A welfare system that rewards lone motherhood

Originally posted by normbenign
I would suspect there is a cultural difference in the acceptance of the single mother. I know nothing of Neatherlands culture, so fill us in.

Here in the USA, single motherhood is celebrated by many liberals, as heroic, rather than the more realistic view that it can be potentially tragic.

Generally people feel it's better to grow up with two parents. The cultural difference can be seen within the Netherlands itself; teenage pregnancy rates are significantly higher among conservative (Reformed) Christians and some ethnic minorities, where parents usually don't talk to their children about sex. Among ordinary people it is quite common to e.g. see a 15 year old girl on the contraceptive pill, and there is a large emphasis on sex ed in schools.

Originally posted by Barts
So anyone notice my post about how this article is a political attack that completely ignores the fact that Labour did manage to reduce teen pregnancies or are we just going to ignore the facts to keep on hating Labour ?

Well, it is a Daily Telegraph article, I think it goes without saying that it is politically coloured.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Well, it is a Daily Telegraph article, I think it goes without saying that it is politically coloured.

One could paste texts and links from the Daily Telegraph for the rest of eternity and they would probably never mention Blair/Brown's 40 consecutive quarters of growth in amongst the paper's so called "political or economic analysis". Sartor Resartus embodies the duckspeaking spirit of the typical Telegraph reader, largely unable to ever actually debate a point properly.

Labour 1997-2010 undoubtedly deserves to be criticized roundly for many things but the least credible criticism comes from self-consciously jaundiced outlets like the Daily Telegraph.

The Economist, with its coverage of the last year or so of Labour rule and its various post-mortems and dissections since it lost the election, has - as ever - taken some intellectual pride in its coverage, making it a newspaper of record - something the Daily Telegraph most certainly is not.

Originally posted by FMF
One could paste texts and links from the Daily Telegraph for the rest of eternity and they would probably never mention Blair/Brown's 40 consecutive quarters of growth in amongst the paper's so called "political or economic analysis". Sartor Resartus embodies the duckspeaking spirit of the typical Telegraph reader, largely unable to ever actually debate ...[text shortened]... rage, making it a newspaper of record - something the Daily Telegraph most certainly is not.

The facts show a deplorable legacy of Labour policy in any case and have been reported elsewhere.

Originally posted by Sartor Resartus
The facts show a deplorable legacy of Labour policy in any case and have been reported elsewhere.

The facts appear to show that New Labour neither significantly fixed nor worsened the problem, which is hardly commendable but also nothing to particularly blame New Labour for.

Originally posted by Sartor Resartus
The facts show a deplorable legacy of Labour policy in any case and have been reported elsewhere.

The problem with the Daily Telegraph is that the "facts" are rationed as it goes out of its way to report what it sees a "deplorable legacy". That is an abdication of the kind of rigorous standing it likes to see itself as having - and the mixture of pomposity and shallowness of analysis (and even a measure of tabloid shabbiness) rubs off on its avid readers. And that is why it has diminished credibility even as it tries to land punches on a Labour party that deserves criticism in several areas.

As you suggest, facts about the impact of Labour's policies were reported elsewhere too, and in many instances - because they were reported less disengenuously and with more intellectual integrity - the criticisms carry more weight. The Economist provides an excellent example from the right of the spectrum. The Daily Telegraph is a very poor bedfellow.

Originally posted by zeeblebot
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7964538/A-sexual-disaster-for-teenagers-and-society.html

A sexual disaster for teenagers and society

A welfare system that rewards lone motherhood is perverse and wrong-headed.

By Telegraph View

Published: 6:39PM BST 25 Aug 2010

The North East had the highest under-18 conception rate at 49 per 1,000 girls a ...[text shortened]... d the clock – another Labour triumph – was tailor-made to encourage dissolute behaviour.

...

Britain had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe during the 80's as well.

Originally posted by shavixmir
Britain had the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe during the 80's as well.

The rot set in with the arrival of Wilson's Labour government in 1964 which ended in bankruptcy and the need to call upon the IMF to bail us out.

Originally posted by Sartor Resartus
The rot set in with the arrival of Wilson's Labour government in 1964 which ended in bankruptcy and the need to call upon the IMF to bail us out.

And the IMF bailout prompted teenage girls to have unprotected sex?

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
And the IMF bailout prompted teenage girls to have unprotected sex?

And you claim to have developed critical thought.

Try some critical thought on this one:

Can't feed em, don't breed em.

Originally posted by Wajoma
And you claim to have developed critical thought.

Try some critical thought on this one:

Can't feed em, don't breed em.

So what measures do you suggest to lower teenage pregnancy rates?

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
So what measures do you suggest to lower teenage pregnancy rates?

Develping personal resposibilty, but it needs to be a whole philosophy i.e. you are responsible for the choices you make, not just directed at solo mums.

Just wasted some valuble keyboard time trying to explain that to RHP's Mr critical thoughtsman.

Originally posted by Wajoma
Develping personal resposibilty, but it needs to be a whole philosophy i.e. you are responsible for the choices you make, not just directed at solo mums.

Just wasted some valuble keyboard time trying to explain that to RHP's Mr critical thoughtsman.

In other words: nothing. Appealing to "personal responsibility" does not solve problems, Wajoma.

Originally posted by Wajoma
Develping personal resposibilty, but it needs to be a whole philosophy i.e. you are responsible for the choices you make, not just directed at solo mums.

And is this 'syllabus' for schools and other socialization institutions compulsory? Would it be a government initiative in Wajoma World?

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
In other words: nothing. Appealing to "personal responsibility" does not solve problems, Wajoma.

Yes we know KN, people can't be trusted with their own lives. They need critical thinkers to do it for them. Critical thinkers like you?

The welfare system breeds these solo parents, it breeds dependency on the state, just the way you like it