I agree that strengthening American
families is essential in building a healthier society.
The
government has placed many social programs in place to protect and assist
families in times
of crisis
and need (Kornbluh & Homer, 2010). The support of American social contract
programs
make up the
greatest share of government spending ( Kornbluh & Homer,2010). I would
like to
assert that
many of the government programs rather than helping build strong families are
destroying
them.
The
rate of marriage in America has drastically dropped in the last ten years, many
citing
financial
reasons ( Nichol, 2014). What I have personally witnessed is the younger
generation
prefer to
live together because, if they are not married thier incomes are not counted
together and
they qualify
for government assistance programs. Young couples that both work
minimum wage
jobs that do not qualify for healthcare, childcare, housing, food stamps, or
or
assistance to attend college. While two
parents living together one making a decent income,
while the
other stays home and receive low income housing, medical for the children, Pell
to
attend
college, food stamps, free childcare and WIC. I have been told many times “why
would
we marry “?
“We would not have the money to survive”.
Then with the government taxing married
couples there is another financial incentive not to
marry. Society
no longer views these programs as assistance through hard times but, a way of
life. Family and Marriage is one of the pillars of
society. Family provides the foundation of
health for a child’s life. Research shows that
children of married couples are healthier, better
academically,
socially, mentally and physically ( Mail,2013). When a father is not in the
home a
children’s
rates of delinquency double ( Mail,2013). The more a family eats away from home
the greater
their children’s rates of obesity( Mail,2013). This same statistics do not
apply to
parents that
co- inhabit( Mail,2013). Many times if a politician supports marriage they are
deemed to
be promoting a religious agenda (
Mail,2013). When research demonstrates
marriage is
one of the cornerstones to a healthy society. It is clear that the social
programs in
place to
include health care need to be re-evaluated because we are deconstructing our
own
foundation.
Kornbluh,
K., & Homer, R. (2010). The new family values agenda: Renewing our social
contract. Harvard Law & Policy Review, 4(1), 73. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/914324891?accountid=12085
Nichol, S.
(2014, Jun 16). Marriage rate is decreasing. Evening Chronicle Retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1535587280?accountid=12085
Why marriage
is still critically important scot region]. (2013, Dec 13). Daily Mail
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1467620820?accountid=12085
