First counselor should get out of marriage beds

Chicago Tribune ^ | 2/4/04 | Steve Johnson

[erasmus605]

President Bush wants to spend $1.5 billion to strengthen the institution of marriage in this country.

I admire the president's dedication to the legal and, in many people's minds, sacred union between consenting adults. He obviously loves marriage: He's been married to Barbara--or, sorry, Laura--for 26 years now.

And even though we're facing record deficits, he's willing to load up the national credit card a little more for the sake of providing lots of counseling to all of us who've said "I do," or want to.

His critics nag and carp away. They say the president is using a safe social issue to try to deflect attention away from problems like job creation and Iraq. They say that to tout marriage as a poverty cure, as the president's plan essentially does, takes a simplistic view of what marriage can do.

But these people obviously don't love the institution of marriage as much as the president does. These people are probably in bad marriages themselves; what critic wouldn't be, what with being so critical all the time and whatnot.

I say, heck, yes, let's strengthen the institution of marriage through 10-digit federal spending! Let's join President Bush in his push for a bigger federal government that intrudes more into the most intimate details of its citizens' lives! Let's help all the people who want to get married to do it and then help them to stay married, no matter their race, creed, income level or sexual orientation!

-snip-

Spouses who happen to work together shall be given a public forum for venting their grievances with one another, such as the way one wife I know thinks putting ice cream in the microwave is a viable softening strategy. This is not true.

All couples who want them will have good jobs and health insurance for the whole family. Some radical thinkers believe these will go farther toward reducing marital strain than any counseling session ever will.

[erasmus605]

This was pretty good, until the last line...

[Dilbert56]

Steve - you and your boyfriend can go back to sleep.

[King Black Robe]

Why do liberals always think it is about the bed? Hello? It isn't. It's about supporting the structural foundating of our human existence -- the FAMILY. And, sorry, that doesn't include any perversion of sex one might desire. It is about the natural process of human life and the best social foundation ever established to support that process -- the FAMILY!

[17th Miss Regt]

Bleating sounds...

[shaggy eel]

Spouses who happen to work together shall be given a public forum for venting their grievances with one another

[been called a cynic]

>>Let's join President Bush in his push for a bigger federal government that intrudes more into the most intimate details of its citizens' lives!

Is the counseling mandatory?

[billbears]

And exactly how is it conservative for the national government to waste $1.5 billion dollars for this? Of course compared to the rest of our money the government has wasted in the past three years, all for expanding the 'big tent', why should we worry?

This is not the responsibility of the national government. Promoting 'general welfare' does not cost 1.5 billion dollars

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Is the counseling mandatory?"

No but paying for others to have it is, see also your taxes.

[King Black Robe]

Show me a way to get out of spending zillions of dollars fixing the social, educational, and economic ills related to failing marriages and broken familes and I might agree with you. Right now, we need solutions to these spending cycles. Marriage is a win-win formula. We have thousands of years of history backing up the fact that it works.

[erasmus605]

And exactly how is it conservative for the national government to waste $1.5 billion dollars for this?

Exactly right. If Bush thinks that this is reaching out to his conservative base, he's very, very, wrong.

[BlueNgold]

He's been married to Barbara--or, sorry, Laura

Stopped reading right there ... the rest of the article was sure to be more inane liberal drivel ... I really wonder how these idiots ever get published

[netmilsmom]

Save money, make it a law that everyone must listen to Dr. Laura. /sarcasm off/

[billbears]

Marriage is a win-win formula. We have thousands of years of history backing up the fact that it works.

One hundred percent agree with that. However the new Republican method of throwing money at every issue is not working in any other instance and will not work in this instance.

[biblewonk]

LOL!!!!

[GigaDittos]

[Blzbba]

How is dropping $1.5 billion going to prevent spousal adultery, financial strains, lack of sexual intimacy, or jsut a general falling-out-of-love that cause the 50% divorce rate?

WASTE OF MONEY.

[Blzbba]

"However the new Republican method of throwing money at every issue is not working in any other instance and will not work in this instance."



100% agreement with THAT!

[King Black Robe]

And I don't like throwing money around either. I just don't see an end to it unless people start rekindling some pride in personal responisibility and some appreciation for moral absolutes and family values -- things we once took for granted.

As issues go...marriage and family are the building blocks for any health nation. Liberty is license if it doesn't include personal responsibility. Who has taught today's youth that vital concept? I look at this marriage initiative as a return to the basics -- how to support your own family and be a responsible citizen. This entire liberty concept can only succeed if the individual parts function effectively. With freedom comes the freedom to fail -- but too many failures ends up infringing on my freedom to succeed. So back to square one -- get families functioning again.

[tdadams]

Show me a single government program that has worked as well as it was claimed it would, and cost no more than was claimed it would.