Mona Charen offers a valuable column:
[...] Among the upper-middle class, marriage continues to be the norm. Among the lower-middle class though, marriage rates have collapsed. This has created a cultural gulf between classes in America that affects every aspect of life, and arguably threatens the cohesion of America itself. . .
Married men don’t just earn more and have significantly lower rates of criminality, substance abuse, depression, and poor health than single men. They also contribute more social capital to society. Married men are far more likely to coach little league, volunteer at church, and shovel their elderly neighbor’s walk. Married people, far more than singles (there are exceptions of course), take responsibility not just for themselves and their children, but for the community. . . [Read it all ..]