>>You've muddled some many ideas in there you failed to make a point. Show me the stats you claim.
>>
>>I'm astonished- I expected you would have reviewed all the evidence before you made up your mind. ;-)
>>
>>For a start: in 2003, 43% of New Zealand children in single-parent households were living in poverty compared with 15% of those living with two parents.
>>
>>Perhaps we can agree that living in poverty isn't a great start in life.
>>
>>One response is to blame society and create further assistance for single parents. However, there is a chicken and egg situation here, with the rise in single-parent families closely related to the behavior of the welfare state and the liberalisation of marriage as an institution.
>>
>>Another approach is to promote 2-parent families, which includes promoting marriage (or whatever else you want to call it when you co-operate to raise kids) as a stable social entity rather than a fashion statement or lifestyle choice.
>
>This got me thinking. If life is so much easier for married people (in general, not just NZ), why are then so many opting out? Why is marriage not attractive? It can't be just the cost of divorce.


Never underestimate the cost of divorce ;--) Those who say divorce is so expensive because it's worth it must not be paying. My ex still has her hands in my pockets so regularly it's like we're back in the dating days.