The New York Times, and many other news sources, are reporting today on President Bush’s latest proposal, to earmark 1.5 billion dollars to promote healthy marriages. With 7+ years of marriage under my belt, I’ll be first to admit that healthy marriages take work, but I’m appalled that in such tight economic times this is considered a big priority by The Powers That Be.
“A growing body of statistical evidence suggests that children fare best, financially and emotionally, in married two-parent families,” says the Times. And that’s true. But what this country really needs is not more smarmy commercials promoting being a Dad, but a focus on creating the kinds of jobs that help families stay afloat financially and on improving education so that more Americans are capable of holding down those good jobs.
Most of the press coverage I’ve read focuses on how this plays to the president’s base of conservative voters, and how this may be the first step towards federal regulation or legislation against gay marriage. I find myself wondering whether this is another way to get the much vaunted “faith based initiatives” back into play. After all, the Federal government really doesn’t have much apparatus for family counseling or marriage training. A lot of churches do, though.
The more I think about it, the more I am convinced this is another one of Karl Rove’s political moves. It’s not really about public policy or actually helping people. It’s about having a proposal on the table that you can use to smear your political rivals as being “anti family” if they say anything to oppose it. And to top it off, this proposal appeals directly to the soccer Moms who are key swing votes.
I know this is the sort of thing to expect in an election year. I’m sure more is to follow. But boy, does it suck. This is the kind of blatant political posturing that made me think I’d sooner pick up doggie poo all day than run for political office.
I did want to run for office when I was younger. I thought I would be able to do something good for people. I’m glad I didn’t. I don’t think I would like being the kind of person who can successfully get elected in America these days.