June 13, 2007

Anyone looking for examples of how the state undermines heterosexual marriage can look no further than what is happening here in the United Kingdom.

The British government is about to grant to cohabiting partners – whether heterosexual or homosexual – rights similar to divorcing heterosexual couples. These rights include large sums of money for regular maintenance (we call it alimony in America), as well as a share of property, and claims for loss of income if one partner gives up a career to look after children.

At present, co-habiting couples have no financial rights if their relationship breaks down, regardless of how long they have lived together.

Governments used to offer incentives for behavior they regard as beneficial to the general welfare as well as the individual and disincentives to behavior they regarded as harmful to nation and individuals. But we have abandoned any sense of right and wrong and beneficial and harmful in our embrace of political correctness.

And we are paying a heavy social price.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.