Thursday, November 04, 2004
The values debate
Convention wisdom surrounding the elections has begun to settle around the theme that values are morals trumped every other issue, including Iraq and the sputtering economy. I dont know for sure, but this could well be true. However, is there any truth to some of the claims the conservatives make about their superior values and morals or is yet another example of hyporcrisy from the right? A study by Barna on divorce rates (marriage is one of the sacred bedrocks of the values crowd) sheds some light. Here are some highlights.
* Divorce rates among conservative Christians were much higher than for other faith groups, and for Atheists and Agnostics. 27% of born-again christians have been divorced, compared to 21% of atheists and agnostics.
* 11 southern states (AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, MS, NC, NM, OK, SC and TX averaged 5.1/1000 people. (LA data is not available; TX data is for 1997). Nine states in the Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) averaged only 3.5/1000 people.
* Massachussets, yes, Massachussets, home to both Ted Kennedy and John Kerry has the lowest divorce rate in the whole of the United States.
Of course, there is a very good reason for higher divorce rates in the south. Lower incomes and earlier marriages. Nevetheless, we need to pull that whole family values bullshit in perspective.
* Divorce rates among conservative Christians were much higher than for other faith groups, and for Atheists and Agnostics. 27% of born-again christians have been divorced, compared to 21% of atheists and agnostics.
* 11 southern states (AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, MS, NC, NM, OK, SC and TX averaged 5.1/1000 people. (LA data is not available; TX data is for 1997). Nine states in the Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) averaged only 3.5/1000 people.
* Massachussets, yes, Massachussets, home to both Ted Kennedy and John Kerry has the lowest divorce rate in the whole of the United States.
Of course, there is a very good reason for higher divorce rates in the south. Lower incomes and earlier marriages. Nevetheless, we need to pull that whole family values bullshit in perspective.
