ELIZABETH BENEDICT'S June 13 op-ed "The chilling effect of state's divorce laws" uncovers a travesty of justice here in Massachusetts, one that all men tacitly know, as do some second wives: The divorce system is about lawyers making money. As Benedict eloquently states, the system here is purposely ambiguous so that ordinary people must seek legal help to resolve their differences. This drives up the costs of fees for lawyers - the only ones who seem to benefit from divorce.
The system will never change because the real victims here are men (96 percent of alimony payments) and their new wives. No politician is going to change any laws that appear to go against women's rights. That would be political suicide.
So, the system just continues on, creating a generation of young people who won't marry for fear of getting into the same mess that "dear ol' dad" did, and older men who can't live a normal life because of unfair laws.
My only criticism is that Benedict was motivated to write this piece when it affected women as second wives or as the small portion who make alimony payments. Let's not forget that men really suffer from this too, but they rarely say anything about it openly.
RAY CATTANEO
Forestdale
