GOP to Poor Women: Get Hitched

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As Congress heads toward a final round of legislation before the election, one of the less talked-about issues they expect to take up will be the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), more commonly known as welfare reform. One of the Republicans' top priorities within the TANF bill, supported strongly by the Bush Administration and Sens. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Jim Talent (R-MO), is a $1.6 billion effort to promote marriage among poor people as a solution to reducing poverty.

snip:
Marriage promotion programs, therefore, must be viewed in the context of battered women's lives and how poverty and children affect their decision-making. Most moms I know will do anything for their children and this often includes putting up with years of violence and abuse. When you tell a woman who is desperately trying to keep a roof over her head, put food on her table, and buy a birthday gift or two for her child that if you get married or stay married you will get an extra $100 a month, or a $2,000 one-time bonus, or be helping your children (and conversely hurting them if you get divorced), or will be fulfilling your biblical role - all strategies tried by states or promoted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - you are encouraging battered women to stay in abusive relationships.

snip:
Proponents of marriage promotion programs, chief among them Assistant Secretary for Children and Family at the Department of Health and Human Services, Wade Horn, also put forth the deeply flawed argument that marriage is inherently better for children. Even some liberal pundits and bloggers also make this and other mistakes in defending marriage initiatives. While data do show correlations between positive child outcomes and growing up in a family with parents who are married, there is nothing that demonstrates that it is the state of marriage itself that is responsible for these outcomes. In fact, the vast majority of the difference is explained by poverty; married couples have more money than single moms. That one doesn't seem too hard to understand.

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Marriage, simply put, is not the solution to poverty. And creating pressure and financial incentives for abused poor women to stay with their violent partners can't be what President Bush means by "compassionate conservatism." And make no mistake about it - the proposed legislation will do exactly that, regardless of what proponents continually say. This legislation is dangerous. It will likely keep some women in abusive relationships and will take money from programs that have proven records of actually reducing poverty and helping parents - good schools, good child care, and a living wage.

www.alternet.org/election04/19920/

been featured at Moon sponsored marriage seminars throughout the 90s.

The point is that people should marry for the good of society and order, not for reasons based on "human or emotional" needs (love).

They are young and have been "together" for almost five years. They are still living at the poverty line while she goes to college and he works at a job that pays more than minimum wage. They can't afford the $400 a month to put her on his health insurance. Recently she was ill and finally made an appointment to see the doctor, several days away. She didn't make it that far and ended up in the emergency room, costing them $1,500 and lots of very rude treatment at the county hospital.

:thumbsup:

5. Rampant Sexism -- The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined --

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

from thread on key points to fascism

you can "own" a woman now.... especially, a poor one with kids.
Just get her to walk silently two steps behind you... just like Laura.

Wink, wink, nod, nod...to the male chauvinist pigs.

I'm sure gay marriage really does help people who are impoverished
otherwise. The republicans are right, it does help when the benefits
of marriage are extended to all couples, gay or straight. I'm glad
they've come to their senses.

As for spending taxpayer funds to promote marriage at all, I'm
shocked. It is a religious communion, and has no place costing
the taxpayer. Marriage is no business of the state, or rather it
is merely a partnership of interests like any other business venture,
and in that regard, should not be promoted any more than "forming
a business." is. Small "c" conservatives must turn in their graves
at this fat-mega-huge government wasting their taxes on social
engineering whilst pushing us over a precipice of indebtedness.

Getting married for money instead of love.