Abstinence -- The final solution
It is indisputable that abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Therefore, I submit that this is where the majority of the effort should be spent in education.
Consider the following as logical consequences of a widespread total embrace of abstinence, even without any moral considerations:
Primary effects:
1. Unwed pregnancy and births would drop to zero (rape excepted, but we'll address that in a minute)
2. Because of #1, abortions would decline by 99+%
3. Within two generations (if not sooner) STD's would be all but eradicated
Secondary effects:
4. The pornography industry would all but die
5. Due to 4, the incidence of rape per capita would be reduced by 99+%
6. Due to 3, money currently being spent on STD research could be diverted into other endeavors, such as cancer research or refunded as tax cuts. The positive economic impact would be profound.
7. Health care costs across the board would decrease slightly, as doctors, specialists, funds, and resources currently tied up in treating victims of irresponsibility could be distributed back through the medical field and automatically we would have an upsurge in the supply side of medicine and healthcare.
8. Due to 1,2,3 overall quality of living for everybody (but especially the poor, who are hit hardest by the associated problems) would rise dramatically, relieving them almost completely of the burdens associated with single mother households and abusive family situations.
9. Due to 4, overall sadistic crime (sexual assault, murder, domestic abuse) would drop drastically, further contributing to a higher standard of living for all groups of people.
This is obviously not a comprehensive list, but it is all directly derivative of a simple concept that everybody already knows, but few are willing to accept.
posted by Mike M @ 11/21/2005 01:49:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
The Porn industry will never die. To many folks make to much money off of it from Disney to ATT.
Getting rid of porn would put Millions out of work.
I take a join em if you can't beat them kind of attitude...
The US should be taxing the heck out of it. Like other questionable vices (booze, cigarettes, etc)
That's like saying closing Hitler's death camps put people out of work. True, but a stupid argument against doing something about it.
Mike, I think in a Utopian Society, this would be a great idea. Of course, the society we live in is far from being a Utopia. The Pandora's Box was cracked long ago and it is being pried open more and more with each generation. Maybe Adam should have x-rayed that apple before biting into it.
I have a 10 year old myself. It scares me that one day he may make a stupid decision and get involved in risky behavior resulting in him fathering a child to early, or getting an STD or worse, AIDS. But I also have to realize that part of the solution belongs to parents. Government endorsed programs to promote abstainence are marginally effective at best, and often (for religious reasons) discard any sort of education regarding contraceptives. I find that highly dangerous, given the fact that in our oversexualized media-driven society, along with peer pressure pushes young people to make these bad decisions. We have to be realistic, that despite our best efforts and intentions, this behavior will continue to occur... and thus, we must make sure that teens know the risks and how to protect themselves. It always comes back to parenting, in my opinion. Don't rely on the government to raise your child or blame the media on your child's self-destructive behaviors. Be the parent.
Here's my critique on your proposal.
1,2..yes that much is obvious.
3.. If you include your solution to include oral sex, this would also be plausable. However, a good majority of teens view oral as non-sexual... and believe that they can maintain their virginity and still give/recieve that sort of gratification.
4. Doubtful. The urge for depravity is deep seated in mankind. Again, the apple is bitten, the box is open. It won't be shut. Even if outlawed, this industry would still exist as long as testosterone runs through our bodies. It appeals to man's primal instinct.
5. Again. I disagree. Rape isn't always about lust. More often than not it's about power. There is no evidence showing that pornography in general leads to increased incidents of rape. Rape will always exist in society despite media input.
6. If three were plausable, this would be a rational assumption.
7. Doubtful. The majority of Insurance companies do not cover abortion proceedures... STD's maybe, but abortions,no. And no matter what you may think, health care costs will not decrease in this country as long as the government takes no steps to somehow regulate the industry. I agree that decreasing frivolous lawsuits would be a great step towards moderating insurance costs, but the overall climate of the industry is one of greed. Congress is quick to jump all over the oil companies about gouging, but if they ever took a long look at the insurance and health care industries, what they would find would be appaling to the American public. I think of it as the Cartel Syndrome. Unregulated, they have been able to consolidate down to maybe five or so major providers. This eliminates competetiveness and gives them incintive to continually raise costs.
8. I would think that the poor population's economic problems weren't primarily associated with unwanted pregnancy and diseases... but more with lack of education, lack of income, lack of work, lack of opportunity, ect.
9. Bill Bennett would agree with you on this one.
I think it's a good idea... in a utopian world... but would not work in this one.
I like your comments, it's nice to see someone can disagree peacefully!
From my own theological perspective, I know such a proposal would never be effective, so I agree with you there that it will never happen on a large scale. That said, I think to some extent that examining and disseminating this information could have positive effects, at the very least slow the descent. I don't have kids myself, but I too lose sleep some nights worrying about how I'm going to keep them safe in the world they'll come into, it's certainly a daunting task, but I'm optimistic about it.
I also agree that relying on the government is, shall we say less than a good idea? It's interesting to step back and think though, how many problems can be traced back to the same few flaws in human nature, magnified over the whole of society, such as loss of personal responsibility (me first), and pride. When you think about it most if not all of the macro problems we face can be linked to one of those two things at it's very core.
3. I hadn't thought of that, to be honest, you make a good point. I do think that if a general "save myself for marriage" attitude prevailed though, even oral sex would decrease...maybe not as sharply, but I think the effect would still be there, because (and this is my speculation) I believe people are fundamentally divided into two groups: those who respect the power to create life and it's role in creating families, and those who think of it as merely a source of gratification. The first group more often than not will wait for marriage on their own, while the second group generally will not. This group may be split into those who will protect themselves and those who will not. I think the group who considers oral sex "non sexual" doesn't really believe that, it's just an excuse for those who want to put out a public image of being pure, but there isn't any fundamental difference between them and those that go all the way.
4. You're probably right, although it's not in my original case, I think the only thing that could cause such a movement is an attitude shift towards more respect for the power to create life, and along with that, there would naturally be less inclination to porn, but after I wrote the original post, I got to thinking about it and I personally know several porn addicts who have never and probably won't touch a girl before they're married, so I think it's in a different category of problems.
5. Another point I hadn't thought of, and I'd contend that rape and pornography use are directly related, and the power motivation while significant, I believe is the minority.
More later...gotta go back to work ;)
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