problem of the female (who then deserves punishment) it all makes sense.
(Price and Trump have 5 kids between themselves; obviously birth control works for them.)
1
I get the point that experimenting with different approaches makes sense. I missed the sentence that said that the ineffective programs, apparently a large majority, were defunded.
4
The sentence you missed was that all of them were defunded, those with initial evidence of efficacy and those without.
12
Actually, I did see that. I'm just not interested in joining another political hatefest. If your point is that it's worth paying for a bunch of programs that don't work to assure the survival of the few that do, I'm not sure I agree. Sometimes there's room for nuance in discussions, albeit not often here.
1
Let's talk about 'nuance,' then. Most of the funded organizations in this program (75%) deliver tailored evidence-based education to high-risk young people -- kids in foster care, juvenile detention, homeless shelters, kids in high-rate pregnancy areas of the country, etc. These programs are ALREADY demonstrated through research to work. About 25% of the the programs are being evaluated -- they're innovative approaches that may or may not work. This is called SCIENCE. It's how every advancement in health care is made.
11
The federal government should continue to fund this program as budgeted but cease any future funding. There is no reason federal tax dollars should be spent on these types of programs - this is what state and local governments should be providing along with any other charitable organizations.
4
Why? We all live in the same country, we all benefit from having a healthy, educated, productive population.
15
@DR: "Why? We all live in the same country, we all benefit from having a healthy, educated, productive population."
Because the federal government was never intended to fund programs that could and should be handled at the state level. If you believe in the viability of a program to prevent teenage pregnancy, get in contact with your local or state authorities and ask how you can help. Better yet, start your own local chapter and open up your own wallet. Quit with this idea that you should get the federal government to stick its hands into other people's pockets to fund things it was never intended to do.
Because the federal government was never intended to fund programs that could and should be handled at the state level. If you believe in the viability of a program to prevent teenage pregnancy, get in contact with your local or state authorities and ask how you can help. Better yet, start your own local chapter and open up your own wallet. Quit with this idea that you should get the federal government to stick its hands into other people's pockets to fund things it was never intended to do.
3
The STATES? many of them don't have the money or the interest in such programs, and then it's the FEDERAL government that picks up the welfare tab. Please. Let's not have a patchwork of successful states and loser states based on ideology. I'd like to see some consistency of policy in the UNITED states.
16
It makes no sense for a fiscal conservative to end teen pregnancy prevention. Currently just about half of all pregnancies are paid from Medicaid with teen pregnancy more closely allied with Medicaid. The best predictor of a medically difficult pregnancy, preterm labor and babies born in distress needing time in the neonatal ICU is delayed antenatal care which is common in teen (and pre-teen) pregnancies. One infant with one month's stay in the NICU--not an uncommon stretch in severe preemies--pays for the entire sex education program in a region. [The youngest child-woman I ever saw give birth was age 12.]
Once you have a teenage mother, you often doom the mother and child to a lifetime of diminished chances and us to the same time underwriting the costs of the safety net for Medicaid, SNAP and other programs.
Save millions by stopping sex education and pay billions for the downstream consequences. Nice work, Secretary Price!
Once you have a teenage mother, you often doom the mother and child to a lifetime of diminished chances and us to the same time underwriting the costs of the safety net for Medicaid, SNAP and other programs.
Save millions by stopping sex education and pay billions for the downstream consequences. Nice work, Secretary Price!
79
Making sense is not part of the religious Conservatives who now are running the department. They view anything about sex is evil and they are placing their morality on all of the US. Once you get into a religious backed viewpoint, no argument against is going to win.
They will also nicely forget about the other parts of conservativism like fiscal restraint. Having more babies certainly, will increase government costs.
They will also nicely forget about the other parts of conservativism like fiscal restraint. Having more babies certainly, will increase government costs.
13
Of course this administration will cut funds to end teen pregnancy. Just as they are shutting down funding for insurance supported birth control, Planned Parenthood, school meals, Snap, etc., etc., etc. More teen pregnancies would mean more teen school dropouts. I don't know who said it, but power can most easily be exercised when the masses are poor and uneducated. And note that the GOP who has so consistently waged war, even before Trump, on women's health issues, never supports the programs that would give children who might have been ill-conceived any support. Pro-life ceases when those babes take their first breath. I am 70, and am in mourning for my beautiful, progressive nation that is being stripped of decades of moving forward. The Right and Far-Right are attacking the Constitution that they claim to revere in their "patriotism" by expanding the church's (meaning Christian) place in government. To the government I say this, "Keep your hands of my morality" and to the current triumvirate of GOP leadership I say "Start doing your jobs instead of redefining America. We are a nation comprised of many religions, and our government is not where their tenets should reside, nor should our laws nor national spending be based on them". Programs should be funded based on their value to the citizens of our country.
90
Cheers to you in NC for this insightful and sensible article which speaks exactly to the issue! I am a decade older than you and have the same feelings. You saved me the writing of a long letter.
23
The Congress and Senate of the US are in open rebellion against "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free (voluntary) exercise thereof". Nobody stinks worse than lawmakers who cannot obey the restrictions the Constitution places on them.
16
"The Right and Far-Right are attacking the Constitution..."
So are the Left and the Far-Left, but I suppose that's OK because they have "good intentions".
So are the Left and the Far-Left, but I suppose that's OK because they have "good intentions".
1
The separation of church and state has clearly been broken with this administration. Both the department of Health and Education are clearly being directed to put in place radical right wing religious programming to direct our youth. Our Department of Justice will no longer protect the rights of all of our citizens because of its leadership's religious beliefs. We are on the road to government intolerance.
I want churches taxed through property and income taxes, and I want them to be taxed now. If they can direct my government and support my leaders with their money, then they ought to be treated like any other citizen or political group. We have given these religious leaders the right to intrude on our government and its actions. It is time they paid for the right like the rest of us!
I want churches taxed through property and income taxes, and I want them to be taxed now. If they can direct my government and support my leaders with their money, then they ought to be treated like any other citizen or political group. We have given these religious leaders the right to intrude on our government and its actions. It is time they paid for the right like the rest of us!
