Contracts are about property and stem from the right to own property. People
can agree to trade property through a contract, or provide labor in return for
property. If a breach of contract results in theft or destruction of property
(e.g. you paid me but I didn't do the work) then there is reason for legal
punishment of the violator.
A promise given in marriage has nothing to do with property, except perhaps
for the division of it upon dissolution. A wife that commits adultery or a
husband that does the same cannot be said to have committed any theft of
property. They have only broken a promise to remain faithful. It is not the job
of the government to punish people for breaking promises that don't result in
theft or destruction of property.
How does the state grow when the family breaks up? That's only when welfare
and other services are provided at taxpayer expense. Presumably that would not
be the case in a libertarian system where there is hardship. The parties
involved would have to rely on family, friends, or charity for help.
David Macko <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
There probably should be some government-sanctioned ability
for a woman to leave a marriage contract, but if such an action
is made too easy then the institution of marriage becomes null and void,
the family disintegrates and the state grows. I do not regard this as a
libertarian solution.
For life, liberty, justice and peace,
David Macko
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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