So I guess this is an improvement. I can remember just a few years ago when all the positive trends were down, and all of the negative trends were up. Crime increased 300 percent, and violent crime increased 500 percent. The illegitimate birth rate increased 400 percent while the divorce rate doubled. Now we find ourselves at the end of the 1990s with some mixed signals.
Some trends are up, and some trends are down.
But before we declare too many victories, let's go back and look at some of the numbers. In the interest of time, let me focus just on birth statistics. But don't forget that in 1960 only 5 percent of births were out of wedlock. It's estimated that soon about 40 percent of all births and 80 percent of minority births will occur out of wedlock. And let's not forget what often happens before these births.