82
With things like the Hobby Lobby Decision, and the ability of religious colleges to opt out of Title IX - the separation of church and state has been questionable at best. Until we choose to recognize that religious freedoms often help to institutionalize discrimination - then we will be forever stuck in the Middle Ages where unwanted teenage pregnancies are thought to be the better option than teaching young adults about safe sex practices and birth control.
31
Oh yes. This adminitration is "stuck in the Middle Ages". Childish. Like now with the quarrel with Nort Korea - My dad is stronger than your dad.
1
And the next step will be to make the unwed mother marry the father of the child, even if it was the result of a rape. The trayectory of this administration may eventually lead us there.
3
Republicans have a sick relationship with other people's sex lives.
If they'd mind their own P's and Q's, and act as the public servants they are supposed to be, they would focus less on fetuses and more on the well-being of already born humans, their families, their homes, their employment, and their well being.
A child is part of a family, and the first thing is ensuring that the child is wanted. Getting rid of birth control worked really well for Bristol Palin, didn't it.
There need to be some consequences of hypocrisy.
If they'd mind their own P's and Q's, and act as the public servants they are supposed to be, they would focus less on fetuses and more on the well-being of already born humans, their families, their homes, their employment, and their well being.
A child is part of a family, and the first thing is ensuring that the child is wanted. Getting rid of birth control worked really well for Bristol Palin, didn't it.
There need to be some consequences of hypocrisy.
136
Bristol Palin wanted to get pregnant, to hold on to her elusive boyfriend. She was not stupid nor uneducated; she WANTED to be pregnant.
I would not be surprised if some of her motivation was to get away from her overbearing mother, Sarah Palin.
Welfare gave Bristol a steady stream of income, including food stamps, 100% FREE Medicaid care and a housing subsidy -- it made her an independent emancipated minor -- and of course, her parents and boyfriend could still slip her money on the side.
BTW: she still finished school and I believe today she is a nurse.
I would not be surprised if some of her motivation was to get away from her overbearing mother, Sarah Palin.
Welfare gave Bristol a steady stream of income, including food stamps, 100% FREE Medicaid care and a housing subsidy -- it made her an independent emancipated minor -- and of course, her parents and boyfriend could still slip her money on the side.
BTW: she still finished school and I believe today she is a nurse.
Republicans may have a sick relationship with other people's sex lies, but Democrats are obsessed with picking other people's wallets for every social program, especially at the federal level.
If they'd mind their own P's and Q's and act as public servants who have read and understand the Constitution, Democrats and Republicans alike would realize that there's nothing in that document about using federal taxpayer dollars for preventing teenage pregnancy. Birth control is not the responsibility of the federal government.
If they'd mind their own P's and Q's and act as public servants who have read and understand the Constitution, Democrats and Republicans alike would realize that there's nothing in that document about using federal taxpayer dollars for preventing teenage pregnancy. Birth control is not the responsibility of the federal government.
There there is no reason for teen pregnancy in 2017. Birth control pills and other methods are always available along with the night after pill. People have money for phones, marijuana and everything else. Sixty years ago was another story, Communication is necessary and with spending millions on sex Ed in schools there should be a return on investment.
7
Given that teen pregnancy rates have fallen dramatically since their high in the 1990s, I'd say there HAS been a return on investment.
4
If a teen doesn't know about birth control, how are they supposed to get it? Education is how they learn about it....
2
And there are plenty of articles about it in magazines, on TV, etc. I don't believe any normal teen with reading ability could be ignorant of birth control.
“Adolescent Pregnancy, Birth, and Abortion Rates Across Countries: Levels and Recent Trends,” by Gilda Sedgh et al., examines rates among 15–19-year-olds and among 10–14-year-olds in all countries for which recent information could be obtained, as well as trends for the mid-1990s when available.
Exerpt:
"Among countries with reliable evidence, the researchers found exceptionally low teen pregnancy, birth and abortion rates in Switzerland (8, 2 and 5 per 1,000 15–19-year-olds, respectively), where long-established sex education programs, free family planning services and low-cost emergency contraception are widely available, and sexually active teens are expected to use contraceptives. By contrast, the United States’ rates of teen pregnancy, birth and abortion (57, 34 and 15 per 1,000 15–19-year-olds, respectively) were among the highest. The authors note that U.S. teens face low societal acceptance of teen sexuality, inconsistent provision of sex education, and socioeconomic inequalities that underlie higher teen pregnancy rates among the most disadvantaged groups."
It isn't difficult; long-established sex education programs, free family planning services and low-cost emergency contraception are widely available, and sexually active teens are expected to use contraceptives. And it's much more cost effective to stop pregnancy from happening, than dealing with the consequences.
Exerpt:
"Among countries with reliable evidence, the researchers found exceptionally low teen pregnancy, birth and abortion rates in Switzerland (8, 2 and 5 per 1,000 15–19-year-olds, respectively), where long-established sex education programs, free family planning services and low-cost emergency contraception are widely available, and sexually active teens are expected to use contraceptives. By contrast, the United States’ rates of teen pregnancy, birth and abortion (57, 34 and 15 per 1,000 15–19-year-olds, respectively) were among the highest. The authors note that U.S. teens face low societal acceptance of teen sexuality, inconsistent provision of sex education, and socioeconomic inequalities that underlie higher teen pregnancy rates among the most disadvantaged groups."
It isn't difficult; long-established sex education programs, free family planning services and low-cost emergency contraception are widely available, and sexually active teens are expected to use contraceptives. And it's much more cost effective to stop pregnancy from happening, than dealing with the consequences.
87
The people who complain loudest about teen pregnancy reduction believe that God punishes them for failing to force every pregnancy to term. No purely imaginary figure has had more influence over the course of history than God.
63
The problem is when it comes to sex and sexuality USA acts more like a theocracy -- squeamish of the science and evidence behind the necessity of providing education about this basic human right. as the Guttmacher institute article states: "...U.S. teens face low societal acceptance of teen sexuality, inconsistent provision of sex education..."
