If George Bush is going to spend tax dollars to promote marriage, he should splash a little cash on the people who prove every day that marriage can work -- members of functional, longterm marriages.
I call this critical demograhpic group the Married Establishment, better known by the acronym ME.
When Lisa and I celebrate our fifteenth anniversary in June, will any of Bush's $1.5 billion be coming our way? A federally-funded night on the town would be nice way of saying, "Thanks for your role in preserving the cornerstone of civilized societies, which this administration values highly for everyone but homosexuals."
Hey, a voucher for a babysitter would be welcome, but I bet we don't even get a card.
It's like being an established company, and watching a newcomer get economic incentives to move to town.
And what about people who really should not be married? We all know a few. Shouldn't Bush help the institution of marriage by paying some people to stay the hell out of it? And not that Britney needs the money, but maybe he could do something for her, too.
Of course, rewarding people who make marriage work would get expensive -- as baby boomers age, more and more couples will require government assistance for any number of marriage-preserving items. Viagra alone could get its own line in the budget.
Fortunately, being married to Lisa is its own reward.
[EdCone.com]
Sunday, January 18, 2004
