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Culture War Roundup for the week of September 11, 2023

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Rich middle aged men took to trading in their middle aged wife that they had married when young, and starting a second family with a new, younger wife

If we assume the role of a designer, or at least guide, of social norms, is there anything wrong with this specifically? Assume the children of the first marriage are already 18+, so it doesn't materially disadvantage the children so much. Society ends up with marginally more children, with marginally better genes (due to being rich).

Divorce rates soared towards 50%. That in turn soured men on marriage

I don't think this happened?

Slipping further down the slippery slope, we are eradicating financial privacy to tackle the problem of men hiding their assets from ex-wives

Financial privacy is being eradicated because it's universally useful the state, and large companies, to know your financial history. Useful both to the state, for taxation, incentive schemes, and enforcing the law. But also useful to you! You can pay taxes more efficiently, participate in government programs with less hassle, and e.g. get better terms on loans because the bank knows you better. I don't think men hiding their assets is a central reason for this.

I think that people would never have started down the road of permitting divorce.

If early Christian reformers had known that they were part of a long trend towards atheism, they might not have started down the road. Atheism is still correct though.