Countries like Germany, France and Netherlands understand this hence their rates of teen birth rates are one sixth of the Americans. It's the same problem with the UK, albeit to a lesser degree -- with consequent birth rate between these two extremes.
Countries like Germany, France and Netherlands understand this hence their rates of teen birth rates are one sixth of the Americans. It's the same problem with the UK, albeit to a lesser degree -- with consequent birth rate between these two extremes.
65
Congratulations to both parties for cutting the teenage birthrate so much - by more than half this century. During the 1990's I was told that a 19-year-old delivered her third out-of-wedlock child every day in our region.
Of course, not even this stellar progress is enough to keep our panicked press lords of coastal progressivism from making this the reason of the day for peddling hatred of the American President. If Mr. Trump had eradicated all teenaged unplanned pregnancies, he would still be presented as a monster undeserving of any respect.
So thanks for nailing down the 60-vote majority the GOP will enjoy after next year's elections - because the Right sees all of this playing out.
Of course, not even this stellar progress is enough to keep our panicked press lords of coastal progressivism from making this the reason of the day for peddling hatred of the American President. If Mr. Trump had eradicated all teenaged unplanned pregnancies, he would still be presented as a monster undeserving of any respect.
So thanks for nailing down the 60-vote majority the GOP will enjoy after next year's elections - because the Right sees all of this playing out.
5
L'O, you apparently missed the part that said our teenage pregnancy rate "is still higher than in other industrialized countries." Read more carefully or less selectively.
23
Sex education and reproductive health services for teens is not exactly a "problem solved, now I can walk away from it" issue. I'll take progressive over regressive, thank you.
14
Go find a safe space.
2
The biggest problems of our world stem primarily from one basic problem--- overpopulation. Global warming, air and water pollution, ocean acidification that is threatening our seafood sources, groundwater depletion caused by raising corn to make alcohol for supplementing gasoline, algae blooms in our streams and rivers caused by fertilization and animal waste runoffs etc, etc.
53
You have spoken a colossal truth. People act with about as much awareness of their responsibility to preserve our planet and the life it supports as yeast. And like yeast, we will feed and multiply and emit carbon dioxide until we're all dead.
3
Teen pregnancy, and its almost constant companion, unwed motherhood, is simply another method our plutocracy uses to maintain its stranglehold over the lives of poor women. Naturally, upper class white women who are entering childbearing years have access to any and all forms of birth control if not, (heaven forbid) private abortion services.
114
First it was destroying the TPP trade deal, now he destroys the TPPP program for no reason at all than because he can. Or is it to satisfy the religious hypocrites that object to contraception and knowledge for everyone while also claiming to be pro-life.
When white supremacists like David Duke shout they want their country back - what does that mean? Now I know. They now have their man in the White House to "take" the country "back" with right wing alt-right appointees throughout government and in Congress to dismantle all that was good and made America Great.
I watch in increasing horror every day as the wrecking of America and indeed the world by Trump's alt-Russian crew dismantle and destroy what MLK, Lincoln, scientists and researchers, educators, women's rights, immigration, service men and women, doctors and nurses, and many others' sacrificed - even died - for, and have their life's good work go up in smoke - because Trump can.
Trump is not a leader - he's a destroyer. Trump the destroyer. And no woman, not even young girls, are safe from Trump the destroyer.
How many generations will it take to recover? How many sacrifices will need to be experienced yet again, by new heroes?
When white supremacists like David Duke shout they want their country back - what does that mean? Now I know. They now have their man in the White House to "take" the country "back" with right wing alt-right appointees throughout government and in Congress to dismantle all that was good and made America Great.
I watch in increasing horror every day as the wrecking of America and indeed the world by Trump's alt-Russian crew dismantle and destroy what MLK, Lincoln, scientists and researchers, educators, women's rights, immigration, service men and women, doctors and nurses, and many others' sacrificed - even died - for, and have their life's good work go up in smoke - because Trump can.
Trump is not a leader - he's a destroyer. Trump the destroyer. And no woman, not even young girls, are safe from Trump the destroyer.
How many generations will it take to recover? How many sacrifices will need to be experienced yet again, by new heroes?
157
PAN: I so agree with you, but we can't overlook the fact that this GOP Congress has aided and abetted Trump! They have the power to get him out of office right now if they put country over power - there is plenty of evidence!
2
Thomas Jefferson questioned whether the Constitution entitled him to expand U.S. territory or build a national road. Where is there ANY Constitutional warrant for the federal government to be involved in what is essentially a parental responsibility: dealing with the sexual behavior of teens?
4
@John. Article I, Sec.8, clause 1, U.S. Constitution, says: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States
Family planning provides for the public welfare and is a recognized branch of public health. It is something from which we all benefit.
Family planning provides for the public welfare and is a recognized branch of public health. It is something from which we all benefit.
105
Because teen pregnancy and children bearing children is a public health problem, and it affects us all in its results. The bad effects are well-documented. And it is very preventable.
76
Always its the constitution, always originalism. The sacred constitution, which gives us the three fifths clause, which tacitly condones slavery and the destruction of indigenous people. The holy, holy constitution, written entirely by white men, many of them slave owners no less. The constitution which has been amended (the much debated second amendment, for example) and has had previous amendments repealed (the 21st amendment repealed the disastorous 18th) . Raising the next generation is the responsibility of ALL of us. Why should ones morality be proscribed by a centuries old document?
Thomas Jefferson was a complex man. Like George Washington he owned slaves. On Washington's death, he freed his slaves. When Jefferson died he freed Sally Hemmings, his mistress, while passing on the rest of his slaves as chatte
Thomas Jefferson was a complex man. Like George Washington he owned slaves. On Washington's death, he freed his slaves. When Jefferson died he freed Sally Hemmings, his mistress, while passing on the rest of his slaves as chatte
5
The news carried three tragic stories of teen mothers who either killed or abandoned their babies: in Texas, upstate New York, and Ohio. Cutting funding to these programs that educate teens about pregnancy and birth control will no doubt result in more of these heart-rending stories of lives ruined and lost.
