Week of September 15, 1996

by F.R. Duplantier

"What can government do . . . to make sure that the overwhelming majority of American children grow up with a mother and a father?" In the latest issue of Policy Review, family experts answer that question.

James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, laments "the slow death of a marriage culture" in America. "It is being replaced by a culture of divorce and illegitimacy," he says, arguing that we must "re-establish an appreciation of the value and virtue of marriage, both for the individual and society." Dobson believes that government "should clearly define marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and woman." He calls for reform of no-fault divorce laws, an end to "our confiscatory tax structure, which undermines the financial stability of families," and for welfare reform that eliminates "current incentives for conceiving children outside of marriage."

Dobson stresses that "the real recovery of a marriage culture requires tools that the government doesn't possess or even recognize. Our nation needs both a vision for the purpose of marriage and the personal spiritual resources to build strong unions," he observes. "These can only be provided by our faith-based institutions."

"Government's first and most immediate task is to stop undermining the two-parent family," argues James Kennedy, founder of the Center for Christian Statesmanship. "Whatever government subsidizes, it will be inundated with," says Kennedy. "Today, we are subsidizing illegitimate children, and the result is a social catastrophe." Kennedy recommends dismantling "every welfare program that promotes single-parent families." He argues that "government should aggressively promote two-parent families." What else can government do? "Make divorce more difficult to obtain," Kennedy suggests. "Reduce the tax burden on the family. Defend traditional (one man, one woman) marriage. Uphold parental authority over children. Empower parents with educational choice."

David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values, ticks off a slew of no-nonsense suggestions for things the government can do to help restore the health of the family: "Reform no-fault divorce laws, eliminating the right to unilateral divorce on demand. Lengthen waiting periods for divorce. Create financial and other incentives for engaged couples to participate in marriage preparation and for couples with troubled marriages to get counseling."

Blankenhorn has still more good ideas: "Reform school curricula that trivialize or denigrate marriage. Stop the practice of mainstreaming pregnant girls and teen mothers through the school system. Prohibit boys who impregnate girls from participating in sports and other extracurricular school programs. Enforce statutory rape laws. Put the current welfare system out of its misery and replace it with public and private efforts, including faith-based initiatives, that embody effective compassion and promote marriage."

Blankenhorn also thinks the tax code should reward marriage, rather than penalize it. He argues that adoption laws should be simplified "so that more children will be adopted sooner, by married couples." The means for restoring the health of the family are obvious, he says. The question is, Do we have the will to implement them?

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