IDS, Marriage and Freedom

Iain Duncan Smith has found there is a problem here in the UK. And like all politicians who have found a problem, he's got a solution to it. And, yes indeedy, the solution is the state. 

IDS has discovered that there is such a thing as poverty in this country, and thinks part of the reason for this is divorce and broken homes. Such an idea should be very, very obvious to anyone who has lived in the real world for more than five seconds. But rather than seeing divorce as something that - as sad as it can be - is a part of reality, he sees it as something that the state can step in and solve.

His solutions are cooling off periods before couples can divorce, classes before couples wed (not compulsory... yet) and tax breaks for married couples. Great, yeah. Smashing. Of course, it isn't going to make a blind bit of fucking difference to people in the real world. People will still get married without thinking it through, and they will divorce even if they have to wait a few months more. And if you want to stop people from entering into unsuitable marriages, then bribing people with taxpayer's money through tax breaks really isn't a good way to do that. 

But the fact that the solutions don't work, there is a deeper problem with what IDS proposes. He sees it as the government's right to intervene in personal relationships. He wants the government to have a say on what you have to do before you can marry, and when you can divorce. His proposals would put the government at the very heart of the relationship between adults. Somewhere the government has no right whatsoever to be. 

There are some who espouse the theory that the Tory party is Libertarian - it isn't, as this sort of idea from IDS indicates. For all of their pretensions towards economic liberalism, they are at heart deeply socially conservative. They aren't looking to leave you alone - as a private, adult citizen. They are there to guide towards their ideal of how you should live.

This comment sums up IDS's position perfectly:

"You do not need a £20,000 themed wedding to be a happily-married couple."

No, very true. But likewise, you could have a wedding that costs £20k or a wedding with a theme of £20k (which is one implication of IDS's unfortunate phrasing) and be happy. What comes across from IDS's comments is a vague feeling of disapproval of those who might have a £20k themed wedding, even though it isn't the business of anyone bar the couple getting married.

Here's the bottom line, Ladies and Gents. Getting married is an emotional commitment to spend the rest of your life with someone. Getting divorced is both financially and emotionally devastating. You shouldn't do either lightly. But you also don't need the government to tell you when to do either. And you certainly don't need Iain Duncan Smith telling you how to live your personal life...