51
It is tragic, but killing a newborn takes a different set of mentalities. It is not just simple as unwanted pregnancies.
Republicans are largely Libertarians and Libertarians don't care about the consequences of the legislation they are pushing: The only thing that matters to them is how small they can make government.
Tom Price does not care how many unwanted teen pregnancies can be avoided with a government program, the word 'government' itself is adequate reason to end it.
One really hopes Republicans would stop advocating government down-scalings at every turn and start judging policies on their merits instead of their position on the small-government-to-big-government scale.
In the age of Trump, though, any rationalization of Republican approach to politics will only become an increasingly unlikely turn of events...
Tom Price does not care how many unwanted teen pregnancies can be avoided with a government program, the word 'government' itself is adequate reason to end it.
One really hopes Republicans would stop advocating government down-scalings at every turn and start judging policies on their merits instead of their position on the small-government-to-big-government scale.
In the age of Trump, though, any rationalization of Republican approach to politics will only become an increasingly unlikely turn of events...
33
Frankly, if Republicans were true Libertarians, they wouldn't be working in government to begin with and they wouldn't be accepting large corporate donations from those who want to use government to set the agenda that strictly serves their interests.
While they decry big government, when it comes to military spending, wars and interfering with the rights of others with whom they disagree, they have no problem using government resources to ram through their agenda.
Republicans are not Libertarians, a better description would be "hypocrites".
While they decry big government, when it comes to military spending, wars and interfering with the rights of others with whom they disagree, they have no problem using government resources to ram through their agenda.
Republicans are not Libertarians, a better description would be "hypocrites".
9
My first foray into helping to prevent teenage pregnancy was in 1976 at the foot of the Huntington Beach pier for Planned Parenthood. I trained teenagers to speak in simple terms to other teens about family planning and contraception in an effort to help prevent unintended pregnancy. Forty-one years later I am still dedicated to this goal.
Sadly, the present administration will, by saving $200m dollars, find that the exact opposite goal is achieved. Teenage pregnancy will climb, the abortion rates will increase and the need for public support through welfare and other services will increase creating an incredibly counter-productive solution.
It is a fact that the longer you delay the birth of the first born child both here and outside of the USA the greater the economic opportunities are for the women who have delayed. It is simply cruel all the various ways the Trump administration has undertaken both domestically, and internationally, to deprive women of services which have helped lift them out of dire conditions. For what amounts to pennies on the dollars, the Trump administration is basically cutting off their nose to spite their face. It is no surprise given the way things are heading that Texas now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world supported by the removal of manifold programs intended to help these women.
The bigger question for me is why this administration is so intent on hurting women worldwide.
Sadly, the present administration will, by saving $200m dollars, find that the exact opposite goal is achieved. Teenage pregnancy will climb, the abortion rates will increase and the need for public support through welfare and other services will increase creating an incredibly counter-productive solution.
It is a fact that the longer you delay the birth of the first born child both here and outside of the USA the greater the economic opportunities are for the women who have delayed. It is simply cruel all the various ways the Trump administration has undertaken both domestically, and internationally, to deprive women of services which have helped lift them out of dire conditions. For what amounts to pennies on the dollars, the Trump administration is basically cutting off their nose to spite their face. It is no surprise given the way things are heading that Texas now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world supported by the removal of manifold programs intended to help these women.
The bigger question for me is why this administration is so intent on hurting women worldwide.
199
Besides the general negative attitude of the GOP about all things empowering women, their is Trumps 'policy' of appointing cabinet secretaries who are specifically opposed to their department's mission, Trump's attitude towards women (and everything else,) these programs to reduce teen pregnancy were supported by President Obama. So no matter how sensible, beneficial, effective, cost-saving or desperately needed, to Trump, its previous supporter marks it for the kiss of death from Trump.
5
They do it to exert and maintain power over others and control over those lives. They do it because then people like you and me spend so much of out resources trying to help contain the damage, that we can't succeed in addressing the systemic bugs that put them into office to begin with. This removes much potential opposition. They do it because fascism preys on those considered weak. They do it because they can, because they're afraid, because abusing power feeds their addiction to controlling others. They do it because what conscience may be left them is easily distracted and silenced. They do it because they know they will never be one of the people left holding the bag. This is bullying behavior and it is pretty predictable for those who study the patterns. I have found it depressing so lately.
8
Because chauvinism, and misogyny are part and parcel of the fascist mantra, you will see this happening over and over again during Trump's presidency.
3
Before you jump to the conclusion that Republicans want to increase teen births, consider that there are hundreds of program that provide salaries to employees of non profit organizations and the programs have zero accountability.
Baltimore is losing $3.5 million and is pretending that 20,000 children will suffer as a consequence. No. Director of the "non-profit" is going to lose $200,000 that was going toward her compensation and the 65 "coaches" who are being paid salary and benefits of $30,000 each are going to lose their part time jobs. The suppliers of office and classroom space, catering, printed materials [friends and family of the director] are going to lose their high-profit, no-bid contracts.
The charitable/industrial complex is screaming the Republicans want children to get pregnant. The reality is that the c/i complex is losing largesse for programs that are demonstrably ineffective. The federal government gives grants to public schools to fund sex education and when it is ineffective, they don't take the money away, HHS creates new program.
The same dynamics are in place for homeless programs, Head Start and other daycare and preschool programs, drug addiction programs (mo money since ObamaCare), medical out reach programs [Michelle Obama was paid $350,000 per year for a part time gig.]
Quit pretending Dems care about the needy. They care about compensation for well connected politicos and wealthy pretend philanthropists.
Baltimore is losing $3.5 million and is pretending that 20,000 children will suffer as a consequence. No. Director of the "non-profit" is going to lose $200,000 that was going toward her compensation and the 65 "coaches" who are being paid salary and benefits of $30,000 each are going to lose their part time jobs. The suppliers of office and classroom space, catering, printed materials [friends and family of the director] are going to lose their high-profit, no-bid contracts.
The charitable/industrial complex is screaming the Republicans want children to get pregnant. The reality is that the c/i complex is losing largesse for programs that are demonstrably ineffective. The federal government gives grants to public schools to fund sex education and when it is ineffective, they don't take the money away, HHS creates new program.
