As it turns out, hormonal teenagers when left alone will have sex regardless of how much they are told not to. I know, I used to be one. Apparently this lesson still needs teaching in huge parts of the world.
They're not stupid. They can read the same reports and data as you.
But they're religious. When faced with choosing data based policy and religious based policy, their reelection chances and their personal convictions lead them to religious based policy.
It's like the saying "you can't logic someone out of an idea that they didn't logic themselves into"
If you think you can 'teach' a religious politician why data refutes their beliefs, you're in for a very bad time.
Edit: That was poorly worded. Bad Zeus.
I'm not advocating in favor of the religious people who go about preaching abstinence and spending taxpayer money on it. If I were in a position to influence this stuff, I'd fight their efforts. All I'm saying is it's wrong to call someone stupid when we don't understand all their motivations.
And yes if in the current economy businesses fail at a 99.9999% rate, you are stupid to start a business.
Because you have no faith doesn't mean no one else does, what you're saying is false. There are people who obey God, even though you clearly can't imagine it.
Out here in the real world, sometimes you think you found the one. Other times you just get stuck in a heated moment and do something dumb. It happens. And when it happens you should be equipped with the knowledge to keep yourself safe. I don't have a problem with Abstinence, I have a problem with Abstinence ONLY because it denies people who we are expecting to act as adults incredibly valuable information for their health and their future.
I mean seriously, would you buy a car with no airbags in it and when you ask about it, the salesman says "Well just don't crash then?"