[P.O.E.]

When you invite the state into those matters of personal or religious import

This is the crux of the problem. If the State wasn't conferring benefits (tax breaks, health care, etc.) based on marital status, number of children, etc., there'd be less of a clamor to thus sign up for the freebies.

[tje]

You are absolutely correct. It is politicians trying to curry favor (votes) by catering to a demographic.

[taildragger]

"This is the crux of the problem. If the State wasn't conferring benefits (tax breaks, health care, etc.) based on marital status, number of children, etc., there'd be less of a clamor to thus sign up for the freebies."

Again I say as I have been for years, we didn't need Gay Marriage we needed a Flat Tax, Steve Forbes was way ahead of his time....

[Republic_Venom]

Completely agree with you. Marriage has financial and government freebies associated with. How do we get around that? Let marriage be an instrument of a church, temple, etc. How do we get government out of the marriage business? We need to come up with ideas.

[i_robot73]

You mean, if there wasn’t an income tax/etc. (which already violates a number of other Amendments...4th, 5th, 13th..), this wouldn’t be an issue?

The point being, you’re ~100 yrs. too late to the party

[piasa]

Exactly.