Roger Clegg at NRO remarks on the government’s new report on birth rates and what it says about births out of wedlock:

The government released its preliminary data for 2007 births today, finding, “All measures of childbearing by unmarried women increased in the United States to historic levels in 2007 . . . ” Overall, 39.7 percent of all births now occur out of wedlock in the U.S. Appalling.

By racial/ethnic group: 27.8 percent for non-Hispanic whites (up from 26.6 percent in 2006); a really appalling 71.6 percent for blacks (up from 70.7 percent); 65.2 percent for American Indians/Alaska Natives (up from 64.6 percent); 51.3 percent for Hispanics (up from 49.9 percent); and bringing up the rear, Asians/Pacific Islanders at a paltry 16.9 percent (but still up from 16.5 percent).

Look at those numbers, and note the obvious, inverse correlation between illegitimacy and how well a group is doing socioeconomically. And then ask what it portends that all groups are headed in the wrong direction.