Two words: mandatory sterilization.

[bijou]

At puberty. For everyone. I know it’s fascist and I don’t care, because I know it’ll never happen so why not fantasize with my fascist fantasies? In a world that I ruled over with combat boots and common sense, things like this would never happen.

       A Massachusetts high school is facing a pregnancy boom with 17 girls entering summer vacation expecting babies in what some     

       have called a pregnancy pact.

...
I can’t possibly fathom why this situation is a mystery to anyone who is paying attention to popular culture. Frankly, I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often and on a grander scale.

We’ve allowed the rampant sexualization of girls all the way down to toddlers. Britney Spears’ little sister, star of a Nickelodeon show, had a baby this week at the age of 17. Read the article I linked to for that and notice how they act like this is good news and she’ll be such a great mom! OMG, like, she’s so fun!

The stigma of being a slut is gone, thanks to Paris Hilton and the like. You can be publicly KNOWN to be a drunken, STD-carrying, wildly promiscuous shit-for-brains and what will happen? You’ll get acting jobs, endorsement work, a fashion line, and hundreds of magazine covers.

...

http://rachellucas.com/index.php/2008/06/20/two-words-mandatory-sterilization/

Pehaps a tad controversial, but she makes some good points. 

[WinOne4TheGipper]

I wouldn't say that, just the girls (and boys) that engage in sex.  Sterilizing them is much cheaper than the taxpayers getting the bill for their kids for eighteen years.

[DixieBelle]

I read that and thought "WAY TO GO RACHEL!!!" She's dead on.

[JohnnyReb]

I got two words.......chasity belts.........male and female.

[Jim]

I got two words.......chasity belts.........male and female.

BOO yah !

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

Two words: Legs closed. That's it.


Or at least have their parents TRY to instill some morality in their kids.

[rich_t]

Ok...  Time for some honesty.

How many of you were virgins on your wedding night?

I was NOT.

[Lanie]

I got two words.......chasity belts.........male and female.

And temporary. :D

[Lanie]

Ok...  Time for some honesty.

How many of you were virgins on your wedding night?

I was NOT.

Good point. However, the pill is 98% effective if taken right. Most forms of BC are at least 90 percent effective. For that many girls in the area to be getting pregnant, either there isn't good enough education on safe sex or the kids aren't listening or both.

But just to clear myself up, I do favor stressing abstinience as the most effective form of birth control.

[formerlurker]

Mandatory sterilization is a tad overkill.    It is not chasity belts, sex education classes, contraceptives, etc. that is going to make a difference.   It is placing the fear of God into your child that will do the trick.    How many kids think as we did "OMG, I cant do that my father would KILL me"?   Yeah, not so much anymore.

Parents need to start being parents again and not friends to their children.    Moms need to act their age, and be a mother to their daughters  -- which means don't dress like them, don't sit and chat about boys with them, and don't tee-hee through the mall with them.    Music to my ears is hearing a teenager exclaim while getting off their cell phone "my mom is such a bitch, she doesn't let me do ANYTHING..... WAAAAAAAAAAAH".   

 

[Flame]

Two words: Legs closed. That's it.


Or at least have their parents TRY to instill some morality in their kids.

Hi5.

If you exect that they will have sex, they will.   Saying "They can't help it, it's hormones" is not giving them much credit.

[Flame]

don't sit and chat about boys with them

   My daighter talks to me about boys she thinks are cute (like Kasey Kahne, the Jonas Brothers ,etc)...I'd rather her be comfortable talking to me about it.   Her friend was shoecked one day when she told me some boy was cute...saying she would NEVER tell her mom she thought a boy was cute.  To me, that's sad.

That being said, I don't twitter with her about boys at the mall or whatever.

THere's something to be said going broke to pay for her dance...she's too busy for boys!!

