We’ve mentioned that the differences between left and right in America today aren’t just ideological. It’s cultural and lifestyle-based. Liberals are less likely to have or want kids. Much less patriotic – by their own admission. And now we have new and troubling evidence from Gallup of a widening marriage gap.

Today two-thirds of Republicans between the ages of 30 and 50 are married. Slightly less than half of Democrats in that age group are.

Gallup concludes this marriage gap has been persistent: “From 2000 to the present, the Republican marriage rate has averaged 18 percentage points above the Democratic marriage rate. The trend for independents, meanwhile, has been close to that of Democrats.”

At the same time, marriage rates are falling for every group. Amazingly before the 1970s well more than 80% of the 30- and 40-somethings were married. And Democrats were as likely to be married as Republicans.

Why is the decline in marriage a problem?

First, because marriage produces children, and do we ever need more of them now?

Second, because married people are more successful and less reliant on the government than single people.

And third, married people are far happier and live longer than single people.

Loneliness is becoming a major cause of early death.

We find this all very disturbing.