The same dynamics are in place for homeless programs, Head Start and other daycare and preschool programs, drug addiction programs (mo money since ObamaCare), medical out reach programs [Michelle Obama was paid $350,000 per year for a part time gig.]
Quit pretending Dems care about the needy. They care about compensation for well connected politicos and wealthy pretend philanthropists.
7
The rate of teen pregnancy fell nearly 50% between 2007 and 2015. Obviously some of this has been very effective. Why is it that only the the some people deserve to be paid well for their jobs. Public service service jobs don't mean free, it means for the public good. Attracting effective people requires paying market value.
76
ebemem, presumably you would like the same level of accountability (where is the money going? who is getting paid what?) to all the money given, apparently no questions asked, to our military? Trump just asked for 50 odd billion to add to the military budget. Even if he just gets one billion, I doubt that conservatives will be demanding that the military show research that proves that the money is well spent. Am I right?
85
These are the same people making RU486 difficult or impossible to get, restricting abortion acccess, purveying abstinence-only sex ed, and now this reduction, yet you still think they are trying to reduce teen pregnancy?
Denial is a terrible thing, especially when it risks lives (teen birth is far more dangerous, if not deadly, than teen abortion) and you are in it.
Denial is a terrible thing, especially when it risks lives (teen birth is far more dangerous, if not deadly, than teen abortion) and you are in it.
13
The religious right views teens (and women in general) as second class citizens who don't need birth control or sex education. If they are suitably modest, demure, and chaste until marriage, there should be no problem. However, once inadvertently pregnant they should be forced to bear their pregnancy as a scarlet letter. And then they should raise the child like everything is fine in the world of forced birthing.
This is religiosity run amok and forced down the throats of all women. If certain people object to family planning, they shouldn't avail themselves. But they should leave the rest of us out of their unscientific, anti-public health agenda.
Some teens will have sex, just as they always have. But rates of STD’s and teen pregnancy can be mitigated through education and public health measures. (Where abstinence only programs are notable failures). Modern family planning and sex education are gifts that make people healthier and their lives more fulfilling and productive.
Preventing unplanned teen pregnancies won’t lead to moral decay or the fall of western civilization. The latter are the responsibility of the parents within the context of a modern society, but they usually need help with the former.
This is religiosity run amok and forced down the throats of all women. If certain people object to family planning, they shouldn't avail themselves. But they should leave the rest of us out of their unscientific, anti-public health agenda.
Some teens will have sex, just as they always have. But rates of STD’s and teen pregnancy can be mitigated through education and public health measures. (Where abstinence only programs are notable failures). Modern family planning and sex education are gifts that make people healthier and their lives more fulfilling and productive.
Preventing unplanned teen pregnancies won’t lead to moral decay or the fall of western civilization. The latter are the responsibility of the parents within the context of a modern society, but they usually need help with the former.
68
I wish I could do more than just "recommend" this comment one time!
Up vote +1000000!!
Up vote +1000000!!
3
This retro 1950s Mad Men administration views women as decorative accessories as Mr. Trump's many wives prove. In the Republican evangelical mindset, men are God's chosen law-givers, never women.
The failed Republican 'health bill' was written by 13 men while the only two female Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, were locked out of the process - nothing subtle about the messaging there.
52% of white women knowingly voted for Trump's vices and prejudices, after all, he fully revealed his cesspool-values well before election day. That is the definition of voting against one's own better interests. Republican men have a fetish about controlling women's sexuality. How pathetic and insecure those guys are.
The failed Republican 'health bill' was written by 13 men while the only two female Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, were locked out of the process - nothing subtle about the messaging there.
52% of white women knowingly voted for Trump's vices and prejudices, after all, he fully revealed his cesspool-values well before election day. That is the definition of voting against one's own better interests. Republican men have a fetish about controlling women's sexuality. How pathetic and insecure those guys are.
237
There are 5 female republican senators currently in office. Senators Collins and Murkowski were the ones who voted against the (hopefully) last attempt at ACA repeal, but they aren't the only republican women in office at the moment.
But to your larger point, not all women have the same POV about reproductive care.
But to your larger point, not all women have the same POV about reproductive care.
4
Just who, Mr. Baker, are you to tell others what is in their best interests?
Isn't that what they are entitled to determine for themselves?
It is understandable that you are dismayed that your view is not the accepted one at this point, but that is a matter for you and your conscience and your ego to resolve.
Please don't assume that it is your role to tell the rest of the world what is best and what is not. It is an arrogance that will not be tolerated.
Isn't that what they are entitled to determine for themselves?
It is understandable that you are dismayed that your view is not the accepted one at this point, but that is a matter for you and your conscience and your ego to resolve.
Please don't assume that it is your role to tell the rest of the world what is best and what is not. It is an arrogance that will not be tolerated.
5
The difference between Mr Baker and Mr, Price, Mr. Owl, is that Mr, Baker is merely expressing an opinion for which there is plenty of evidence offered in the editorial. Mr. Price is taking action for which there is little justification and was initially, at least, done surreptitiously.
On which side is the arrogance?
On which side is the arrogance?
18
After all these years, I have still never heard criticism directed against the odd custom of "dating" for teenagers.
perhaps we have enough evidence by now to prove that teenaged girls ought to be allowed to be free of male attention until they are fully educated under safer circumstances in private facilities.
perhaps we have enough evidence by now to prove that teenaged girls ought to be allowed to be free of male attention until they are fully educated under safer circumstances in private facilities.
6
Please, tell me this was "sarcasm".
4
So you are saying we need to lock girls away in private facilities to keep them safe? If males are the problem shouldn't we lock them away? I certainly hope this was just sarcasm.
3
Sounds like the slippery slope to burkas to me. Maybe lock all of the boys up until the grow up?
3
This is just painful. Such programs reduce the rates of abortion, STDs and teenage parenthood. They keep young people on educational and professional courses, rather than tied down with children. These benefits more than pay for themselves. This should be a no-brainer.
121
But they don't. They are proven ineffective.
