One might come to such a foolish understanding based on the disastrous results of divorce.
But looking at the overall economic and societal benefits of marriage - we can only agree that state-sponsored marriage is the only way to go.
You want to end welfare in one generation? Require all welfare recipients to be married.
You want to end poverty and ignorance in America? Extend tax BREAKS not penalties to married couples.
You want to gut and put an end to divorce courts that are churning out millions of children from broken homes who have half the advantages of normal children? Slap a big tax/penalty on divorce.
You want a hundred more reasons why the government should favor marriage? I got ‘em.
I disagree. Religious marriage means something to people and results in all the benefits you mention.
State sanctioned mariage is next to meaningless to most people.