News & Politics - Govt. to Singles: No Sex Till You're 30

Lain · 11-02-2006, 12:11 AM

I was trying to come up with a title that wouldn't make it look like I'm trying to supply a porn link

But anywho, remember that lovely discussion we had a while back about the age of consent to have sex?

From: This site

Quote:

Govt. Tells Singles No Sex Till You're 30
Critics Say the New Guidelines Are About Morality, Not Health
By BRIAN HARTMAN

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2006 — - If you're single and in your 20s, the federal government wants you to steer clear of sex.

That's the new guidance for states under the Department of Health and Human Services' $50 million Abstinence Education Program. HHS officials say it's not a requirement -- just another option for states to combat what they call an alarming rise in out-of-wedlock births.

A record 1.5 million babies were born to single mothers in 2004, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. More than half of them were born to women in their early 20s.

Critics of the guidelines, such as James Wagoner, president of a group whose top goal is a "society that views sexuality as normal and healthy," say such statistics illustrate that most people in their 20s are already having sex.

Wagoner's group, Advocates for Youth, argues that it's futile to try to sell 20-somethings on chastity. He says birth control is a smarter way to prevent pregnancies.

"This is a clear signal that they're using these resources -- taxpayer dollars -- to promote an ideological agenda," Wagoner says. "It has nothing to do with public health."

But HHS officials say the guidelines are not new, that department's Administration for Children and Families "merely informed States of the flexibility permitted under Federal law."

"The government's clarification published in August is not a mandate," the Administration for Children and Families said in a statement prepared in response to ABC News questions. "We are unclear why Advocates for Youth suddenly believes (after two months) that States should be denied the flexibility to provide young adults with the truth that abstinence is the only 100 percent effective way of avoiding unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases."

The guidelines let states use federal grants to "identify groups" of people between the ages of 12 to 29 who "are most likely to bear children out of wedlock." After identifying the groups, targeted programs can then "support decisions to delay sexual activity until marriage."

"Those who delay sex until marriage avoid out-of-wedlock births in both their teen and adult years," the guidelines read. "They decrease the likelihood of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. They reduce the risk of having children who live absent from their fathers or who grow up poor."

"Whatever happened to conservatives that were against big government," Wagoner asks. "If this isn't a waste of taxpayer dollars, what is?"

And here's the link to the guidelines: Guidelines

Well, 30 seems a little too much, don't you think?

Tiffers · 11-02-2006, 09:03 AM

Well I'm 28 and single...and haven't had sex...but that's my choice not because I feel bound to do so by the government.

While I think the intent is a good one (preventing out of wedlock pregnancies, absentee parents, teen pregnancies, STDs, people having to seek public assistance because of absentee parents...etc) it might be unrealistic for some people.

I think if you want to have sex..great enjoy! :-) But be responsible and don't expect other people to pamper you if something happens. Having sex is a choice and everyone makes that choice at some point in their lives and should be responsible for all that comes with that choice.

LittleMilkJug · 11-02-2006, 09:11 AM

It's scary how much a govt. wants to dictate how people should run their personal lives.. it's not the answer to abortion, STD's and unwanted babies.

S.A.S.H.A. · 11-02-2006, 09:49 AM

No sex until I'm 30?.... No problem.

Sasha

ceilirose · 11-02-2006, 10:27 AM

Hey as long as Bush tells Jenna and Barbara to follow it..but seriously I can see offering abstinence as an option to younger teens but only an option. I think a combination of programs/advise is really needed.

You can't tell someone in their 20's who is a tax paying member of society and contributing to the work force what to do in their personal life. It's not going to fly.

Lexis · 11-02-2006, 11:01 AM

Didn't the Republican party used to be the party that decried big government? I don't know how much bigger it can get when its advising grown up's not to have sex.

Lain · 11-02-2006, 11:23 AM

After re-reading the article, I don't know which is scarier: That, or they could have gone with China's method and used the One-Child policy.

Jacob1983 · 11-02-2006, 01:04 PM

I think it makes some sense if you think about it. America's population wouldn't be so high and the unemployment rate might be lower if people were more responsible when they have sex. However, this is America and people want to have sex without thinking about the consequences and owning up to them.

Lexis · 11-02-2006, 01:40 PM

It is possible to enjoy sex without being someone who doesn't think about consequences. Some adults are capable of making their own decisions without the state telling them what to do.

Jacob1983 · 11-02-2006, 03:31 PM

I'm not saying that. I just think that people should actually think about the consequences of sex when they are thinking in engaging it. A lot of people don't realize that sex can have life changing consequences. I've said this before and I've said it again, if you don't think you're ready to have a baby then maybe you're aren't ready to have sex.

Emzmit · 11-02-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob1983 (View Post)

I'm not saying that. I just think that people should actually think about the consequences of sex when they are thinking in engaging it. A lot of people don't realize that sex can have life changing consequences. I've said this before and I've said it again, if you don't think you're ready to have a baby then maybe you're aren't ready to have sex.

Children being born out of wedlock or to single mothers is not a sign that their parents are not ready to have a baby.

In the first instance, its quite possible that the parents do not want to get married in the first place. In the second case, obviously its terrible if a mother is left to raise a child on her own, however there are many reasons a couple might break up - it doesn't neccesarily mean they weren't ready to have kids.

Who cares if kids are born out of wedlock? I can see the reason for concern if there are a large number of babies being born to single mothers - obviously it is going to be very tough for the mother to raise them. But being born out of wedlock? Marriage is not a requirement for having kids.

Tiffers · 11-02-2006, 04:17 PM

Hi,

I have no problem with people having sex and it's none of my business, but when taxpayers are expected to financially support those choices through public assistance that's when it becomes a taxpayer's business. (that is not implying that all single women who are single parents do that but they are big portion of people who receive that assistance).

S.A.S.H.A. · 11-02-2006, 06:58 PM

^Agreed. If someone wants to have several unplanned children, be my guest. It's when they can't afford to care for all their children and require financial support courtesy of taxpayers' pocketbooks that annoys me. People should be reasonable and have only as many children as they can afford.

Sasha

Lexis · 11-03-2006, 02:07 AM

But I don't think many people can say that their financial situation will not change. That's where financial assistance comes in - a safety net.

Jacob1983 · 11-03-2006, 11:40 AM

People just don't follow tradition anymore. That's the simple truth. It used to be that you got married and then had kids. Now it's usually you just have kids and don't get married. I don't think marriage should be a requirement if you have kids. However, taxpayers shouldn't be penalized for other people's mistakes.


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