Interesting points. It makes me aware of the complex intermingling
of the "contract" of marriage vs. the "covenant" of marriage. It seems to
me that our laws really only apply to the legal contract whereas the covenant is
more of a moral/spiritual union. When combined they create the
socio-cultural phenomenon of marriage which varies both between and within
cultures.
The gay and lesbian couples I know seem to honor the covanant they make
to each other. It also seems that it is this covanant between individuals
that is the source of the controversy. I think that we all know that our
laws culturally sanction certain choices and behaviors. It seems to me
that the fight is so significant because citizens want laws that reflect their
own values. It seems only human that citizens resist a change in the law
that creates that kind of conflict or dissonance. Such is the stuff of
social justice. I don't think an issue like this can totally be resolved
by looking at the economics alone--the conflict is much more around values and
ethics.
Somehow I think that if the vast majority were able to honor the
covanants they have with their spouses and children, the rest would be
moot! I even think that most of us could agree that this is our goal as
social beings--we just disagree on how to get there.
Kathy Seifert
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Re: Polygamy-costs
Paul has brought up an important point with respect to the economic
consequences of any expansion of the inclusiveness of marriage. With respect to
polygamy, however, forms of this already have economic consequences in the
United States. I do not refer to the few Christian sects that have practiced it more or less
openly in Utah and Arizona, protected often by societal acceptance, political
inattention, and avoidance of contact with state law on marriage. I do refer,
however, to serial polygamy and multiple partnerships, both of which are
socially sanctioned to a greater or lesser degree in the United States. Serial
polygamy�marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce, and on and on�often has a public
cost as well as a private one. Much
more significant in terms of public cost is the issue of multiple partnerships,
reflected in major part in the situation of one-fourth of children who currently
are born outside of marriage.
So, in the highly unlikely event that polygamy could some day achieve
legality, the major change in costs would occur in the area of the
responsibility of private employers. The cost to government is there
already.
Roy Nasstrom
