FAMILY VAULES

Rauch, Jonathan (2005) Family values THE NEW REPUBLIC,

5/30, 15-17

Rauch defends gay marriage and gay committal ceremonies. The second is much more popular than the first according to recent polls.

The statistics that caught this reviewer are the following that apply to straights.

1. Divorce is roughly internationally a rising phenomena. Russia has the highest divorce rate and the USA is about in the middle. The remaining stats apply to yanks.
2. One third of children are born to a single parent.
3. The divorce rate has doubled since 1960.
4. Those who are off age and have the potential to participate in marriage has declined since 1970.
5. Co-habitation has risen 72% since the 1990’s.
6. 28 % of young couples (age 18-29) are unmarried.
7. The future? It is either that the young will sidestep marriage or delay it.

Thus, the future depends on good stable marriages and those choosing not to participate or procreate may make marriages stronger. However, the future will tell us.

If families are dramatically reduced, we need a new term for non-families in which children may or may not be involved.