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Marriage: Saying 'I don't'
Los Angeles Times / LATimes.com ^ | January 19, 2012 | By Stephanie Coontz

Posted on 01/21/2012 1:19:22 AM PST by thecodont

As of 2010, according to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, married couples had fallen to barely 51% of U.S. households, with a full 5% drop in new marriages between 2009 and 2010 alone. The data for 2011 aren't in yet, but if that decline continued last year, less than half of American adults are in a legal marriage now.

Is marriage going the way of the electric typewriter and the VHS tape? Not exactly.

The decline of marriage seems especially dramatic in comparison to the way things were 50 years ago. In 1960, almost half of 18- to 24-year-olds and 82% of 25- to 34-year-olds were married. In 2010, the comparable figures were 9% and 44%. Ironically, however, 50 years ago what had everyone worried was the rapid rise in the proportion of married-couple households, as young people rushed to the altar.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cohabitation; marriage
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1 posted on 01/21/2012 1:19:27 AM PST by thecodont
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To: thecodont

Most people nowadays defer marriage until they can afford the wedding. First they have a baby, then they go on a honeymoon and then, when they’ve saved enough, exchange “vows.”


2 posted on 01/21/2012 1:27:41 AM PST by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: thecodont

Ironic...

Gay couples vigorously demand their right to marry at the same moment straight couples are voluntarily walking away from it.


3 posted on 01/21/2012 1:30:51 AM PST by zeestephen
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To: thecodont

Marriage is when the last straw is broken and you find there is yet another straw.


4 posted on 01/21/2012 1:48:11 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper (NEWT GINGRICH 2012)
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To: thecodont
Some people say ya cain't have too many:


5 posted on 01/21/2012 1:58:44 AM PST by Blado (Obama is a coprolite from the Late Soviet Era)
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To: Blado

Not tonight, dearies. I have a headache.


6 posted on 01/21/2012 2:01:57 AM PST by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Impeach the corrupt Marxist bastard!!)
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To: Blado

{The others I could probably deal with but does gramma have to come along?}


7 posted on 01/21/2012 2:01:57 AM PST by Blado (Obama is a coprolite from the Late Soviet Era)
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To: thecodont

Wonder how much of the 49% are couples living “in sin” and how many are singles alone (and of those how many are parents and how many are not). I understand there’s been a surge of no-kid singlehood.


8 posted on 01/21/2012 2:02:58 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: Jim Robinson

man, they all look like they ate lemons.


9 posted on 01/21/2012 2:03:47 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: FReepers



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10 posted on 01/21/2012 2:06:03 AM PST by onyx (PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC - DONATE MONTHLY! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know!)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Why save enough? Getting married doesn’t really cost diddly unless one wants something outrageous.

Have we made marriage more of a spectacle/show-off production than a life-time decision and commitment?


11 posted on 01/21/2012 2:18:43 AM PST by Irenic
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To: thecodont

Yet another reason to suspect state-recognized marriage belongs to a bygone era, for better or for worse.


12 posted on 01/21/2012 3:18:46 AM PST by Méabh
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To: Irenic

The huge bridal parties are ridiculous IMO, used to be a Maid/Matron of Honor and one bridesmaid...now they average 6 or more..dumb. Definitely more of a spectacle/show-off production.

34 1/2 years here and going strong! One bridesmaid and one Matron of Honor.


13 posted on 01/21/2012 3:45:26 AM PST by tina07 (In loving memory of my father,WWII Vet. CBI 10/16/42-12/17/45, d. 11/1/85)
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To: Irenic

Many haven’t learned that often less is more....


14 posted on 01/21/2012 3:46:19 AM PST by tina07 (In loving memory of my father,WWII Vet. CBI 10/16/42-12/17/45, d. 11/1/85)
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To: tina07

34 1/2 years here and going strong! One bridesmaid and one Matron of Honor.
************************
I envy you. But I think we are on the same page. I made a vow to my husband before God and that is where it is all at.

I shall never want for anything more than my husband and there is no show worth more than the vow we made.

We did a quickie wedding without family, when it seemed they wanted to make it a production. No regrets at all.

I pray we can make 34...congrats to you two!


15 posted on 01/21/2012 3:58:10 AM PST by Irenic
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To: Irenic
"I made a vow to my husband (wife) before God and that is where it is all at.

I shall never want for anything more than my husband (wife)....."

-----------------------------------------------------------

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for reading my mind and posting that. For all of us.[No offense meant with the minor edit :-)]

16 posted on 01/21/2012 5:03:06 AM PST by 2sheds
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To: thecodont

Government has given the green light years ago to support protect and encourage single parent households driving a wedge and a false notion that young people can make a go of this and survive without a partner. Personal responsibility is the problem


17 posted on 01/21/2012 5:10:06 AM PST by ronnie raygun (V)
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To: ronnie raygun

The reason? For many young women, the Government is a proxy for the Husband—as far as providing is concerned anyway. And the Government Husband is a lot less bother.


18 posted on 01/21/2012 5:22:40 AM PST by rbg81
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To: Mr Ramsbotham

Easy solution, don’t waste money on a fancy wedding just find a justice of the peace.

About your tagline, what is the breech?


19 posted on 01/21/2012 5:26:58 AM PST by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: thecodont
(insert successful man's name) was married to a woman for 2 - 4 years. Then a divorce came and the woman got a little more than half his assets totaling 100+ million.

That's enough to stop marriages IMO.

20 posted on 01/21/2012 5:36:18 AM PST by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)
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