09.11.26 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / Data Centers

All right.

Uh, the first two are about the same question you, you t- or actually it was a segment y- when you talked about prenups and how you'd changed your mind.

Carl in Florida says, "You stated you now think prenups are a good idea in three scenarios.

One, remarrying or getting married later in life.

I got remarried when I was 36.

My wife was older than I, and we w- each owned our own homes.

Two, blended families.

I was bringing a child from a previous relationship into the marriage.

And three, one spouse leaving the workforce.

Three years after we were married, my wife left the workforce to care for our twins, and now you tell me we should have signed a prenup.

Thanks.

You're about 31 years too late." That's a funny one.

[laughs] Oh, boy.

And then Ohio Prof says, "Clark, recently a troubling pattern has emerged.

First, you have recently counseled cohabitating unmarried couples on housing and joint bank and credit card accounts without adequately highlighting the significant legal and financial complications that can arise if and when the relationship ends, nor did you fully explain the benefits of legal protections that marriage can provide before making such long-term financial commitments.

Second, I was shocked that you abandoned your long-held belief in the position of prenuptial agreements.

You reported that you were wrong.

Rather than encourage couples to seek marriage counseling and then fully commit to their wedding vows to love and cherish for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, you gave a weak argument about catastrophic insurance.

Prenuptial agreements, however, are an example of the self-fulfilling prophecy, a process where an initially false expectation, like this marriage will fail, leads to behaviors, like a prenuptial agreement, that cause the expectation to become a reality.

When an escape route is negotiated before the vows are exchanged, it can become an enduring shadow over the marriage.

Clark, we need you to be the strong voice in the stormy times.

Don't succumb to popular modernistic views.

Listeners can find that kind of advice almost anywhere, on the radio or in a podcast.

What has made your counsel valuable is that it's often offered something wiser, more measured, and more enduring."

Thank you very much, Ohio Prof.