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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 16, 2023

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I'm beginning to think marriage should be an agreement only between two never married people and for any future arrangements involving at least one previously divorced partner should be explicitly drawn up with a clear agreement defining the relationship terms, including termination clauses, prior to the union being created (including collateral deposits).

I don't know what problem this would solve. If one partner is already wealthy they can get a prenup to protect those assets. And most couples don't have the kind of assets that make splits particularly problematic or burdensome anyway, especially since most women work these days. Alimony is pretty rare, and when it is ordered it's usually either a one time payment or limited to a brief duration (like 2 years) while the burdened spouse gets their life together and finds a job. Some guys still get soaked, but hey, they knew the rules going in and no one told them they had to get married. We learn from our mistakes...

If one partner is already wealthy they can get a prenup to protect those assets.

Taking any measures that would make divorce easier, even if they make divorce easier by making it fairer, signals lack of commitment to the marriage, so people won't do it unless they are so rich that they can countersignal.

It helps society because it stops all the serial divorcees from marrying again (marriage being only the union sbetween two never married people) and driving up the divorce statistics.

Second it forces both parties to second unions to make explicit exactly what they want from the union and both agree to all the terms before they can enter. If he expects certain household tasks, they both need to agree to a contract that includes that, if she expects alimony the contract needs to include that.

It means both parties enter with a clear understanding of the full terms of the relationship and puts the negotiation of the trrmination at the beginning of the relationship rather than the end.