Singles nation: Why so many Americans are unmarried

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Yeah, I understand that- my point was just that marriage itself isn't the problem. Actually, my biggest arguments FOR marriage are primarily legal ones. For instance, "partners" don't have the same legal rights in regards to their significant others as spouses do, like income tax deductions, hospital visitation and medical decisions, etc. If, for example, your partner wishes you to be their primary executor or beneficiary in the event of their death, their wishes can be overridden EVEN IF IT'S IN WRITNG, if you are not legally married. Because in the government's eyes, you're not "family", no matter how committed and long-term the relationship was. Same if they want a no-resuscitation clause and you are the "next of kin"- you have no say, because it's not on that little certificate that states you have the legal right to make that call. Or social Security- legally, if you're not married to someone, you can't collect their benefits under any circumstances, even if they wish to allow it.


People make a big deal about marriage having so many down sides, but no one ever mentions the positive aspects, and it's usually the religious aspects that get all the attention, rather than the legal rights and responsibilities. I mean, you have churches that make a big stink about refusing to honor some marriages, or perform them for certain couples due to religious issues, but the reality is that it's the official consequences of getting that piece of paper that are most important.