Teen pregnancies
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For 15 years, I worked for a state program to prevent child neglect. My co-workers and I, retired women over 65, visited babies in their homes. Too often there were grim reasons why the little ones had to go to foster care.
The source of these tragedies: teenage parents.
The government could save millions in welfare and reduce crime if there were fewer teenage parents. Fewer children would grow up to be dropouts, addicts, criminals and teen parents.
So many babies and toddlers now endure filthy homes, are poorly fed and are emotionally starved. My co-workers and I saw dreadful cases of child abuse. Most families were "WASP," but this horror affects all groups. Many young parents are either psychologically warped or drug addicted or lack the maturity to be adequate parents.
We need a multimethod program to prevent teen pregnancies.
If enough people really cared about the plight of such children, ways to prevent pregnancy would be easily available to all.
Sure, celibacy would be a fine answer, but get real -- that's not going to happen.
Yet some politicians are against contraception, heartlessly ignoring the terrible consequences for children.
Fewer unplanned pregnancies mean fewer abortions. Contraception is not a sin.
J.C. DAVIS
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First Published September 27, 2012 12:00 am