That pregnancy rates have dropped is another issue -- from causes like a bad economy or social media.
Correlation is not causation.
That pregnancy rates have dropped is another issue -- from causes like a bad economy or social media.
Correlation is not causation.
One translation of a line from the Hippocratic Oath reads as follows:
“I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.”
Tom Price, head of Health and Human Services, is a doctor and, instead of abstaining "from whatever is deleterious and mischievous,” is engaging in it.
Whether it is denying people health insurance or cutting grants that'd prevent teenage pregnancy, Price is at the forefront of it.
On the other hand, Price had no reservations about promoting schemes that enriched himself, as David Leonhardt outlined in a column titled, "Tom Price, Dr. Personal Enrichment." https://nyti.ms/2jXc2bv
Elections have consequences indeed, and, if people who are concerned about the wrong direction this country is taking under Trump do not go to the polls and elect progressive candidates, things won't get any better.
“I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.”
Tom Price, head of Health and Human Services, is a doctor and, instead of abstaining "from whatever is deleterious and mischievous,” is engaging in it.
Whether it is denying people health insurance or cutting grants that'd prevent teenage pregnancy, Price is at the forefront of it.
On the other hand, Price had no reservations about promoting schemes that enriched himself, as David Leonhardt outlined in a column titled, "Tom Price, Dr. Personal Enrichment." https://nyti.ms/2jXc2bv
Elections have consequences indeed, and, if people who are concerned about the wrong direction this country is taking under Trump do not go to the polls and elect progressive candidates, things won't get any better.
103
Administering, even making policy, in an executive branch department or agency, is far different from being a medical doctor helping to manage the health of the patient.
Your assumed analogy breaks down from the outset, and since your analogy is the basis of your thesis, RK, your conclusion can, at best, be suspect.
Your assumed analogy breaks down from the outset, and since your analogy is the basis of your thesis, RK, your conclusion can, at best, be suspect.
4
Let me see if I understand this Mr, Owl. You believe it is fine for someone who is "Administering, even making policy, in an executive branch department or agency" to take actions that are "deleterious and mischievous."
Do I have that right?
Do I have that right?
4
Sadly, religion and common sense often travel different roads.
102
As true for traditionally religious people as it is for the secular humanist religion.
A difference is that the traditionally religious people tend to take personal action to help those in need. The secular humanists want to take money from others, feed it through the federal government and then allow bureaucrats to decide to whom the government largesse should be awarded.
A difference is that the traditionally religious people tend to take personal action to help those in need. The secular humanists want to take money from others, feed it through the federal government and then allow bureaucrats to decide to whom the government largesse should be awarded.
3
And your evidence for that assertion is... ? Most of the charitable giving of traditionally religious people tends to go to their churches, only a tiny fraction of which goes to help those in need.
21
But I believe this, and I am not especially religious -- my own faith of Reform Judaism does not object to contraception in any form.
But I am pragmatic and I can see reality, and unlike most here, I live in a majority black, poor-to-working class neighborhood, where unwed pregnancy is so common as to pass without notice. I talk to actual girls and I hear their stories. So I know what's going on, and the problem is NEVER "but I could not get contraception because it was too rare or expensive".
But I am pragmatic and I can see reality, and unlike most here, I live in a majority black, poor-to-working class neighborhood, where unwed pregnancy is so common as to pass without notice. I talk to actual girls and I hear their stories. So I know what's going on, and the problem is NEVER "but I could not get contraception because it was too rare or expensive".
1
From the CDC: In 2015, a total of 229,715 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years, for a birth rate of 22.3 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record low for U.S. teens and a drop of 8% from 2014.
So ... something is working ... increase the funding.
So ... something is working ... increase the funding.
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Correlation is not causation.
There were other factors, like the recession and social media and even abstinence education in some communities. I've also heard that the cable TV series "Teen Mom" has had an influence.
There were other factors, like the recession and social media and even abstinence education in some communities. I've also heard that the cable TV series "Teen Mom" has had an influence.
Gerard, you made a sign error in your last statement. What is being proposed is to DECREASE the funding.
2
CC - While "correlation does not mean causation" is logically true, it is useless in the real world because one can NEVER prove causation. Just ask the physicists who thought they had proved Newtonian mechanics. All we have is correlation. What's that definition of insanity?
4
Finally some success in controlling unwanted early pregnancies, all to be (for the time being, at least) tossed out by several people who have a different, religious, view on the world.
What is so wrong, of course, is that they are doing that out of personal commitment, rather than the good of either the people or the country.
Fault lies with those drafting the original proposals, law and grant conditions, by not making them funded until their expiration, or otherwise we'd not be reading about this now. If they are funded by law, then we need to hear about challenges even to the level of courts, to ensure the original intent was carried out and not subject to the whim of whomever the president drops into that office.
If nothing else, this administration has demonstrated through cabinet level posts and cleansing of attorneys general how caprious the system is. To keep these reversals from happening, more forward thinking needs to be done to ensure these grants run their entire charter.
What is so wrong, of course, is that they are doing that out of personal commitment, rather than the good of either the people or the country.
Fault lies with those drafting the original proposals, law and grant conditions, by not making them funded until their expiration, or otherwise we'd not be reading about this now. If they are funded by law, then we need to hear about challenges even to the level of courts, to ensure the original intent was carried out and not subject to the whim of whomever the president drops into that office.
If nothing else, this administration has demonstrated through cabinet level posts and cleansing of attorneys general how caprious the system is. To keep these reversals from happening, more forward thinking needs to be done to ensure these grants run their entire charter.
28
Problems with the grant structure is that there is no accounting of how the money is spent by the "charitable" provider of services and there is no requirement that the program is effective. Also, if the grants had been funded by law, it would take a new law by Congress to eliminate them. These rules were written by an autocrat who did not think he needed any stinking legislature.
Was the program a referral program where the charity brought girls in and then received a referral fee for sending them to a clinic to receive an overpriced IUD? At an additional cost of $3,000.
Could the same result have been accomplished without the $175 federal cost with the referring "charity" living off the referral fees?
