>>I was adding the lack of accountability (something taught by parents and role models) - you decided to take a cheap shot at the notion of "American Exceptionalism".

Why is it a cheap shot? Fact is that the US has the highest rate by far of all Western Nations. Tamar mentions evidence for a correlation with sex education. You propose choices and accountability. These suggestions carry the corollary that the US has the worst sex education and makes worse choices and is less accountable than other nations. That's not what "American Exceptionalism" is supposed to mean- iow you don't want to be exceptional for those reasons.

I'd have to point again to Walter Meester's homeland and to other nations line South Korea and Hong Kong with very low rates. What is the explanation? Not PC to say so- but I'd put it down to traditional family values, to strong community structures and if that's too difficult then how about lack of massive class separation between wealthy and poor people. Plus there's the Confucian obligation for a gentleman to consider what is right while the peasant considers what will pay, unlike our cultures where "gentlemen" are mostly interested in what will pay and will bring down financial systems to wring out a few more percent for themselves. As they say, perhaps we all get what we deserve.