Via Matt Drudge, I see that the number of marriages in the UK last year was the lowest since records began in 1862.

What does that say about UK society? Probably not much at all. English people are still having relationships, still choosing to live together, and still having children (fewer than before, that’s true, but I’d argue this driven by economics rather than marriage rates).

I expect it means that the English today just feel more free to live their lives as they please, rather than according to rules defined by religious organizations or cultural traditions.

Mind you, I’m not saying this is better or worse for people than the way things were before. It just is what it is…