That would be one federal bureaucracy running at maximum efficiency. They have quite a track record. They've given us a war on poverty, which entrenched a permanent American underclass, and the war on (some) drugs, which continues to foster crime and corruption. Notice also how school performance falls steadily as federal involvement in the education system increases.
Their next target? Marriage:
Administration officials say they are planning an extensive election-year initiative to promote marriage, especially among low-income couples, and they are weighing whether President Bush should promote the plan next week in his State of the Union address.
For months, administration officials have worked with conservative groups on the proposal, which would provide at least $1.5 billion for training to help couples develop interpersonal skills that sustain "healthy marriages."
The officials said they believed that the measure was especially timely because they were facing pressure from conservatives eager to see the federal government defend traditional marriage, after a decision by the highest court in Massachusetts. The court ruled in November that gay couples had a right to marry under the state's Constitution.
I wonder how much damage they can do with $1.5 billion.
Link via Arthur Silber.
The marriage promotion idea could also to be based on the data that children of single parents have a much higher probability of living in poverty. Something like 30% if the statistic I heard is correct.
I'd say that mounting a campaign to make single parenthood "uncool" would achieve as much as one that tries to get single people to marry before procreating. Of course a program that would re-instate the ancient concept that if you get somebody pregnant you have an obligation to them and the baby could work too.
It's hard to imagine much can be done though when so many social cues support the idea that it's ok, if not desireable, to have a baby on one's own.
Just last night on West Wing Marilee Matlin's character showed up pregnant. The comment was made that "I heard she was seeing someone". Great.
PfL
Posted by: Peter from Littleton at January 15, 2004 03:13 PMYou know, I think that there is a ton of value in the idea that marriage should be given a sort of face-lift. The institution of marriage, the expectations that people have on going into a marriage, the methods of communication that help keep a marriage healthy--these are all good topics to address.
But the federal government won't address them well, won't address them economically, and will simply succeed in spending a ton of money that should otherwise never have been in the federal budget. This is a horrible idea, a horrible expenditure of money, and is unlikely to end up doing anything resembling helping the institution of marriage become stronger.
I can think of nothing good about this entire idea.
Posted by: zombyboy at January 15, 2004 06:29 PM