Polygamists fight to decriminalize bigamy

The Washington Post ^ | Nov 21, 2006 | John Pomfret

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Let's decriminalise bachelors - nonogamy? :-P

[dforest]

A long time ago....no one would ever give this crap the time of day.

[GSlob]

Well, as far as the divorces are concerned, with the asset division and so on - the government [via judiciary] would have to be involved, if only as an enforcer of a private contract.

[Vigilanteman]

It is forbidden according to the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 6, verse 24:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

[presidio9]

I think this thread is going to be the classical Social/Christian Conservatism vs. Libertarian Conservatism debate

There is no such thing as "Libertarian Conservatism." There are Libertarian Rockafeller Republicans, and there are Conservative Goldwater Republicans, but Libertarians and Conservatives are two different animals witin the same party. When Reagan was a Libertarian Governor of California he signed an abortion bill into law and said he admired libertarians. When he embraced Goldwater's values, he dramatically strengthened the the Federal War On Drugs, and opposed abortion. A lot of liberaltarians like to hang out at this site, and generally they are ok, because they are typically strong on National Security issues, but let's be very clear about the fact that Libertarianism and Conservatism are mutually exclusive political philosophies.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

When Reagan was a Libertarian Governor of California he signed an abortion bill into law and said he admired libertarians.

Well, I certainly don't understand why many libertarians are pro-abortion - it is a crime against the person afterall!

Just an idea that entered my head when seeing personal freedom/moral order debates here - I just think common ground can be found between the two perspectives.

[Campion]

When he embraced Goldwater's values, he dramatically strengthened the the Federal War On Drugs, and opposed abortion.

Goldwater was notoriously pro-abortion. His wife was a long-time high muckety-muck in Planned Parenthood of Arizona, IIRC.

[presidio9]

I'll admit, sometimes I do get touchy about all the libertarians who hang out here. But the operative information is that there is no such thing as a Libertarian Conservative.

[presidio9]

Goldwater was notoriously pro-abortion.

You are right about that. I think the more correct term would be Reagan Conservative.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Enforcer of private contracts is fine. Government does that for everybody. But the whole business of government doling out different privileges and penalties depending on whether a citizen is "married" or "not married" is bad news. Just another opportunity for government meddling.

[Silly]

My ideal marriage: two wives, one butter churn, three French hens.

How dare anyone criticize! It's a marriage to me!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Maybe you're right, maybe it's nothing more than 'small government liberalism'.

[Screamname]

lol! I love that guys quotes. How about "I am not young enough to know everything" or "Work is the curse of the drinking classes"..So true true.

[presidio9]

For the most part it is.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Any society where most women are in polygamous marriages necessarily ends up with a large surplus of males. Unless they're killed as infants or in utero, or they're killed in warfare as teenagers or young adults, or there's a non-polygamous society available outside to absorb them, they become a socially corrosive force.

For example, they might end up flying airplanes into tall buildings.

Even in Saudi Arabia, where the practice is legal, polygamous marriages make up less than 5% of the total. Polygamy does not explain jihadism, though the endless sexual frustration resulting from strict Islam might.

[GSlob]

"But the operative information is that there is no such thing as a Libertarian Conservative."
You have just excommunicated, among others, Thomas Jefferson. Congratulations.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

The results would be the same, so!

[Zack Nguyen]

I don't see why either I or the government should care.

Ah, but the government does care. They will recognize homosexual unions as equal to traditional marriage. The government will be forced to take this position, and it will be taught in schools (more than it already is.) If you have a moral objection to that (and I do) that is a very bad thing.

[rawcatslyentist]

The cross breeding program gets even worse when there is no marriage at all. No records of whoze ya daddy. But hey if it feels good do it.

[Gondring]

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same. -Oscar Wilde

Hey, Jan...I wasn't the first to post it this time! ;-)