Taxpayer money flows into pro-marriage commercials

With budget deficits soaring to record levels and an increasing number of Americans struggling to finance their tax burdens, you'll be happy to know that the federal government is spending $5 million on an ad campaign touting the benefits of marriage.

The campaign touts the benefits of marriage, and is inspired by the increasing number of people who are opting not to get married -- perhaps inspired by the number of marriages they've watched end in divorce around them. Put together by the federally-funded National Healthy Marriage Resource Center (seriously), this would seem to be one of the best examples of wasteful spending ever.

Maybe marriage is underrated and maybe it isn't. Put are public service announcements put together by the federal government really the way to get out the message? The USA Today takes a detailed look at this new program.

I have to wonder: Will the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center be providing free legal services for people who, inspired by its commercials, marry only to get divorced a few years later?

TwoOfUs.org, a website set up with your money as part of the campaign, features titillating content like this poll: "How do you know whether you are in an exclusive relationship?" So far only 29 people have voted -- most of whom are probably on the payroll --- and 10% (3 people) said that "You've uploaded pictures of you and your date on your social networking site." Isn't that interesting? Oh wait, no: It isn't even remotely interesting.