Statistics should be used to back up ones argument; not make it for them. Numbers alone aren’t compelling; its reason and logic that make a worthy position. My mistake came when I didn’t clarify what it was that I was trying to prove. My intent was lost in the numbers. The truth; the institution isn’t perfect, but simply put…..Marriage is worth it! Marriage to the right person makes you happier, more successful, healthier, and more capable of making a positive influence on the world around you.

There is an attack on marriage in this country; just like there is on almost every traditional institution. The secularists, the far lefties, and the atheists have worked themselves into a frenzy over traditional-valued thinkers. They just can’t understand why we would want to follow Christian values and common sense so closely. My frustration comes from those who would say, “Why would you get married? The chances of you getting divorced are so high…..it isn’t worth it.” Here is where clarifying your argument is crucial. It is true that the total # of marriages that end in divorce is roughly 50%. However, it doesn’t make sense to include every divorce in this argument. Stay with me here…… If my argument is that marriage is a worth while institution because of the wonderful things that it can reward you with; then percentages don’t matter…..the risk is worth it. However; if you want to go down the statistical path….the question needs to be, “If I get married today for the first time, what is statistical likelihood that I will get a divorce?” The answer is 29%.

The total # of people that have ever been married in this country (76%) compared to the total # of people who have ever been divorced (22%) yields a likelihood of getting divorced of 29% (22% divided by 76%). Again, I concede the fact that when you take into account the people that have had multiple divorces (2, 3, 4, etc…), then total # of divorces to marriages increases to approximately 50%. Obviously people with one divorce are much more likely to have another. Remember, the 50% number is irrelevant in my argument though. My contention is that if you are a young person that has never been married, and you are considering it……your chances of getting a divorce (statistically) are 29%. The bottom line is that 7 of 10 marriages of people that are “starting” their lives together…..actually work out! The fact is that 71% of people who have ever been married; have never been divorced, and that is a compelling argument to take the plunge. Source: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2005 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

All though I am clearly pro-marriage, and a little bias due to the fact that I think getting married was the best decision I ever made; I actually do want to be factually correct in my late night political rants at the keyboard. If my friends and family are going to be reading these opinions of mine; then I want to provide them with the truth. In the future I will try to be clearer about what it is exactly that I am trying to prove.

The most important thing to remember is this, “Marriage is not only alive and kicking in this country, but it is our best hope for sustaining our values, our happiness, our humanity, and our freedom.”