Them Before Us Podcast #076: How Is Your State Ranked on Marriage & Family? A Conversation with Aaron Baer

Introduction

In episode #076 of the Them Before Us Podcast, host Jennifer Friesen engages in a profound discussion with Aaron Baer, President of the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV). The episode centers around CCV's insightful "Hope and a Future Report," which examines the decline of marriage and the fragmentation of family structures across the United States, with a particular focus on Ohio. The conversation delves into the implications of these societal shifts on child poverty, community violence, educational outcomes, and overall national stability. Aaron Baer offers both a critical analysis of current trends and practical solutions aimed at strengthening families through policy and community engagement.

Guest Introduction and CCV’s Mission

Jen Friesen [00:00]:
Jennifer opens the episode by introducing Aaron Baer, highlighting his role at CCV and the significance of the "Hope and a Future Report." She emphasizes the report's dual focus on identifying problems stemming from declining family structures and proposing actionable solutions.

Aaron Baer [00:48]:
Aaron expresses gratitude towards the podcast and shares his personal connection, mentioning his wife Maria's involvement with the Colson Center. He outlines CCV's mission: "we seek the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the gospel." Baer elaborates on CCV's activities, including lobbying at the Ohio State House and developing state-based solutions to national issues, particularly emphasizing the importance of promoting Christian virtues in public policy.

Understanding the Family Structure Index

Jen Friesen [03:04]:
Jennifer introduces the Family Structure Index, noting Washington state's ranking and seeking clarification on the methodology and implications.

Aaron Baer [03:25]:
Aaron explains that the Family Structure Index, developed by Professor Brad Wilcox of the University of Virginia's Institute for Family Studies in partnership with CCV, evaluates family stability across states. He states, "We wanted to understand how families are doing across America on a state-by-state basis because that'll give some hints as to what is actually important for families to thrive" [04:34]. The index considers marriage rates, fertility rates, and the percentage of children raised in intact homes, with Utah ranking highest and Rhode Island lowest.

Ohio’s Ranking and National Context

Aaron Baer [03:47]:
Aaron highlights that Ohio ranks 29th out of 50 states, pointing out disturbing trends such as over half of children being raised in non-intact homes. He shares critical statistics: "nationally we are around 1.7 [children per woman], which really brings a lot of negative consequences, not just for the state economically, but … for our happiness and even our mental health" [05:01]. Baer underscores the link between declining fertility rates and societal challenges, including increased child poverty and mental health issues among children from single-parent homes.

Consequences of Declining Family Structures

Aaron Baer [07:29]:
The conversation shifts to the calculation of replacement fertility rates, clarifying misconceptions about the needed number of children to sustain population levels. Baer asserts, "Take Ohio, in 2023, we had 131,000 deaths and 127,000 live births. If you took abortion out, we would be at replacement levels" [08:24], linking abortion rates directly to population decline.

Jen Friesen [09:53]:
Jennifer suggests reframing the abortion debate by positioning it as a matter of national security and societal well-being, to which Aaron agrees, drawing parallels with China's one-child policy and its impact on fertility rates [09:53].

Abortion’s Impact and Pro-Life Movement Strategies

Aaron Baer [09:21]:
Baer discusses how abortion contributes to population decline, stating, "One in seven children conceived in Ohio loses their life to abortion" [09:21]. He emphasizes that even for the pro-life movement, promoting marriage is the most effective strategy to reduce abortion rates, highlighting that "81% of women in Ohio that get abortions are single moms" [11:44].

Jen Friesen [14:30]:
Jennifer touches on the emotional and psychological trauma associated with forced pregnancies and abortions, questioning the assumptions held by both sides of the debate.

Aaron Baer [16:47]:
Aaron critiques the pro-life movement's focus post-Roe on "helping women" as inadequately addressing the root causes of abortion. He argues that without addressing the underlying cultural shift towards valuing sexual freedom over family stability, efforts to reduce abortion rates will fall short.

Marriage Trends and Socioeconomic Factors in Ohio

Jen Friesen [17:14]:
Jennifer brings attention to declining divorce rates and explores their connection to marriage trends.

Aaron Baer [17:14]:
Aaron explains that declining divorce rates are partly due to fewer people getting married overall. He points out that marriage is becoming an "elite institution," more common among college-educated individuals, and posits that promoting marriage among low-income populations is essential for economic and social stability [17:48].

