If consenting adults can do whatever they wish in privacy, should polygamy be legal?

[$5 submissions]

A few years back the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that had some interesting language. Next stop: decriminalizing/legalizing polygamy? http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla...-polygamy.html

[Justice Anthony M.] Kennedy emphasized in Lawrence that same-sex marriage wasn't before the court. Similarly, in an interview with the New York Times, Turley suggested that decriminalizing polygamy will not inevitably lead to a movement for polygamous marriage. But language addressed to one issue often surfaces in cases dealing with others. When Massachusetts' highest court decided to strike down the state's limitation of marriage to heterosexual couples, it cited the Lawrence opinion.

[?]

But, like Lawrence, a ruling sympathetic to unconventional sexual behavior could plant the seeds of a future campaign for full marriage equality. In that case, governments would have to prove that it's rational to limit marriage to two individuals, homosexual or heterosexual. That might seem obvious, but so, at one time, did the argument that marriage should be confined to opposite-sex couples.

Does the issue boil down to this: Is polygamy a VOLUNTARY CHOICE whereas SEXUAL ORIENTATION isnt?

[suesheboy]

It should be allowed. Atheists should be able to hold any government office as well but some states don't allow it.

[MaDalton]

well, marrying officially is not privacy anymore, right?

but there are people out there where the guy is married to one woman, but lives with 1-3 more - just not officially.

and in Islam it's no problem either, you just need to be able to afford more than one woman ;)))

[$5 submissions]

[D Ghost]

No, the government and Christian lobbyists don't want you to make your own choices as a human being. They know what is best for you and all of humanity apparently.

[Chris GAMBA]

Yes of course it should be legal, among consenting adult.

Religion should be banned.

[NaughtyVisions]

As long as everyone involved is there by their own will, then it should be legal. The wife made me sit through a few episodes of that show "Sister Wives," and what they are doing is their own choices, no one is there against their will, everyone is happy with the arrangement(s). In instances like that, it should be legal.

However, in instances where some religious fanatic brainwashes, then essentially traps numerous women and "families" in their home/ranch/compound (like the ones I vaguely remember Oprah interviewing "escapees" awhile back), that shit should be and remain illegal.

[suesheboy]

While the USA should not be governed by christian or any other religious law, religion should not be baned.

Do what YOU want but leave ME alone!

[Zoxxa]

People seem to confuse polygamy with child abuse. Thats the only reason it is illegal in these times, and these are two completely different topics.

The only way it would become legal is when woman start having two, five, or ten husbands themselves.

It seems to be major attraction to sex abuse offenders which give the whole establishment of polygamy a bad name.

It's the same as politicians and judges saying legal 18+ porn websites are the same as child pornography. Which is becoming more and more a trend lately with people trying to cash out in bullshit lawsuits these days.

[Rochard]

You can do what you want in the privacy of your bedroom. You can a threesome if you want.

But what idiot would want multiple spouses? Men, you want to put up with two or three times the nagging? Do you want to share your wife with other men?

[Zoxxa]

Originally Posted by Rochard

You can do what you want in the privacy of your bedroom. You can a threesome if you want.

But what idiot would want multiple spouses? Men, you want to put up with two or three times the nagging? Do you want to share your wife with other men?

Yes I do, I would love to stay home and watch my 9 kids while my wife fucks my 6 brother-husbands.

hmmmmmm.....that doesn't sound right. You would think woman would think the same.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by Zoxxa

Yes I do, I would love to stay home and watch my 9 kids while my wife fucks my 6 brother-husbands.

hmmmmmm.....that doesn't sound right. You would think woman would think the same.

[TheSquealer]

Originally Posted by Rochard

You can do what you want in the privacy of your bedroom. You can a threesome if you want.

You can't break the law (any law) simply because your in the privacy of your own bedroom.

[twistyneck]

The government shouldn't be regulating marriage at all. People should be free to do whatever they want in this regard.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

well, marrying officially is not privacy anymore, right?

but there are people out there where the guy is married to one woman, but lives with 1-3 more - just not officially.

and in Islam it's no problem either, you just need to be able to afford more than one woman ;)))

Got in before me.

Consenting adults aren't allowed to do whatever they like. Drugs, murder if the victim agrees, etc.

[acrylix]

Originally Posted by twistyneck

The government shouldn't be regulating marriage at all. People should be free to do whatever they want in this regard.

Agreed. Any form of marriage involving consenting adults should be unregulated IMO.

[CurrentlySober]

I cant afford to be polygamous...

[DamianJ]

Originally Posted by twistyneck

The government shouldn't be regulating marriage at all. People should be free to do whatever they want in this regard.

A libertarian too?

Fuck, you're great!

Just so great!

