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Wednesday, September 04, 2019

How 50 Years of No-Fault Divorce Gave Us a Throwaway Culture

Fifty years ago this week, Ronald Reagan made what he later admitted was one of the worst mistakes of his political life: As governor of California, he signed a bill bringing no-fault divorce to his state.

California was the first state to take the plunge, but by no means the last. Reagan’s signature unleashed what became a national divorce revolution.

Within five years, 44 states would follow suit and pass some form of no-fault divorce.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've had 4 of them!

Anonymous said...

Your word is your bond.

Anonymous said...

Gave women the power to ignore their marriage vows, just leave their husbands for NO REASON (no fault), and be awarded 1/2 of the assets, whether she contributed anything to the marriage, or not. Yeah, like that's equitable. A lot of women do not consider marriage vows an "oath" that they have any obligation to uphold. Women all want that ceremony in a church where they make promises that they don't feel they have any duty to uphold, specifically "till death do you part.". There are all kinds of women's support groups that encourage wives to leave their husbands just because they are not "happy." Most are so-called women's bible study groups (how ironic), or prayer meetings. And all this is a result of no-fault divorce and community property laws. As an older, wiser man now, I would never recommend to a younger man to get married without some kind of property agreement that is signed before marriage, that outlines an equitable property distribution in the event either party decides to abandon the marriage, because in no-fault states, like Maryland, neither party is obligated to honor the promises made on the alter. Any woman that would refuse to sign such an agreement prior to marriage, doesn't intend to feel obligated to honor the vows she is insisting on making on the alter. Even while making those promises on the alter, she still wants that option to walk away, and collect half, in a no-fault state. That's a woman NO MAN should marry.

Anonymous said...

And women said "What? I don't have to stay married and I don't need a reason for a divorce?" Not only that, but they get half of everything for no reason, and child support, for no other reason than taking the kids out of their home and making them live with them. And the divorce rate doubles, and more people get divorced than stay married now. Vast majority walking out on marriages are women. No wonder. All they wanted from the marriage was security. Walking out of a marriage in a no-fault state allows a woman to take that security with them. Who couldn't see that coming Ronald? My favorite president ever made that "mistake" but was classy enough to admit it. It's why he's still my favorite president ever in my lifetime.

Anonymous said...

Its always somebody's fault. Period.

Anonymous said...

Women don't know how to select a good man and men don't know how to select a good women. I'm so happy I found the greatest woman on Earth and will never have to worry about sharing custody of my daughter, splitting up property or any of the other things so many friends my age are going through. Been together for 16 years and every day is better than the last. Not to pick on the women, but if a guy has kids with 2 different women and has nothing to do with those kids DON'T GET PREGNANT BY HIM! It is mind boggling how many complete LOSERS have kids by different mother's all over the place and do nothing to support them financially or emotionally. These same guys are also usually leeches with no job or ambitions. They will move in with a girl to the apartment or house that she is paying on and not leave until she is in debt, knocked up and sick and tired of him. Then he moves on to the next one. If you owe $10k or more in child support the government should take your balls.
Teach your daughters their own self worth so that they grow up to find someone worthy of their time, money and love.