Should Polygamy be legal? Please support your answers with reasons, not sources of authority.?

Question

By asking people who wish to answer to support their arguments with reason and analysis, I hope to deter people from saying, "polygamy should be illegal because it has not been recognized as a traditional form of Christian marriage." This answer is no good for me. Though it may be a good answer for people who share your beliefs (and that may be dubious), it will not convince someone who doesn't share your religious convictions. So, please support your answer with analysis and reason.

Answer 1

I don't see any objection to polygamy or polyandry. I assume that all parties are of legal age and have entered into the arrangement wilingly. Now we have to consider two things; the right to marry in a religious sense, and the rights afforded by the state to a married couple.

Religious marriage needs to be left to the sect or religion to define. The government has no place in trying to define what is, or is not, considered a sacrament in a religion.

So what about the state (I mean that in the sense of 'country'. In the US, the federal and state governments jointly share control over marriage benefits, but I am considering them as a single entitity here) The state's interest is in stability of the population and in the security of the people. By marrying, each partner agrees to support the other when in need; they share debt and responsibility for raising children. In return the state provides discounts on taxes, and some incentives such as survivor benefits in social security;. The state also sets up a legal framework by which each partner can carry out their duty under law. They can inherit, they can visit each other in hospital, they can make medical decisions for the other if necessary, and they can direct the disposal of the remains should the other partner die.

I see no reason why these same arguments should not be extended to a polygamous or polyandrous relationship.

And I also see no reason why these same arguments are not applicable to the marriage of two men or two women, each to the other.

Answer 2

it should be legal becaue the practice doesn't harm anyone. many people forget the term polygamy includes polyandry (where a female has multible husbands). there woul be n gender conflict in this. we also will not throw out the laws that rotect people against rape, forced marriage, and pedophilia. like anything else this won't be a mandotory practice, so if you don't like it don't do it. this also will stop the 'lost boy' practice, where young males are kicked out of polygamous communities due to an overabundence of them.
we live in a free country. laws are amde to protect our lives, liberty, property, and make sure we can pursue happiness. this practice hurts no lives, properties, liberties, and can actually bring happiness.
I suggest you look up the term 'polys' and read the book 'the ethical $lut'. both talk about people (polys) who have modern polygamous relationships.

Answer 3

Yes, in to days culture a woman is perfectly capable of caring for herself and or her children without the help of a man. And the same goes for a guy. There probably should be a cap on how many children someone choosing to have multiple wives or husbands should to be able to have. So polygamy is not civilly irresponsible

Answer 4

Yes, it should be legal to have as many wives or husbands as one can afford financially, or for that matter emotionally.
How this financial standard could be measured is another question.
Perhaps.
One additional spouse for each 100 k per year additional income, etc.
The guy or girl with the most toys wins.

Answer 5

I think ALL marriage should be out of the hands of clerics. It violates separation of church and state. As far as legal, I don't know. I guess you'd be required for heavy child support, so that would maybe be a consideration.

Answer 6

It has always been illegal because it was deemed to be immoral. If it is going to become legal now that must be a sign that the people are losing their grip of their understanding of what is or is not immoral. Or else they are losing their sense of their ability to legislate morality. "You can't legislate morality," an expression that obviously never found voice in the Constitution, is becoming popularized. Heaven help us.

Answer 7

yeah sure it should. If someone is dumb enough to get married more than once, let them. It's natural selection. Getting married to one person is already a big enough hell, let them dig their own hole. ;)

PLUS, who says inbreeding is really such a bad thing?