37 percent of U.S. births out of wedlock

[oberliner]

ATLANTA - Out-of-wedlock births in the United States have climbed to an all-time high, accounting for nearly four in 10 babies born last year, government health officials said Tuesday.

While out-of-wedlock births have long been associated with teen mothers, the birth rate among girls ages 10 to 17 actually dropped last year to the lowest level on record. Instead, births among unwed mothers rose most dramatically among women in their 20s.

Experts said the overall rise reflects the burgeoning number of people who are putting off marriage or living together without getting married. They said it also reflects the fact that having a child out of wedlock is more acceptable nowadays and not necessarily the source of shame it once was.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061122/ap_on_he_me/unmarried_births

[Deja Q]

1. Add an economy that isn't friendly to single people, and voila...

big trouble ahead.

Especially if single has baby...

:(

[Horse with no Name]

2. See? They told us abstinence only works

this is the LIVING proof.:sarcasm:

[Generic Brad]

5. We have uncovered the secret to abstinence

It only works if you abstain!

[NEDem]

3. Where did the term 'wedlock' come from?

I'm not criticizing anyone, or anything like that, but with all the political correctness around here these days I'd be curious why 'out of wedlock' is still acceptable. Why not just use 'un-married'. 'Out of wedlock' sounds so 18th century......

[TahitiNut]

13. I think it's related to the 'padlock' on chastity belts.

:silly:

Funny how God issues testicles, ovaries and the other supplementary equipment before He permits His children to use them. He must not have gotten the word from His priests and parsons. (Maybe it's a 'just in time' supply screw-up?)

:dunce:

[enlightenment]

14. It's an old term -- but still used "on the books" in a lot of states -

along with that other zinger, "bastard."

I was/am a single parent; my son was born in 1980. In Colorado, after his birth, I discovered a few things - one, that I wasn't allowed to name his father without a notarized statement of consent from said father; two, that my child, according to Colorado statute, was a 'bastard.' It was on the books.

Gives ya the warm fuzzies . . .

[NEDem]

16. that's horrible

To think that language, let alone that mentality, is still present is disturbing.

[951-Riverside]

4. OH MY GOD!!! WHAT THE FUCK???

I cannot believe this... or care for that matter :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And the talibornagains want to ban abortion

[Deja Q]

9. What we need to do is cherish LIFE again.

Then nobody (if not few and only for just reasons) would have a need for abortion.

Right now we're all little more than commodities. Walking wallets.

Trouble is, how does anybody convince another how to put value back into life?

[flowomo]

7. 11% of pregnancies out of gridlock...

(must be those big back seats and all that free time.)

[MadMaddie]

8. Wow...I don't even know what to say I knew it was high but damn

and the Repugs will complain about these mothers getting aid to help them survive...

[jesus_of_suburbia]

10. IT'S THE F**KING GAYS FAULT!

GAYS RUIN HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGE!


Bush and Romeny say so, so it must be true!


Damn those gays!


Oh, I forgot, gays can't get married in most states.

Damn, I wonder why there is so much divorce and birth out of wedlock?


MUST BE THE GAYS FAULT... just ask Bush or any other Republican!




(note: I support any single parent family.. my rant was sarcasm for anyone who didn't get it)

[Cleita]

11. No one wants to know what I think of wedlock, but

I do think a lot about children being born without the support of the society they are born in and everyone should. Let's really not dwell on how this kid arrived here but let's give the child the best chance it can to grow up in this society to become a productive member of society. It benefits us all.

[Stargazer99]

12. Let me clue ya

This administration does not understand the stresses in growing up in poverty and are not capable of providing the support single mothers and children need. Most barely survive and some go hungry. The system is not set up to care for anyone who cannot work and have extensive skills to do the work with. And yet the Fundies piss and moan about abortion...you wonder what they use for brains!

[Ilsa]

15. I don't know what to say, except, BFD?

I'm glad the shame factor is decreasing. As long as the women want the babies and are ready to take responsibility for them, I;m glad they aren't living with a bogus double standard. Besides, aren't the Repubs wanting more babies and less abortion?

Plus, I hope it freaks the Repubs out.