Without a doubt, the Obamacare rule that contraception had to be covered at no cost to the participant resulted in an increase in the number of girls who received semi-permanent contraceptives. The rule that all types and brands had to be covered was a gift to the drug companies, because they significantly increased their prices because Medicaid, ObamaCare and employer provided insurers were obligated to pay whatever the drug and device companies demanded.
Although I have no objection to contraception, I have a major objection to the progressive designed mechanism that intentionally paid off big medicine for their support.
The most likely cause of the drop in teenage pregnancies is Obamacare. This program is not making a difference.
Was the program a referral program where the charity brought girls in and then received a referral fee for sending them to a clinic to receive an overpriced IUD? At an additional cost of $3,000.
Could the same result have been accomplished without the $175 federal cost with the referring "charity" living off the referral fees?
Without a doubt, the Obamacare rule that contraception had to be covered at no cost to the participant resulted in an increase in the number of girls who received semi-permanent contraceptives. The rule that all types and brands had to be covered was a gift to the drug companies, because they significantly increased their prices because Medicaid, ObamaCare and employer provided insurers were obligated to pay whatever the drug and device companies demanded.
Although I have no objection to contraception, I have a major objection to the progressive designed mechanism that intentionally paid off big medicine for their support.
The most likely cause of the drop in teenage pregnancies is Obamacare. This program is not making a difference.
4
"This program is not making a difference."
And your data or reference for this is ???????
And your data or reference for this is ???????
4
I support the editorial criticism of this decision ... but for now I still support this Congress generally, as well as President Trump.
The problem, of course, is that you can't have all things. HRC never would have cancelled these grants, but this Congress would have defunded them anyhow, and who knows what would have happened in budget negotiations as she needed to weigh priorities. Re-inaugurate the practice of continuing resolution for the sole purpose of retaining some favored programs at the expense of failing to move us forward on anything else? No, thank you. Congress is beginning to show the potential and the willingness to find some middle-ground, even to force legislation when leadership from the White House is not forthcoming on important priorities. People are beginning to speak to one another in darkened corners. This healing process is more important than any one set of grants -- and with HRC we wouldn't be seeing it.
One can only hope that an eventually healed Congress that works together again productively will see the wisdom in local programs that seek to give effective education on preventing teen pregnancy; and, for what it's worth, I ask Republican leadership to ask HHS and President Trump to re-institute these grants.
The problem, of course, is that you can't have all things. HRC never would have cancelled these grants, but this Congress would have defunded them anyhow, and who knows what would have happened in budget negotiations as she needed to weigh priorities. Re-inaugurate the practice of continuing resolution for the sole purpose of retaining some favored programs at the expense of failing to move us forward on anything else? No, thank you. Congress is beginning to show the potential and the willingness to find some middle-ground, even to force legislation when leadership from the White House is not forthcoming on important priorities. People are beginning to speak to one another in darkened corners. This healing process is more important than any one set of grants -- and with HRC we wouldn't be seeing it.
One can only hope that an eventually healed Congress that works together again productively will see the wisdom in local programs that seek to give effective education on preventing teen pregnancy; and, for what it's worth, I ask Republican leadership to ask HHS and President Trump to re-institute these grants.
7
You have zero evidence that Congress would have defunded these programs. I find it unlikely such a bill would pass the Senate given what we saw from the failure of the absurd tax-giveway plans (oops, "healthcare plans") that the Republican leadership proposed.
3
Will you be funding the care necessary for women and children whose lives will be impacted while an "eventually healed Congress" funds a program you yourself term :effective?" This is not a matter for darkened corners but for rooftop shouting.
1
How depressing to be first person to comment on the latest sneaky move by Trump & Co. Are all card-carrying members of Planned Parenthood at the beach or in the mountains keeping as cool as possible? The Trumpers' moves always steer away from logic - who wants more teenage pregnancies? And if these programs have reduced their numbers by impressive amounts, why on earth would they want to get rid of them? The consequences for children born to parents without the financial means, let alone the maturity, to raise children successfully, are rarely positive. And abstinence does not work, etc. etc.
45
What if the programs had nothing to do with the reduction in teenage pregnancies. The analysis of the Obama administration indicated that the programs were ineffective. Just like the long term study of Head Start issued by the Obama administration indicated that the program was ineffective. Which led him later to recommend federal funding of universal pre-school for three and four year olds.
For the party that claims to believe scientists, there is a major disconnect. If something sounds like it is a good idea, Democrats ignore the facts.
For the party that claims to believe scientists, there is a major disconnect. If something sounds like it is a good idea, Democrats ignore the facts.
4
I refer you to paragraph 6 of the article; it begins with, "This is disingenuous." This paragraph refutes the mischaracterizations cited in paragraph 5 (which you just restated). Read paragraph 7 to get a fuller understanding of the goals of the grants.
Mischaracterizing the intent of the grants and then pretending it's just science that Democrats ignore is either ignorant or malicious. The great hypocrisy is that you claim Democrats ignore the facts-- exactly what you have just done.
Mischaracterizing the intent of the grants and then pretending it's just science that Democrats ignore is either ignorant or malicious. The great hypocrisy is that you claim Democrats ignore the facts-- exactly what you have just done.
4
Ah, the hypocrisy!
- Teen pregnancy is one way to side-line a young life as young women often drop out of school and never recover economically. Then the GOP will blame them for being poor because they "chose" to drop out of school.
- Make contraception hard to get - same result
- Claim that 'abstinence education' is the only morally acceptable route though it does not work even with their own (think Bristol Palin).
Teen pregnancy is an issue in the inequality which keeps so many down in this country. Ms. Palin is, of course, evidence that even better off white teens get pregnant too soon. The difference between her and a poor black or Hispanic gal is that the Palins were able to support their daughter and her child medically and financially so that she could still keep her life on track.
Of course, the GOP just does not care about any of that. They simply sit in judgement.
- Teen pregnancy is one way to side-line a young life as young women often drop out of school and never recover economically. Then the GOP will blame them for being poor because they "chose" to drop out of school.
