Unfortunately, the legal system, points to “No” as the answer. The majority of family law cases regarding divorce and child custody, seem to support the notion that no matter how true your intentions are when you GET married, that greed always sets the tone for the divorce.

I think many men still truly believe in marriage. But today’s society seems to support the notion that men should pay for the dream that makes the woman the princess. Men pay for the ring, pay for the wedding (even if it is the bride’s father, which is tradition), and in turn receive less sex, and the possibility that if she is not kept happy - that she’ll receive a free check for a large portion of the man’s net worth. In cases where the man makes the bulk of the money at least.

To the point, I still say that today’s engagement is akin to yesterday’s marriage. If you take away all the legal mumbo jumbo, fear of “her getting it all” in a divorce, and just take the passion and emotions that lead to asking someone to share their live with you… that should be marriage. Alas though, it is a dream…

#1: Marriarge of course does not mean divorce in most marriages. The problem is marriage, in the sense that it has no longer become an obligation but a rite of passage or a seque in a relationship. Marriage is not for everyone nor for most relationships. And those that enter into it without understanding it, often fail.

#2: I as a man am still offended that you seem to assume that the man is the bread-winner. And as the bread-winner you assume that person has more options. So your argument basically becomes: the one controlling the purse-strings is the the one who sets the rules. Quite frankly this is archaic. The only thing that women’s rights did what make women more equal. I have not problem with this because they are just as equal. What it did is make them cheat on us as much as we cheated on them. So why be so bitter? There are as many flakey women as there are men. Remember we are equal…Unless you don’t think so.

#3. My wife cheated on me. I fought to get her back and did. Cheating is never the answer. There are still some of us males out there who are totally against it. And we are not fat, ugly people. We are just beautiful families with struggles in bringing up multiple children. Children can be a divide, if you let them. It is so hard to be a good father/mother, both work full-time jobs, get the bills paid, the house cleaned, the laundry done…And yes also be the perfect spouse. Especially on dual-incomes! Some things have to give in to today’s society. But people need to put love first.

@ Ali - What is this about “most marriages do not mean divorce”? More than 60% end in divorce in the United States these days! I happen to agree wholeheartedly with Ugg. Marriage is - as it stands - a legal screw job from a man’s point of view. Not even pre-nuptual agreements are worth a damn anymore. As a man - why should I get married? Why do I need the law interfering in my emotional relationship? And why do I want to marry anyway, given that I have yet to meet a woman who could make it through three years of engagement without cheating or getting so fat and lazy that I couldn’t get her off the couch with a damned crane! This by the way is a 50/50 problem. The ones who don’t cheat, don’t cheat because they’re simply too damned lazy… on the couch eating microwave macaroni and cheese and watching TV, ignoring me and everything else concerning the “relationship”! American women, as far as I can tell, aren’t worth having. I’m going to look for a woman in some other country, where women aren’t so screwed up in the head.

Being divorced I’ve experienced a thorough raping by my ex and the legal system she utilized to inflict as much pain and suffering as she could toward me. Like the author said, why invite the government into your emotional life… once you’ve been through it, you’ll understand and never get married again. Mosty because they’ll take most of what you have and what you currently earn for years to come.

;-(