Family Situations Worsening in America

A good look at America’s children should tell us that all is not well with the American family: One third of our children are overweight or obese. Nearly a third drop out or cannot finish high school in 4 years. 75% of our youth are ineligible for military service because of poor health, drugs, criminal records, or lack of education.

What is the reason? Poor schools—maybe. Poverty—maybe. But there is a more ubiquitous and insidious reason. 41% of our newborns are born to unmarried mothers. (up from 5% a half century ago). The fact is that young, adult, Americans are just not getting married. For the first time since the census began tallying marriage, the proportion of Americans age 25-34 who had never married exceeded the proportion of those who had been married. Evidence is overwhelming that children of single mothers—particularly teen mothers—suffer disproportionately high poverty rates, impaired development, and low school performance.

A large majority of never-married mothers had close relationships with a partner when their child was born. Many of these women have said to me something like, “I know he loves me; and we are going to get married just as soon as we have enough money—any day now!” WHAT A BUNCH OF NONSENSE!! Those guys are not going to marry their girlfriends when they can get what they want without commitment. The statistics bear out my observation—by the time illegitimate children are 5 years old, most of the fathers are gone, and the children have little contact with them. These unmarried mothers go on to new relationships, and the children are hampered by repeated transitions that do more harm to their development.

America MUST do something about this deplorable situation. We are raising a generation of helpless young adults. If this situation had obtained in 1941, America would not have survived World War II. Our young people would not have been able to serve effectively as soldiers or as civilian defense workers. This country must return to its Christian roots. I believe that Christ and the Bible are the only answer to the problems facing America, today.

This post was largely excerpted from USA Today 1-25-11, page 8A.