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Meanwhile one of the leading causes of families breaking down (divorce) is money.
Current conditions, whether economic, religious, cultural, social etc., don't necessarily make it easy for a married couple to build a good environment for children. For starters, even with a stable family... no one is home (both are working). Teachers are also not treated as the respected elders of a community either even though they arguably spend more time with our children than parents.
I still believe it takes a community to raise a child..... we don't have strong communities any longer.
Economics is a very important factors. If the economy improves, more people may consider marriage and having children. Otherwise, people will be and are already pessimistic about the future.
I don't think teachers should necessarily be treated as respected "elders". They don't necessarily measure up to it age wise and intelligence wise.
Chicken and egg.... the profession certainly isn't capable of maintaining or attracting that type of individual either. When the community doesn't support the school and the government ties their hands, it degrades to what we see today. There was a time that the profession was well respected and did attract people worthy of that community respect. My point is... if you have two working parents and insufficient people at school, then who is shaping our young? Often the best case scenario is "no-one" and the worst case scenario is the "criminal" down the street.
In the town (in the Philippines) where my father grew up more than 70 years ago, the teachers are still considered pillars in the community (and church). Its a smaller and isolated town.... I wouldn't be surprised if their students graduate fairly well prepared by comparison.
Hmmm, well, when I was married, we tried to buy the american dream and it backfired on us. If I had to do it over again, I would make different financial decisions.
Now that I'm 46 and have 2 teenagers, I don't feel a need to marry again. I DO believe that I would be a good economic partner for someone, and I'd like to think that if I find a significant other, we can live together more efficiently than we can live apart. But I don't think I need to be legally married to achieve that.
Filing taxes jointly might be an issue, and health insurance or other benefits might be an issue. But I have Obamacare now...and hope to always have that in some form IF my employer doesn't provide reasonably priced insurance. I don't think we would necessarily need to jointly own our home or other property. If my SO dies, I would not feel I HAD to continue to live in our home. nor would I feel particularly entitled to his retirement benefits. His kids can have them all. I sure don't want to take on another persons debt!
All things considered being single on purpose could make sense for me, but I could probably just as easily make an argument for being married as well. I'll ask him what he thinks about it when I meet him!
Chicken and egg.... the profession certainly isn't capable of maintaining or attracting that type of individual either. When the community doesn't support the school and the government ties their hands, it degrades to what we see today. There was a time that the profession was well respected and did attract people worthy of that community respect. My point is... if you have two working parents and insufficient people at school, then who is shaping our young? Often the best case scenario is "no-one" and the worst case scenario is the "criminal" down the street.
In the town (in the Philippines) where my father grew up more than 70 years ago, the teachers are still considered pillars in the community (and church). Its a smaller and isolated town.... I wouldn't be surprised if their students graduate fairly well prepared by comparison.
The teaching profession has become a lot more partisan than it used to be. That turns people off. Education is not about partisanship. It is about transcending partisanship.
Education has also become much more politically obsessed, giving less resources to skills training and preparation.
Teachers today are also very complacent and prioritize job security over student interests.
Lots of parents prefer private schools. I'm not sure how their teachers are seen but there is a difference in image between private and public school teachers.
Keep in mind that Americans are also becoming less religious.
I can see that, but moreso that single parenthood is so common that even those in the churches don't care (the members probably have unwed sons and daughters with kids). I'd say for most people born after 1970 or so, it's no big deal - regardless of religiosity.
I disagree on several points. It doesn't have to be a husband and a wife. What about gay parents? They can also have children.
It's an exaggeration to say that the family unit is destroyed. If you look at the vast majority of the population, not some Hollywood shows, you see the traditional American family all over. As a social liberal, I think it's a bit of an exaggeration.
Is wealth distribution a problem for people?
Surprise! Marriage is now a luxury good.
As a battle rages over the rights of gay and lesbian couples to get married, experts say the share of heterosexual Americans who are married has fallen dramatically compared to decades past. What's more, the demographics of who is walking down the aisle also have shifted substantially.
In recent years, people with a college degree have become more likely to get—and stay—married than their less educated counterparts, and those who stay married also tend to be much wealthier than unmarried adults.
"Some people have talked about marriage as a luxury good," said Susan Brown, a sociology professor at Bowling Green State University and co-director of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research.
Hmmm, well, when I was married, we tried to buy the american dream and it backfired on us. If I had to do it over again, I would make different financial decisions.
Now that I'm 46 and have 2 teenagers, I don't feel a need to marry again. I DO believe that I would be a good economic partner for someone, and I'd like to think that if I find a significant other, we can live together more efficiently than we can live apart. But I don't think I need to be legally married to achieve that.
Filing taxes jointly might be an issue, and health insurance or other benefits might be an issue. But I have Obamacare now...and hope to always have that in some form IF my employer doesn't provide reasonably priced insurance. I don't think we would necessarily need to jointly own our home or other property. If my SO dies, I would not feel I HAD to continue to live in our home. nor would I feel particularly entitled to his retirement benefits. His kids can have them all. I sure don't want to take on another persons debt!
All things considered being single on purpose could make sense for me, but I could probably just as easily make an argument for being married as well. I'll ask him what he thinks about it when I meet him!
Good for you.
Yes an argument can be made about marriage. However, it is the couples call and judgement on whether they are compatible and whether they will last.
As a battle rages over the rights of gay and lesbian couples to get married, experts say the share of heterosexual Americans who are married has fallen dramatically compared to decades past. What's more, the demographics of who is walking down the aisle also have shifted substantially.
In recent years, people with a college degree have become more likely to get—and stay—married than their less educated counterparts, and those who stay married also tend to be much wealthier than unmarried adults.
"Some people have talked about marriage as a luxury good," said Susan Brown, a sociology professor at Bowling Green State University and co-director of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research.
I would say it's not entirely about class. For many centuries people stayed married even though their society was poor, or they were in a war. Marriage becoming a luxury good in America today is a cultural transformation. The kind of BS people in the past were willing to put up is no longer tolerated by this generation. So the luxury good is also a choice.
I can see that, but moreso that single parenthood is so common that even those in the churches don't care (the members probably have unwed sons and daughters with kids). I'd say for most people born after 1970 or so, it's no big deal - regardless of religiosity.
Some of the people who are continuing the tradition of marriage are new immigrants, immigrants from religious backgrounds, and gays and lesbians who want to marry. Without them, the institution falls even faster.
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