Only 10 percent of children living with married parents are in poverty vs. 66 percent of children of single parents. Thus, the key to reducing poverty is to increase the percentage of couples who are married. Obviously, higher marriage rates and lower divorce rates would accomplish all three goals. Premarital education will be offered on two tracks. Second, government workers will be trained to teach skills of communication and conflict resolution to couples not reached by the churches.
Every county has welfare workers, health care providers and agricultural extension agents.
First, he should use his bully pulpit to issue an authoritative message on the value of marriage as a way to reduce poverty and illegitimacy, and as a way to improve the health, happiness, wealth and extend the lives of Americans. He ought to ask Congress to pass a joint resolution on the need for public policies to strengthen marriage. He could also urge the nation's churches to make marriage a priority - which it certainly is not today. Second, Bush could propose a change in the TANF law, which must be reauthorized this year. The Heritage Foundation is recommending that he set aside 5 percent of the TANF funds for pro-marriage activity like that pioneered in Oklahoma.