- Make contraception hard to get - same result
- Claim that 'abstinence education' is the only morally acceptable route though it does not work even with their own (think Bristol Palin).
Teen pregnancy is an issue in the inequality which keeps so many down in this country. Ms. Palin is, of course, evidence that even better off white teens get pregnant too soon. The difference between her and a poor black or Hispanic gal is that the Palins were able to support their daughter and her child medically and financially so that she could still keep her life on track.
Of course, the GOP just does not care about any of that. They simply sit in judgement.
299
Have you donated significant portions of your wealth to non-profits that help solve these problems?
When you have, then come back and lecture the rest of us. because what you are asking is for the rest of us to pay for personal irresponsibility of others.
When you have, then come back and lecture the rest of us. because what you are asking is for the rest of us to pay for personal irresponsibility of others.
so that she could still keep her life on track.
Didn't she turn around and get pregnant a second time?
Didn't she turn around and get pregnant a second time?
"Teen pregnancy is one way to side-line a young life as young women often drop out of school and never recover economically." This should be part of the conversation between parents and children. When advice columns write about how to talk to children about sex, the concern seems to be techniques of sex and how parents should not find the talk awkward. Perhaps parents should just focus on the responsibilities and costs of having children to individuals and to planet earth.
The data are clear that comprehensive sex education programs are more effective than abstinence only programs at delaying sex, high risk sex, and pregnancy. In addition, programs that also offer teen life skills, such as managing relationships helps teens to understand healthy pro-social relationships, and when/how to leave bad relationships.
It's disappointing to see the baby getting thrown out with the bath water. Far too many teens have limited understanding about their bodies and how to take care of themselves and do not have parents, guardians or other adults in their lives to help them navigate dating, sex and protection. If you are lucky enough to have a strong and loving family, please don't push to deny delivery of effective fact-based sex education from those less fortunate.
Reducing the number of unwanted, uncared for babies starts with an educated population and sensible pro-family policies. Maternal leave, prenatal care, daycare.
It's disappointing to see the baby getting thrown out with the bath water. Far too many teens have limited understanding about their bodies and how to take care of themselves and do not have parents, guardians or other adults in their lives to help them navigate dating, sex and protection. If you are lucky enough to have a strong and loving family, please don't push to deny delivery of effective fact-based sex education from those less fortunate.
Reducing the number of unwanted, uncared for babies starts with an educated population and sensible pro-family policies. Maternal leave, prenatal care, daycare.
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Your side continually misses the point by repeating ad nauseam, ad infinitum, amen, that the "data are clear" in supporting a progressive effort. This is a religious issue with those who oppose these grants and the efforts they fund. Their god is telling them that artificial methods of contraception are evil, and all your clear data fails to effectively respond to their faith.
You want to change this on a practical level? Find something they want or need that you can just barely tolerate granting them, and dicker.
You can't come up with anything? Then you're not capable of being part of any practicable, enactable solution in a very big nation with many diverse views that SOMEHOW need to be aligned to move forward.
You want to change this on a practical level? Find something they want or need that you can just barely tolerate granting them, and dicker.
You can't come up with anything? Then you're not capable of being part of any practicable, enactable solution in a very big nation with many diverse views that SOMEHOW need to be aligned to move forward.
7
Forgive me for asking these questions, Mr. Kelder, but they need to be asked and answered BEFORE we judge your remarks to be fair and valid or to be more leftist emotional hyperbole?
Where are the states in providing this sort of "training", particularly since the Constitution of the United States permits the federal government involvement only in those matters enumerated as per the Tenth Amendment?
Where are the school systems in providing a reasonable enough education for the youth in their charge to make responsible decisions in their young lives?
While the federal government MAY have a role in funding programs, it is the state that is responsible for implementing the programs that they choose, But, it is also true that that role is both limited and transient.
What is missing from your argument, sir, is reasonableness of throwing more money at the problem
Isn't it time to hold the elected elites accountable for their failures intelligently to us the resources that are given them for the benefit of the citizens of their communities?
I applaud the Trump administration for changing the game, because a game it has become...a game to provide oodles of cash to the states so they can squander it on sweetheart deals to the unions, pork to their political donors, and financing for their future political advancement.
If your answer to the questions are as I suspect, then you posting here is nothing more than the usual leftist harping.
Where are the states in providing this sort of "training", particularly since the Constitution of the United States permits the federal government involvement only in those matters enumerated as per the Tenth Amendment?
Where are the school systems in providing a reasonable enough education for the youth in their charge to make responsible decisions in their young lives?
While the federal government MAY have a role in funding programs, it is the state that is responsible for implementing the programs that they choose, But, it is also true that that role is both limited and transient.
What is missing from your argument, sir, is reasonableness of throwing more money at the problem
Isn't it time to hold the elected elites accountable for their failures intelligently to us the resources that are given them for the benefit of the citizens of their communities?
I applaud the Trump administration for changing the game, because a game it has become...a game to provide oodles of cash to the states so they can squander it on sweetheart deals to the unions, pork to their political donors, and financing for their future political advancement.
If your answer to the questions are as I suspect, then you posting here is nothing more than the usual leftist harping.
2
Although very little has been done by Congress, dozens of very conservative judges have been appointed, and Jeff Sessions and other appointees make decisions every day that fly in the face of what the vast majority of Americans want and need. Dicker? Do you think the President or the Attorney General have any interest in dickering? The last six years have shown that dickering is not something the Republicans are willing to consider.
22
Listen, we don't need government to spend tax money winking and nodding at teens, handing out free contraceptives to adolescents, telling them it's OK to have sex, OK to use bathrooms they "identify" with, OK to have oral sex etc. etc.
In short, anything and everything that rocks, shocks and makes a joke of core community standards/values that generations have maintained for centuries. Those Obama days of mock, shock, and exec-order, backed-up with laborious twists of existing laws, junk science and statistics, those days are thankfully over.
Adults are in charge now and steering (correcting) eight years of dope-headed policy. More power to them: let Price, Huber & co. continue with the fine job they're clearly doing. If you don't like it, move to California (limited time offer, while Sanctuary Cities last).