Bush proposes Marriage package as cure to social woes.

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Krimson Klaw
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Bush proposes Marriage package as cure to social woes.

Post by Krimson Klaw »

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103459,00.html
The Senate is expected to act this session on the $1 billion pro-marriage initiatives as part of its reauthorization of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (search), also known as welfare reform. A similar bill passed the House on a partisan vote in February. "It is a bold step forward," said Rector, who asked why money should not be spent on strengthening whole families as well as aiding those that are broken. "Either you pick up Humpty-Dumpty after he falls off the wall or try to prevent him from falling in the first place."
and then a response
It's a gimmick to make a political statement," said Tom Coleman, lawyer and founder of Unmarried America, a civil rights organization for singles and domestic partners. "This whole idea of pressuring people to marry is going to backfire."

"I don't have any quarrel with the research. The problem I have with the government's approach is it is not treating this as a complex issue," said Ron Walters, director of the African-American Leadership Institute at the University of Maryland. Walters said much of his problem with the proposal centers on its failure to address other challenges facing men and women in low-income and minority communities.
Although on the surface this looks like a good idea, I agree with Coleman as seeing this as just a political move, and you know against who. Pretty slick. The more marriage programs they can come up with, the more reasons they will have to deny gay marriages in states. it's a stretch I know, but it's my opinion. While I do not agree with gay marriages, legally I think they have a right to do so. This proposal will most likely have an immediate benefit yes, but look a few years down the road to the big picture. I am starting to get worried at all of these *immediate results* policies that Bush is coming up with.
Chmee
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Post by Chmee »

Marriage should be a personal decision and the government shouldn't be spending money in pro-marriage initiatives (for the record I think the government should not penalize married couples in the form of higher taxes in some cases either, aka the marriage penalty).
No nation was ever ruined by trade.

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Burke
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Post by Burke »

Great quote Chmee, Utilitarianism kicks ass.
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Kaldaur
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Post by Kaldaur »

Utilitarianism is a good read, especially when dealing with the Maximum Happiness Principle. The concept of act utilitarianism (which Mill advocated)brings up good questions and points about how everything is situational. It's also a good principle to operate under when confronting social showdowns such as gay marriage. Will having two people you don't know who are the same sex getting married bring you as much unhappiness as the happiness that will come to those two people who are now married? Happiness Principle is a good policy to run by in many instances.
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