[grumpy]

just dont get married and live with three of them

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by $5 submissions

A few years back the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that had some interesting language. Next stop: decriminalizing/legalizing polygamy? http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla...-polygamy.html



Does the issue boil down to this: Is polygamy a VOLUNTARY CHOICE whereas SEXUAL ORIENTATION isnt?

if guys can marry each other I should be able to marry 2-5 women at one time

[Chosen]

Yes

[cykoe6]

It seems pretty logical that if gay marriage is legal then other people's lifestyle choices (like polygamy) also should be respected.

[ruff]

Except the part about marrying 12 year olds.

[Paul Markham]

Originally Posted by ruff

Except the part about marrying 12 year olds.

http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16044089

This guy will end up being married to big guy, way older then his previous bride, very soon.

[Ethersync]

Originally Posted by twistyneck

The government shouldn't be regulating marriage at all. People should be free to do whatever they want in this regard.

Exactly.

[sinclair]

No it should not be legal...we need the tax revenue.

One Man, one Woman...tax break.
One Man, four Women...4 tax breaks?

[beerptrol]

If the man can support that many wives and kids, why not. And if he can put up with all that nagging then the more power to him

[Brujah]

Yes, it should be legal but only for multiple wives. Not multiple husbands.

[JamesGw]

I really don't see why it wouldn't be legal.

[Phoenix]

it would solve a lot of issues that is for sure
lol

well at least for some

[gleem]

should be legal, but won't be until some gay dude wants to marry a dude even though he's still married to his wife.

Once the married to a woman gay man wants to get married to his boyfriend so they can all live together and raise the children, it will be legalized. You can take that to the bank folks. I guaren-fucking-tee-it.

[cherrylula]

what about gay polygamy? YESSSSS

[AmeliaG]

It should absolutely be legal because (a) there is no reason for it not to be and (b) it would make the Mormons stop being pissy about gay marriage.

We should abolish having a different tax schedule for married people. Being married only provides a tax break if you marry someone who makes a lot less money than you. If you marry someone with the same earning power you have, then you actually pay way more in taxes.

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

It should absolutely be legal because (a) there is no reason for it not to be and (b) it would make the Mormons stop being pissy about gay marriage.

We should abolish having a different tax schedule for married people. Being married only provides a tax break if you marry someone who makes a lot less money than you. If you marry someone with the same earning power you have, then you actually pay way more in taxes.

good plan. the tax problem was probably the biggest thing holding back the gay marriage acceptance all those years, i wouldn't doubt that is why polygamy is illegal as well.


curious though, if one male marries 5 woman, all with lower incomes than you would he get tax breaks from all of them? If they didn't set it up properly that would only make the 'prisoner wife' scenario far too tempting... which would be terrible.

[Bladewire]

Polygamy should be legal in America.

[cherrylula]

Originally Posted by sinclair

No it should not be legal...we need the tax revenue.

One Man, one Woman...tax break.
One Man, four Women...4 tax breaks?

This is why it will not ever be legal. TRUTH.

The gov doesn't care what you do, as long as it doesn't cost them money.

2 men married, they don't make babies, as in consumers... the gov says naaaaah

[Peace]

legalize it!!!

[$5 submissions]

Imagine the tax breaks for the dozens of kids....

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Rochard

But what idiot would want multiple spouses? Men, you want to put up with two or three times the nagging?

We rarely agree, but you nailed it here. Multiple girlfriends is tough enough, but being married to them? Anyone that thinks that is cool has never tried it.

[Max Potential]

Originally Posted by sinclair

No it should not be legal...we need the tax revenue.

One Man, one Woman...tax break.
One Man, four Women...4 tax breaks?

Maybe the 1st wife should be tax free, but then there should be an additional tax for each additional wife?

[CaptainHowdy]

Think of the children ...

[$5 submissions]

Not much discussion on the whole VOLUNTARY CHOICE vs. ORIENTATION angle...

[AmeliaG]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

good plan. the tax problem was probably the biggest thing holding back the gay marriage acceptance all those years, i wouldn't doubt that is why polygamy is illegal as well.


curious though, if one male marries 5 woman, all with lower incomes than you would he get tax breaks from all of them? If they didn't set it up properly that would only make the 'prisoner wife' scenario far too tempting... which would be terrible.

I suppose the issue would be whether the current sliding scale would be changed to favor polygamists. Seems like grown women, even fairly unskilled ones, will generally make more money than children. So even allowing a standard dependent deduction for each one, the final tax bracket for six incomes added together would be a big cut for the government. If these are actually five totally unemployable women, then the husband would be saving the welfare system some dough by supporting them all, so I say let him have his deductions.

[DaddyHalbucks]

On a very basic level, if polygamy were legalized, what would it mean to say you are married? It certainly wouldn't be an exclusive relationship, would it?

[$5 submissions]

Originally Posted by DaddyHalbucks

On a very basic level, if polygamy were legalized, what would it mean to say you are married? It certainly wouldn't be an exclusive relationship, would it?

But isn't that an issue to resolved among the consenting adults themselves? Should the state step in?