Marriage is not just Personal

The following is an article I wrote to a local Idaho Paper.

Your recent publication of A Futile Effort by Karin Lund had caused me to wonder if there is enough information out there for the public to make an educated decision. This decision is better addressed by research rather than personal benefit, hearsay and unscrutinized opinions. One example of this research is “The Case for Marriage” by Waite and Gallager. Marriage and family is not only current, it is relevant to many of the social issues that face Idaho and our country as a whole. Marriage has been show to increase economic stability, promote health and increased life satisfaction. Social issues such as domestic violence, child abuse and substance abuse are found to be lower for individuals who are raised in homes with a male and female parent present. I would encourage those who are making laws that affect the institution of marriage to understand what does work before you attempt to replace or dismiss this social institution. I have worked with many families in Idaho, Utah and California and know that the danger to our society is not those who support traditional marriage, but those who blindly stand on either side of the issue. Marriage is not just personal; it is the foundation of society. If it is on its way out then we should be concerned with increased real and social debts.