I Get it … Divorce Is Costly … Don’t Blame Me

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First, I’m blamed for global warming.

Now, I’m blamed for the country’s economic woes.

A new study by Institute of American Values, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, Families Northwest, and the Georgia Family Council, divorce and out-of-wedlock childbirths cost the American people $112 billion annually.

My bad. Can we stop blaming my divorce on the world’s environmental issues and the country’s economic blight? I get it. My divorce was bad. I understand, but I really don’t think I should be held liable for $112 billion … annually.

In all seriousness, the report was written with the intent to have the federal government spend more money to promote marriage. They claim that if the government focused more on promoting a sound marriages that the government would see a reduction in the $112 billion in costs.

This reasoning is quite silly and simplistic to me. First, throwing federal money on a problem is not a solution that has worked over the history of this country’s existence. One only has to look at the struggling education system where the country continues to invest billions with results slacking when compared to other industrialized countries. Second, the report assumes that all federal programs work and that a federal program on strengthening marriage would improve marriage rates. This is the same assumption that assumes that spending more money on anti-drug campaigns are going to keep kids off drugs. We still have a massive drug problem, just as we would still have problems with divorce and out-of-wedlock births if the country’s government decides to spend more money on these programs.

Finally, the reports authors assume it’s the federal government that has a responsibility to be the moral compass and guide for the country. It is not, nor do I ever wish the federal government dictate my morals to me. Issues regarding marriage should be left to the church and the community at large. Even then, we can’t talk in glowing terms about marriage. We have to get to the root of the problems in a community and that could be different for families in North Carolina and California. There is not one overreaching problem that has led to the problem we face today, though there are generalities that are common to multiple cultures and regions in the country.

The report is interesting because it places a dollar figure cost on divorce and out-of-wedlock births. But, seeking more federal programs to fight both issues would be a misappropriation of taxpayers money and is not the proper authorities to discuss this issue.

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