[formerlurker]

don't sit and chat about boys with them

   My daighter talks to me about boys she thinks are cute (like Kasey Kahne, the Jonas Brothers ,etc)...I'd rather her be comfortable talking to me about it.   Her friend was shoecked one day when she told me some boy was cute...saying she would NEVER tell her mom she thought a boy was cute.  To me, that's sad.

That being said, I don't twitter with her about boys at the mall or whatever.

THere's something to be said going broke to pay for her dance...she's too busy for boys!!

There is comfortable and too comfortable.    I have some friends tell me about conversations that had with their daughters/daughter's friends that just made me cringe.   Yeah, your daughter is in trouble or wants some clear direction on serious issues -- you definitely want to be approachable to her.   But   having your daughter's friend call you because she is pregnant and wants you to help her, while keeping it from her parents, is just too much for me.   I sounded like a lunatic yelling at my friend that she cannot do this, she has to call this child's mother immediately, and she would not for fear of violating her trust.    Are you kidding me right now?   That is just very very bad parenting IMHO.   

I would much rather be the bitch mom who while my kids never doubt my unconditional love for them, know that I have rules they must and will follow with the same unconditional parameters.    Talking about boys with your daughter is a good productive conversation opportunity to have about age appropriate behavior (your parameters of what is and is not acceptable).   Taking it to the level of "Cindy is having sex with Johnny" is waaaay too comfortable for me.  Yikes. 

[DixieBelle]

^I agree. I look back at my teenage years and the only way I can describe my mom is "benevolent dictator". She ran a tight ship. I had a healthy fear of her (and dad) and that kept me line. I knew they would follow up on their threats. They were shrewd in that they always kept their promise. You never tell a kid, "I'm going to ground you for a month!!!" and then not do it or only give them a week. Mean it, say it, do it.

I giggled with my mom over "girl stuff". We talked about my puppy love crushes. But she was not my girlfriend. She was "Mom". And she used those opportunities to remind me of how "a lady should behave" and how "a gentleman should treat you". All in all, I'm pretty happy with how our relationship was then and I'm really happy with the way it is today. We had our ups and downs like all moms/daughters, but we got through it.

You only need to look at Lindsey Lohan's mom to see what happens when you try to be your daughter's friend.

[jtyangel]

Ok...  Time for some honesty.

How many of you were virgins on your wedding night?

I was NOT.

Good point. However, the pill is 98% effective if taken right. Most forms of BC are at least 90 percent effective. For that many girls in the area to be getting pregnant, either there isn't good enough education on safe sex or the kids aren't listening or both.

But just to clear myself up, I do favor stressing abstinience as the most effective form of birth control.

BC pills aren't for everyone, Lanie. They seriously mess with your system, I don't care how much a doctor says they are safe. Can think of the numbers of women I've known who had difficulty conceiving after years on the pill.

That said, I just think 'kids' don't listen. At that age, it's hard to understand the profound consequences of making a wrong decision. They just don't have the experience to grasp it. This is why parents are so important to thwart some of it and in the end, the chips kinda have to fall where they may. Shame, but that's how it works. I'd like to see the elimination of assistance after a certain # of children though. 1, maybe 2. I think when consequences are felt more, it would set a thermostat in for some folks. Part of the problem though is in the lower incomes level, women do indeed feel it financially and responsibility wise mroe then the men who impregnant several women and never fork over a red cent or time to assist with their care. Complicate that with young women who have had no loving father role model in their life and seek out that attention ie are easily duped by a double talker, the same double talker who also lacked an adequate father figure to teach him how a man treats a woman. All sucks...given that this is the cultural norm, IMO, I see little hope to change it except time...

[JohnnyReb]

. I'd like to see the elimination of assistance after a certain # of children though. 1, maybe 2.

WOW! I didn't now anyone else thought like I do about that. ....and I'd add that if they wanted money or government help with the second, they'd have to agree to have their tubes tied.

[jtyangel]

. I'd like to see the elimination of assistance after a certain # of children though. 1, maybe 2.

