AP: Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs

[Eugene]

Govt to Up Spending on Marriage Programs

By KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press Writer

July 21, 2006, 3:50 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Ron McLain has no qualms about the federal government getting involved
in marriage. Indeed, he's counting on it.

McLain has applied for a $550,000 federal grant to hire counselors for Marriage Mentoring
Ministries Inc., a tiny business in Fresno County, Calif., that helps couples before and
after they exchange wedding vows. He also has a bid in for a $250,000 grant to teach men
to become better fathers.

<snip>

The grant money represents the latest shift in welfare reform in the United States. For the
next five years, Congress is setting aside up to $100 million a year to promote marriage
and $50 million a year to produce committed fathers. This year's allotment goes out before
Sept. 30.

Supporters say that if the government can get more low-income parents to tie the knot and
help them work through the rough spots that inevitably occur, then those families are less
likely to need federal assistance in later years.

<snip>

Others see the government as engaging in a social experiment with scarce resources they say
would be better put elsewhere.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-marriage-government-funding,0,7085371.story

[DELUSIONAL]

1. oh goody goody -- marriage police . . . whatever

we all know that this is a handout -- a pay off for the religiously INSANE.

[charlie]

2. Faith-based schwag

Your taxes at work, buying Republican votes and tearing down the wall of separation.

http://www.growyourmarriage.com/ourstaff.html
http://www.growyourmarriage.com/ourmission.html

Love & Respect
by Emmerson Eggerichs
This book shows the importance of both the husband and wife following the admonition in Ephesians 5:33; for the husband, to love his wife as Christ loved the Church; for the wife, to respect her husband. Eggerichs does a great job of pointing out why God directs women to respect their husbands as opposed to loving them.

A Lasting Promise
by Scott Stanley, Daniel Trathen, Savanna McCain, Milt Bryan
Based on the best-selling book, Fighting for Your Marriage, this book will help you create a marriage of lasting love. The powerful and practical principles are solidly supported by Scripture with a unique blending of university research.

Sacred Marriage
by Gary Thomas
This instant classic asks, "What if God is more concerned about your holiness than your happiness?" Maybe a healthy marriage is more about character than compatibility.

[SensibleAmerican]

3. Meanwhile, I'm struggling to pay for college

Yipeee

[madeline_con]

5. Don't take out a loan.

If you get behind on your payments, they send this intimidating letter about how "President Bush" signed the "Deficit Reduction Act" and has to call in all the loans to foot the bill for his fuck-ups.

Good luck with your studies! :hi:

[madeline_con]

4. Another "Faith-Based Initiative" gets a fat check

Go to the Yurica Report for tons more info on this kind of crap.

[w4rma]

6. Borrow and spend Repugs.

Btw, I'm not yet sure this wouldn't be a bad idea. I need to research it.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Aside from the wrongness of public funding of morality, I doubt whether

these programs will accomplish their goals. They may be able to get two autotonomous (heterosexual, of course!) individuals to legally marry versus enjoy common law marriage. However, there is no guarantee the couple will stay married or the marriage will be beneficial to either or both partners and/or their children. A valid marriage counselling program (public or private) would vociferously advise against marriage between certain people who should not be together. Not here. It's like "No couple left behind".

[NC_Nurse]

8. Throwing more dollars into the wind

like the abstinence only programs. What a crock o'shit!

[Ganja Ninja]

9. More like funneling more tax money to Bush supporters.

Still a crock of shit.

[skids]

10. Gotta maintain those baby soldier factories. n/t