For 230 years marriage has been a state institution. Why now does the federal government need to be involved?

Question

Marriage has been recognized with reciprocity among states for 230 years without a problem (generally speaking). Why now is it appropriate for the federal government to become involved? Much less why now is the federal governmant trying to revoke freedoms of it's citizens? This country has been founded with a separation of church and state. That is why marriage can be obtained by visiting city hall, having a justice of the peace, and be completely free of religion. So I see no reason that people should be bring up morality and religious beliefs of God in this debate. Yet most arguements are rooted in such origins. Can someone succinctly explain why then those who preach acceptance of your fellow man, are fighting so dearly to segregate them? I am not looking for the answer of politicians playing for approval ratings and election benefits of such ammendments.

Answer 1

It wouldn't be a federal issue if it wasn't an election year. I don't understand why the Conservative voters don't understand that- if I would ever vote for someone on the basis of that, it would be too little too late for me.

Answer 2

The primary purpose of government should be to protect society physically and promote the health of people in society so it continues to function through future generations.

This is why almost all of us can agree that taxes should pay for police protection, border protection and some kind of army.

We cannot all agree, however, on what it means to protect the "health of society." In Europe and Canada, most people agree that this means the government should pay for all health care.

In the United States, the majority of people don't accept this model. And one of the reasons they do not is that, in effect, many people have accepted a privatized health care promoter: the family.

This is why there are literally thousands of laws promoting the traditional family: because it is good for society and lowers the amount of money we need to pay in taxes to promote the "health of society."

Doubtful that traditional marriage and traditional families promote the general welfare? Then you need to do some more reading.

Various studies in the last five years have shown a direct relationship between two-parent, mother-father households and lower crime rates. Single-family or non-traditional households result in higher crime.

Other studies show that both parents and children live longer, are happier and that societal costs are lower in an environment that promotes traditional marriage. There is a long list of costs to society from the breakdown in marriage: more prostitution, more physical abuse, higher drug use, more crime, higher levels of infant mortality, more need for social welfare, higher education costs and need for more remedial education, and on and on.

So, based on this evidence, should the government be in the marriage business or not? Should marriage be promoted by government and should government protect traditional marriage to protect society? The obvious answer is that it should if we want to avoid the calamities mentioned above.

From the libertarian perspective, we are in effect privatizing needed government activities and keeping taxes lower.

From the modern liberal perspective, we are doing the humane thing: we are promoting polices that make people happier, help them suffer less abuse and keep them healthier.

Answer 3

Let me put it to you really simply. Why does the government have to legislate marriage between people of the same sex? why does the government have to decide who gets an abortion and who doesn't, why does the government have to have a civil rights law? the Bible, the Koran and the Talmud are great books that will help you understand the process and reason for "marriage." simplistically speaking, "what's good for the gander, is good for the goose." Common law and American jurisprudence is based on the King James version of the Bible.And that's the way it is. MRF/anthropologist

Answer 4

There is not wide public support for a US Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Most people recognize this as a states issue, so I have to suspect a tally of the failed vote is going to appear somewhere in advertisements, closer to election time.

There IS widespread support for state laws banning gay marriage, and I suspect they are driven by people wanting to somehow 'protect' their children from becoming gay or being preyed upon by gays. Not a rational belief, but a true one. The percentage of people who believe this is a 'choice' is causing the rejection, followed by the people who believe that child abusers are gay. Following the money of those who put forth false evidence of non-genetic causes and 'cures' would go a long way toward reducing this support, but it currently is quite high.

Opposition to gay marriage is very stratified by age, so it is possible to predict increasing support in about 12 or 16 years.

Answer 5

Because the stupid born-agains want their paid for President to push the issue.

For your information, AmeriKa is NOT a Democracy... it is a REPUBLIC. In a Democracy, it is a rule of the people, by the people and for the people... in a REPUBLIC it is a rule of the many people by the FEW. Special Interest groups and PAC's and religious conservatives could NOT dictate to the rest of the country what to believe or how to act if this was a DEMOCRACY... it's only possible in a REPUBLIC.

OH... if you don't believe AmeriKa is a Republic, then think of the Pledge of Allegiance... it says "TO THE REPUBLIC" for which it stands...

Nuff said.

Answer 6

lets see we keep stressing our guys r over their fighting for our freedom,but what freedom?what is freedom if we can't chose whom we want to marry or if we want to have a baby or not...the list goes on and on...whats next...our gov't has become so one sided i believe our forefathers are turning in their graves.who cares if a woman wants t marry another or if a man wants to marry a man...most heterosexual marriages end up in divorce anyway...will there be a law against that someday ? i think people should learn to mind their own business and the gov't should be more concerned about bringing those boys home and the prices of gas.....

Answer 7

It's easier than you think. It's an election year. Republican push the issue, not for importance, but to split people on values. Theses hot button issues are what is drawing people to voting booths more than economy, Iraq and Katrina

Answer 8

Just keep voting repuglican and you will be taken out and stoned for having consentual sex without marrage. Right wing fundelmentist have taken over this country and we are getting as bad as they. Soon if it keeps going there will be no right to privacy and that has started with the illegal wiretaps permited by Bush and his goons.

Answer 9

Because some people forget that the pilgrims came here to escape religious persecution and believe that the US really should be a theocracy.

Answer 10

The goverment needs to take some heat off of the Iraq terror conflict, so by going on this other HOT topic of marriages, they take some heat off of IRAQ...