WOW! I didn't now anyone else thought like I do about that. ....and I'd add that if they wanted money or government help with the second, they'd have to agree to have their tubes tied.

Agreed!! No, you aren't alone. I can see mistakes or errors in contraception happening once, maybe twice, but beyond that is not longer a mistake, but a habit. The gov should not be in the business of bailing out people with bad habits.

[DixieBelle]

jty - H5!!!

I'd love to go back to the old days of shame too. This may earn me a few bitchslaps, but if you take away the safety nets, then maybe these kids will see that it's damned difficult to have a baby while you're in high school. Those 17 girls in Mass. are going to have "full support of the school and community". There is a daycare on campus. They will get welfare and parenting classes. Now, don't get me wrong, those innocent babies didn't ask to be born and it's only right that they are taken care of properly. But it's pretty obvious that these girls knew what they were doing and knew the safety net would be there. We need to go back to a time when a) parents actually...hmm...I don't know...PARENTED!!! b) teens were afraid of the consequences of their actions. And they didn't think, "Oh, well there's no real social stigma, there's a daycare, I can pretty much go on as normal." 

[terry]

Ok...  Time for some honesty.

How many of you were virgins on your wedding night?

I was NOT.

See.. I don't think that is a relevant argument.  How many of us had a drink or even been drunk before age 21 or age 18 (if that was the law when you were a kid)?   How many of us are guilty of driving over the speed limit?   How many of us have told lies?   Most people have done foolish, dangerous and immoral things growing up.

Just because many or even most of us did those things, doesn't mean we shouldn't teach our children not to do these things.

[Lanie]

Ok...  Time for some honesty.

How many of you were virgins on your wedding night?

I was NOT.

Good point. However, the pill is 98% effective if taken right. Most forms of BC are at least 90 percent effective. For that many girls in the area to be getting pregnant, either there isn't good enough education on safe sex or the kids aren't listening or both.

But just to clear myself up, I do favor stressing abstinience as the most effective form of birth control.

BC pills aren't for everyone, Lanie. They seriously mess with your system, I don't care how much a doctor says they are safe. Can think of the numbers of women I've known who had difficulty conceiving after years on the pill.

That said, I just think 'kids' don't listen. At that age, it's hard to understand the profound consequences of making a wrong decision. They just don't have the experience to grasp it. This is why parents are so important to thwart some of it and in the end, the chips kinda have to fall where they may. Shame, but that's how it works. I'd like to see the elimination of assistance after a certain # of children though. 1, maybe 2. I think when consequences are felt more, it would set a thermostat in for some folks. Part of the problem though is in the lower incomes level, women do indeed feel it financially and responsibility wise mroe then the men who impregnant several women and never fork over a red cent or time to assist with their care. Complicate that with young women who have had no loving father role model in their life and seek out that attention ie are easily duped by a double talker, the same double talker who also lacked an adequate father figure to teach him how a man treats a woman. All sucks...given that this is the cultural norm, IMO, I see little hope to change it except time...

Yeah, I know. Pills aren't for everybody. They put some women on an emotional rollarcoaster. I'll be happy when they come up with more non-hormonal methods.

I think kids have this attitude that it can't happen to them. I think what kept me out of trouble was my parents not being too afraid to talk about the subject, and having good examples in my life.

Financial assistance in the case of women having baby after baby does make me wonder if we shouldn't require a form of temporary sterilization if they want to keep getting assistance. I guess that does sound cruel.

It's getting harder for men to impregnate several women and not take responsibility. Several states are cracking down that. Problem is in states like mine, there are loopholes. They won't do anything about not paying child support until they're so far behind. They can suddenly make a payment (not necessarily pay it off, but just a payment) and the cycle starts all over again. 

[BlueStateSaint]

jty - H5!!!

