Family: the Foundation of a Strong Society
Family: The Foundation of a Strong Society “We the people of the Unites States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” (The Preamble to the American Constitution). Of the five principles that are stated in the Preamble, one is fundamentally unique and that is to promote the general Welfare. The responsibility to promote the common good rests not just with the government, but with all citizens.
Our Founding Fathers established all the rights in the Constitution not for the individual’s gain, but for the common good. Marriage is important because it affirms what our Founding Fathers understood; the purpose for this country is to use our freedoms to promote the common good. There is no question that marriage is beneficial to society because it promotes the common good for children, adults, and society. The evidence exists to show that children who are raised by their biological, married parents are more likely to become happy, healthy, and morally upright citizens in the future.
According to one study, “fathers who are involved in their child’s life produce children who have better emotional health, do better academically, and attain higher job status as adults” (Carlson, Corcoran 783). Other studies have shown that “adults who believed their mother was accessible and devoted to them in childhood were less likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem as adults. They were also found to be more resilient in dealing with life changing events” (Hojat 213).
Children need to know that their parents are always there for them. Life has enough pressures on its own without having to deal with uninvolved parents. According to a 2003 Gallup Poll, most adults desire to marry and have children, so adults, too, are able to enjoy many benefits of marriage. One benefit of marriage is greater wealth and higher incomes. “One study found that married men earn approximately 22 percent more than men who never married” (Stratton 210). Not only do married men enjoy a higher income, they may enjoy better health.
According to a study in 2000 it was discovered that “married persons have the lowest occurrences of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease” (Pienta, Hayward, Jenkins 575). Benefits of marriage do not only affect men, but marriage also affects women. A U. S. Department of Justice report in May 2000 found that married women had lower rates of violent abuse by a spouse, while divorced women had the highest rates of violence by their spouse, ex-spouse or boyfriend. The social, health, and economic aspects of marriage are additional benefits that lead to stronger communities and a stronger society.
Married women are less likely to turn to abortion than unmarried women. Research performed by the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform states that, “64. 4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18. 4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9. 4%. ” Therefore, human life is protected. With fewer abortions, each stage of life is more likely to have greater impact in every phase of life. Not only is life valued more, but so is independence from outside influences. Strong marriages result in less dependency upon the government.
According to a recent study by Bridgette Maher, “divorce in America costs taxpayers $33. 3 billion per year. ” Married couples also tend to show greater responsibility in life than do their single counterparts. Another study showed “People who are married are more likely than their unmarried counterparts to vote, volunteer and become involved in church and the schools” (Keyes). Over the years, marriage has been severely weakened by societal pressures. We have allowed the definition of marriage to be re-defined. Lifelong, monogamous marriages must become the accepted normalcy.
Marriage should be a place of refuge for all of its members and a haven for children. Marriage is hard work and takes much give and take in each relationship. However, marriage is justified by the many social and economic benefits for children, adults and society and is therefore a foundation of a strong society. American automobile executive, Lee Iacocca, sums it up, “The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family. ” Works Cited “Abortion Statistics. ” The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. N. p. , n. d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. Who’s having abortions (marital status)? 64. 4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18. 4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9. 4%. Carlson, Marcia J. , and Mary E. Corcoran. “Family Structure and Children’s Behavioral and Cognitive Outcomes. ” Journal of Marriage and Family 63. 3 (2001): 779-92. Print. For example studies have shown that fathers that are involved in their child’s life produce children who have better emotional health, do better academically, and attain higher job status as adults.
Henshaw, S. K. “Unintended Pregnancy in the United States. ” Family Planning Perspectives 30. 1 (1998): 24-29. Web. Most women getting abortions (83%) are unmarried; 67% have never married, and 16% are separated, divorced, or widowed. Married women are significantly less likely than unmarried women to resolve unintended pregnancies through abortion. Hojat, Mohammadreza. “Satisfaction With Early Relationships With Parents and Psychosocial Attributes in Adulthood: Which Parent Contributes More? ” The Journal of Genetic Psychology 159. (1998): 203-20. Print. Other studies have shown that adults who believed their mother was accessible and devoted to them in childhood were less likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem as adults. They were also found to be more resilient in dealing with life changing events. Keyes, Corey L. M. “Social Civility in the United States. ” Sociological Inquiry 72. 3 (2002): 393-408. Print. People who are married are more likely than their unmarried counterparts to vote, volunteer and become involved in church and the schools.
Maher, Bridgette. “The Benefits of Marriage. ” The Benefits of Marriage. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. . According to a recent study, divorce in America costs taxpayers $33. 3 billion per year. David G. Schramm, “What Could Divorce Be Costing Your State? The Costly Consequences of Divorce in Utah: The Impact on Couples, Communities, and Government,” A Preliminary Report, June 25, 2003, Publication in Process, Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, Utah State University. Pienta, A. M. , M.
D. Hayward, and K. R. Jenkins. “Health Consequences of Marriage for the Retirement Years. ” Journal of Family Issues 21. 5 (2000): 559-86. Print. Another study in 2000, found that married persons have the lowest occurrences of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Stratton, Leslie S. “Examining The Wage Differential For Married And Cohabiting Men. ” Economic Inquiry 40. 2 (2002): 199-212. Print. One study found that married men earn approximately 22 percent more than men who never married.
