Babies Having Babies

For the first time in 15 years, the nation's teen birth rate rose, and I am taking no responsibility.

Teen birth rates had been dropping since a peak in 1991, although the decline had slowed in recent years. The recent 3% gain from 2005 to 2006 may be a statistical blip and not the beginning of a new upward trend. However, some experts said they have been expecting a jump, blaming it on increased federal funding for abstinence-only health education that doesn't teach teens how to use condoms and other contraception.

With sexually transmitted disease rates rising - the tasty ones like syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia - it's being argued that the rising teen pregnancy rate is part of the same phenomenon. Conversely, research suggests teens are using condoms far more often than they did 15 years ago.

My favorite explanation for the gain is decreased condom use and increased sexual activity, or in non-scientific terms, teenagers like to fuck like stupid teenagers.