I'd love to go back to the old days of shame too. This may earn me a few bitchslaps, but if you take away the safety nets, then maybe these kids will see that it's damned difficult to have a baby while you're in high school. Those 17 girls in Mass. are going to have "full support of the school and community". There is a daycare on campus. They will get welfare and parenting classes. Now, don't get me wrong, those innocent babies didn't ask to be born and it's only right that they are taken care of properly. But it's pretty obvious that these girls knew what they were doing and knew the safety net would be there. We need to go back to a time when a) parents actually...hmm...I don't know...PARENTED!!! b) teens were afraid of the consequences of their actions. And they didn't think, "Oh, well there's no real social stigma, there's a daycare, I can pretty much go on as normal." 

The bolded got you a H5 from me.

[Nick Schizen]

How many "parents"...... a term I use loosly for many, allow their children to smoke dope?

Hey! No matter what you think about it, it is still illegal to some degree in all 50 states. And for a "parent" to allow or condone by doing nothing is definately sending the wrong message.

I grew up in the 50's and 60's and there was damed few kids who got their asses kissed by their parents the same way almost all do today. And in reality I can't remember anyone to todays degree.

When you went over to a girls house you didn't go to her bedroom. You sat in the livingroom and got grilled by her Father always gave you the feeling that he would enjoy seeing you abducted by space aliens and used for disection experiments!

........... I once went over to pick up a cops daughter and he got a little too carried away with his "I'm the Big Daddy" act, and I told his daughter right in front of him that I was sorry, but I really didn't wanna get shot if she was one minute late getting home and left.

And if memory serves me correctly, it was common that once you found a girlfriend you pretty much well kept with her until you went into the service, college, or moved after high school.

The problem is "parents" who have instilled upon their kids that they are really their "friends".

[MrsSmith]

One of the biggest reasons for teen pregnancy is that these girls are so hungry for love...and really believe that a baby will be the one person who will love them.  Instead of children being the desired addition to a marriage, they are the "replacement" for the parents who didn't love them enough and the boys that love them and leave them. 

When it was clearly understood by everyone that marriage preceded sex (most of the time, or it was horribly shameful), the girls didn't get "Mr Perfect," but they did get someone they could love (and hate, and learn to tolerate  )...and it was understood by everyone that he was responsible for providing for her and her children. 

Today's sexual permissiveness totally screws the girls, the children, and even the boys - who've been told all their lives that they really aren't necessary, only their sperm and their money is needed.  The only good fix is to shut down this liberal attitude toward sex and put it back where it was a blessing instead of a curse.  (Though I have no idea how we can do that...unless McCain wins and all the whackos that threaten to move actually do.)

[rich_t]

jty - H5!!!

I'd love to go back to the old days of shame too. This may earn me a few bitchslaps, but if you take away the safety nets, then maybe these kids will see that it's damned difficult to have a baby while you're in high school. Those 17 girls in Mass. are going to have "full support of the school and community". There is a daycare on campus. They will get welfare and parenting classes. Now, don't get me wrong, those innocent babies didn't ask to be born and it's only right that they are taken care of properly. But it's pretty obvious that these girls knew what they were doing and knew the safety net would be there. We need to go back to a time when a) parents actually...hmm...I don't know...PARENTED!!! b) teens were afraid of the consequences of their actions. And they didn't think, "Oh, well there's no real social stigma, there's a daycare, I can pretty much go on as normal." 

This got a H5 from me.  You are absolutely correct about taking away the safety nets.

[rich_t]

Ok...  Time for some honesty.

How many of you were virgins on your wedding night?

I was NOT.

See.. I don't think that is a relevant argument.  How many of us had a drink or even been drunk before age 21 or age 18 (if that was the law when you were a kid)?   How many of us are guilty of driving over the speed limit?   How many of us have told lies?   Most people have done foolish, dangerous and immoral things growing up.

Just because many or even most of us did those things, doesn't mean we shouldn't teach our children not to do these things.

That was exactly my point.