The Administration’s approach to soaring STD rates in American teens is — you guessed it — funding more abstinance-only programs. These programs, of course, generally prohibit discussing alternatives to chastity and are viewed by the scientific community as incomplete (at best) and dangerous (at worst). There are even studies that suggest that these abstinence-only programs result in increases in pregnancy and STD rates. Don’t miss the point here: the programs advocated by this administration prohibit complete discussion of sexually transmitted diseases. They represent less education, not more, and as such are MORE dangerous and LESS effective at reducing risk for teens.

Not that this bothers Bush & co., of course; the point here is to keep the Religious Right happy, and those folks won’t tolerate any program that doesn’t push total abstinence. Pay attention: the ongoing push for abstinence-only programs trades actual education — and the benefits associated therewith — for political support.