I worry that we are creating a permanent underclass of poverty. Broken homes and children that have only one parent are at the root of this poverty trap. And when I think of young people from broken families, barely existing economically, this is what I find myself telling them: Please go to school. Do what it takes to finish high school, be it a trade school, or a tech-related school, and then maybe a community college. You will learn things — how to fix things. And you’ll open the door to a pretty good living. Then get a job. And stay with the job for several years, perhaps climbing the ladder along the way. And then get married. But don’t jump into bed immediately. As my wife puts it, Do some research. Then stay married for several years. Learn the sacrifices and responsibilities and compromises — and the happiness. And only then, have a kid. There’s nothing original about this thinking. I call it Kudlow 101. The trouble is, in our society, we are doing this backwards. People don’t finish school. Don’t take a job. Don’t get married. But do have kids. Wrong order. Wrong formula. ~ Larry Kudlow I have often highlighted the tangible personal and societal benefits of marriage, always with the disclaimer that there are always some exceptions to the rule, and some success stories which fall outside of this narrative. That said, it is interesting to note that some of the more recent studies show that married men earn more and work more, and are more productive on the job than their unmarried counterparts. Its not just the mother and children who benefit from marriage. While many of the articles I share focus on the economic benefits of marriage, the intangible benefits to children of having their mother and father at home, loving them and each other, and committed to the family for life, are immeasurable. At my grandmothers funeral a couple of weeks ago, the only time I became emotional was when the pastor honored my father who, along with my mother, took on the sacrificial task of caring for my bedridden grandmother at home for about a decade or so. She wasnt his mother, but he fed her, changed her, clothed her and did whatever needed to be done, and he did so without hesitation. He was a good son-in-law, and I was overcome by my good fortune that this amazing man is my father, and that hes loved and remained devoted to my mother for more than 55 years. He is my role model.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 19:40:37 +0000
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