Aaron Baer [19:04]:
Aaron discusses the county-level disparities in Ohio, noting that rural and religiously homogeneous areas like Holmes and Geauga counties exhibit stronger marriage rates, while urban centers like Franklin, Cuyahoga, and Hamilton counties struggle with high rates of single parenthood and child poverty. He illustrates the direct correlation between intact family structures and lower child poverty rates, citing, "91% of kids in New Albany, Ohio, are born into intact homes and you only have a 4% child poverty rate" [22:20].

Jen Friesen [23:42]:
Jennifer links these findings to broader cultural issues, referencing Brad Wilcox's observations on Asian American marriage stability and noting the cultural values around marriage and work.

Policy Implications and Government’s Role

Aaron Baer [24:22]:
Aaron addresses the role of government in either mitigating or exacerbating family instability through entitlement programs. He argues that current welfare policies often discourage marriage by implementing the "marriage penalty," where dual-income households lose eligibility for benefits, thereby making marriage financially disadvantageous [25:01]. He advocates for restructuring these programs to incentivize marriage as a means to reduce government spending on education, healthcare, and incarceration [25:02].

Jen Friesen [26:18]:
Jennifer echoes Aaron's sentiments about the need for policy reform to support marriage, discussing how financial penalties deter individuals from entering into stable marriages.

Aaron Baer [27:16]:
Aaron counters the argument that marriage should remain solely a religious or personal matter by highlighting the economic necessity of stable family structures for minimizing government expenditure. He states, "When marriage decreases, government has to grow exponentially" [27:16], explaining that policies should encourage marriage to alleviate the burden on state budgets. He further distinguishes between the government's interest in procreative marriages versus same-sex relationships, emphasizing that the former impacts government size and services directly [30:10].

Cultural Shifts and Church’s Role in Promoting Marriage

Aaron Baer [20:41]:
Aaron stresses that beyond governmental policies, cultural and religious institutions, especially churches, must take an active role in celebrating and promoting marriage. He criticizes Christian churches for not adequately valuing marriage compared to Mormon communities, which, according to him, "celebrate marriage and encourage marriage in the next generation" [20:41].

Jen Friesen [30:59]:
Jennifer appreciates Aaron's breakdown, noting how it equips listeners to engage in meaningful conversations about marriage's role in society.

Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Aaron Baer [31:25]:
Aaron reiterates the importance of promoting marriage to ensure societal stability and reduce government dependency. He encourages listeners to engage with CCV's work and utilize the findings of the "Hope and a Future Report" to advocate for family-centric policies in their own communities.

Jen Friesen [31:28]:
Jennifer wraps up the episode by thanking Aaron and encouraging listeners to explore the resources provided by the Center for Christian Virtue, emphasizing the podcast's commitment to advocating for children's rights through strengthening family structures.

Key Takeaways

1. Family Structure Index: A comprehensive measure evaluating the health of family structures across states based on marriage rates, fertility rates, and the prevalence of intact homes.

2. Ohio's Challenges: Ranked 29th, Ohio faces significant issues with declining marriage rates, high single-parent households, and dropping fertility rates, leading to increased child poverty and government expenditure.

3. Cultural Influence: Strong religious communities (e.g., Mormons in Utah) exhibit healthier family structures, highlighting the role of culture and community in promoting marriage.

4. Policy Recommendations: Reforming welfare programs to incentivize marriage can reduce government spending on education, healthcare, and incarceration by fostering stable family environments.

5. Pro-Life Movement’s Strategy: Focusing on promoting marriage as a means to decrease abortion rates and strengthen societal stability rather than solely opposing abortion.

6. Churches’ Role: Religious institutions must actively encourage and celebrate marriage to influence cultural norms and support family stability.

7. Government’s Stake in Marriage: Stable marriages reduce the need for expansive government services, thus promoting both individual liberty and economic efficiency.

Notable Quotes

• Aaron Baer [05:01]: "Nationally we are around 1.7 [children per woman], and that really brings a lot of negative consequences, not just for the state economically, but ... for our happiness and even our mental health."

• Aaron Baer [09:21]: "One in seven children conceived in Ohio loses their life to abortion."

• Aaron Baer [16:47]: "Murdering your child, a mother killing her own child, even at that age, is more traumatic than going through with the birth."

• Aaron Baer [25:01]: "Most of our welfare programs are not built around encouraging those decisions. Actually, in many ways, they're built around discouraging those decisions."

• Aaron Baer [30:10]: "When marriage decreases, government has to grow exponentially."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the core discussions of episode #076, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a clear understanding of the challenges facing family structures in Ohio and across the United States, as well as the proposed pathways to foster stronger, more stable families through cultural and policy shifts.