[Gondring]

Boy, you libertarians sure come out of the woodwork on these polygamy threads, yes? Just remember: the zoophiles and pederasts are waiting in the wings.

Considering the libertarian foundation and basis for FreeRepublic and its conservative goals, that's not surprising...in fact, it's more "framework" than "woodwork"...

But the leaps you make to both zoophilia and pederasty are crossing the same line: adult informed consent. That's the scary part about the rise of the Culture of Disrespect^TM, such as is seen in the "pro-life-at-any-cost" movement, the Nanny Staters, etc., who cheapen the idea of adult consent, individual rights, personal sovereignty, etc.

As long as we focus on respecting individual rights, then there's no question of ever crossing the line to where those who can't give adult informed consent are victimized.

[marsh_of_mists]

But the leaps you make to both zoophilia and pederasty are crossing the same line: adult informed consent.

NAMBLA says different. Prove them wrong.

[marsh_of_mists]

"pro-life-at-any-cost"

What cost would that be? The cost that concerns is tens of millions of dead fetuses/babies. You speak about the importance of individual rights and personal sovreignity. It is precisely those things that lead me to a pro-life position. I believe fetuses should be allowed their inalienable, individual rights; I believe they should have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I am not a "Nanny Stater". I believe in small, decentralized, efficient, unobtrusive government focused primarily on protecting the safety and sovereignity of the nation. However, I also believe that there are certain areas, small though they may be, in which it can support the cultural and moral traditions of the society that supports it, while still remaining small, decentralized, efficient, and unobtrusive. This is, of course, more true with local governments than state ones and more true with the state than the federal. And even in cases where all branches of government should butt out, I still support Western "traditional moral values" on a social and cultural basis. I hope you don't believe that supporting such things necessarily translates to a massive federal government micromanaging our lives like a Puritan commune. I would far prefer that individuals, institutions, and communities choose cultural and moral traditionalism of their own free initiative. In fact, I'm certain that such traditionalism would not be sustainable otherwise, regardless of any government legislation/regulation.