I think we've put our finger on the problem

Now that the Bush administration is gone, many states are abandoning abstinence-only sex education because it's naive, promotes ignorance and, oh yeah, doesn't work. Teenage pregnancy is on the rise because teens aren't getting information on how not to get pregnant and, big shock, they're still having sex.

North Carolina is one of the states looking towards providing a 21st century education rather than a 19th century one. To that end, North Carolina legislators are trying to change the law.

The new legislation, known as the Healthy Youth Act, would create a two-track system in which each district would be allowed to offer separate classes teaching abstinence and courses that would focus on contraception and prevention as well. Parents could decide which system is better for their children. Fisher says it would take political pressure off school boards to hold public hearings.

It's a half-step, but it's still progress.

Of course, there are opponents like John Rustin, director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council. (Gee, I wonder if they're a religious group?) They would rather withhold health information because then we can root out the bad apples because they'll get pregnant. We wouldn't want them having sex in secret, would we?

And then there's this:

But Rustin said teaching contraception and disease prevention is similar to teaching kids how to be safe when they engage in other risky behaviors like smoking, drinking and taking drugs.

"North Carolina public schools have a no-tolerance policy when it comes to tobacco, alcohol and drug use. Our question is, why in the world would we take a different position when it comes to sex?"

Hmm. Tough question. Maybe because SEXUALITY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE AND WHILE INDIVIDUALS MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE TO ENGAGE IN HARMFUL BEHAVIOR LIKE DRINKING, SMOKING AND TAKING DRUGS, NEARLY EVERYONE WILL HAVE SEX DURING THEIR LIVES. YOU NEED TO GIVE TEENS THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES SO WHEN MANY OF THEM DO WHAT TEENS ARE INEVITABLY GOING TO DO, THEY WON'T END UP DISEASED OR PREGNANT, YOU YUTZ.

You see, it all makes sense now. Sexuality is like doing drugs. It's evil. Just pure evil. So don't do it. That is all.