RedStar points out some new information on marriage - apparently married couples are in the minority now, and I'm supposed to have thoughts. Since everyone appears to be getting on board, I suppose I should say something. Though, truthfully, it's not doing all that much for me.
I've been arguing for some time - to anyone who'd listen - that Democrats have been so busy chasing Republicans to the center by appearing totally in favor of married couples who have or will have children that they've overlooked their best constituency - young, urban, single people. That's where the gay crowd is. That's where the most promising Democratic women voters are. That's where young people of a variety of minority backgrounds are.
And yet, time and again, no one seems to care. When Republicans talked about tax codes being biased against married couples with children, I tried to point out something more obvious, that the tax code heavily penalizes white collar young people who live together in rental apartments. Where's our advocate?
So am I thinking a lot about changing social codes and increased independence for single people with no pressure to marry? Not really. I suppose there's something here about all of us being more isolated than ever, not socializing enough, playing on the 'net, etc... but I'm pretty much with RedStar here - I don't need someone to "complete" me. If that happens, great. But I'd rather the person I want to be.
What I am wondering is, will someone - a Democrat, someone, anyone... Bueller? - finally stop trying to make single people the enemy here? As they used to say on Sex and the City, can we stop being looked at as the "leper," "Pity case," "whore," at the party, and realize that we are the party? Even in the majority, I suspect a lot of young singles - especially women - want to see the condition as somehow temporary, and by extension, regrettable. When the truth is, the single life is just fine. And it's those married folks who better watch out. Our social and economic policies are not going to be tailored to your every crazy whim. You've been warned.
In agreement here. I've always thought it wrong to try to legalize gay marriage; the move forward would be to criminalize marriage or at least remove all government-sanctioned benefits to it.
Posted by: jvit | October 15, 2006 at 06:44 PM
I actually wanted you to theorize on how conservatives would try to extend this isolated stat into some crisis related to terrorism. Porous borders, weak social arrangements, for christ sake, this country's for anybody's taking! or something like that...
:)
Posted by: Leigh | October 15, 2006 at 09:02 PM
PS: I am emailing you the American Sociological Review's June 2006 study on social isolation that has been extensively quoted in the popular press these days...
Apparently married, dual-career couples are the culprits behind our weakening social ties....
(Ok, that's a bit of an overstatement, but I like this line of speculation the most!)
Posted by: Leigh | October 15, 2006 at 09:04 PM