Why should the government be involved in marriage at all?

Question

Forget whether or not the same-sex marriage should be legalized. Marriage is primarily a religious institution/rite. Why should the govt have the right to dictate who can or cannot get married? If the govt legalizes same-sex marriage, its only a lawsuit away (depending on the makup of the Supreme Court) from forcing religious institutions to recognize such marriages (and don't try and say that govts have never interfered with religious rights with respect to marriage before; they have). At the same time, if a religion feels they should have the right to marry same-sex couples, great! Let 'em do it. Not religious, but stil like the idea of a ceremony? Cool! Go out and do that in what ever manner strikes your fancy!

As for the legal benefits of marriage, there shouldn't be any. Go out and get powers of attorney, estate planning, etc to take care of those things.

With the exception of protecting minors from exploitation, the govt shouldn't be involved at all!

Answer 1

Since marriage is not in the Constitution, marriage should be a states' right that the federal government shouldn't interfere with whatsoever. States and their voters should decide what is best for them.

Answer 2

One word: Licenses.

Listen, I read through your ramble.. so please listen to this: you say "exception of protecting minors" because THAT's where you draw a line, right? that's what's important to you, to protect. Many people before you -- for 100s of years have defined the term, and society.. long before Rosie O'Donnell and Ellen became household terms. WOMEN have the right to vote for only 80 years, right? Things take TIME.

The Gov't is involved. It's fact. That is the society & norms you live in. It can get crazy, you know, too.. if you let it.. THINK about it. Friends would be marrying each other, by the millions to avoid taxes & etc. and it would redefine society -- even beyond the conventions that you accept.

America just isn't ready, as yet. Whatever strikes your fancy -- would be chaos, if you think about ALL the lifestyle choices out there, in 2007. Two girls & a guy? Three guys? why not everyone get married? why not 6 guys in 1 ceremony (who's to stop that from being legal? YOU?) and not being awarded the Right to marry under the law?

The times are changing, this way. Or, don't you watch CABLE of see that Ellen is accepted by her SOCCER MOM audience and America, and we ALL know she's gay and loves-on Portia de Rossi, which isn't a bad choice in anyone's book. (slow down, there's nothing wrong with Civil Unions and gay couples I know have been ADOPTING and living as couples for decades) In 20 years, TV shows will have gay, married couples as easily as Everyone Loves Raymond had a male/female. Don't lose any sleep over it, will you...

Answer 3

The American family and structure are a very crucial ingredient to our society. We have family units which are responsible for reproducing and raising children. We decide how children will be educated. What jobs are available and what one must to in order to obtain a certain job. The economics of this country are built on this concept of individual family units and private and free enterprise. We decide what each unit of currency equals and what we can barter and trade with. The family or marriage units are the beginning of society in general. So they are actually part of the government concept. Society determines what constitutes a married unit or what doesn't. Society has rules that determine what consitutes a legal marriage. Getting married in a religious ceremony of some type is not necessarily "legal". Each state has it's own rules. A marriage license must be purchased. The participants must be certain ages. So Government has everything to do with marriage.

Answer 4

You can have a religious marriage ceremony, and have it not be recognized by the state, and still be considered married. However, for the purposes of taxes, benefits, medical / dental plans, and various other laws the state has guidelines on what is or isn't considered a marriage. They need to keep track of this information in the event someone passes away and doesn't leave a will, to determine who has custodial rights to the person's possessions for example. I think it's important to leave the system as-is, otherwise we'd have cases where John Doe was claiming he was married to Jane Doe, who claims otherwise. With the current system, this information is standardized and readily available.

Answer 5

so you want the government to be in one thing put not the other is that Right. How can this be if I own a place and say you can't get married here do I have that righ or not its my place. I can't say the government is right but they can't pick a chose I think we the poeple should say what is wright and wrong give us all a vote and put it on the balit and let us say if it good or not!! Not you or the goverment but all of us!!!

Answer 6

strangely enough marriage has actually always been a secular institution, not a religious one. the issuance of marriage licenses or certificates via the state goes back to the middle ages. yes, in order for a marriage to be blessed or "sanctified" a ceremony had to be done by a priest, however, in order to be LEGAL it had to come from the state.

i agree that no special benefits or penalties should be levied regarding marriages

Answer 7

I agree with the exploitation of minors law and all,but they also try to get involved because there are sickos out there who try and sometimes succede at marrying their own relative,ex: bro to sis father to daughter,and all that crazy crap.Then it just escalated to same sex marriges as well.
People arent happy with the fact that even though they are being stopped from doing what they want the gotta make others suffer.
So thses political heads,which consist of sickos too,try to save face by passing all these laws. In other words,"well if these guys cant and it's wrong,why should we let these other guys,it's not fair" But rather than seeing it from the bigger picture,they just shut down any loop hole thats out there.They shouldnt be involved,but in the sickos cases they should.

Letting people carry on in life through marrige shouldnt be looked down upon,especially if they love each other and "contribute" positively to society. Same sex marriges are fine let em be,these government types are such uptight hypocrites,go attack something that needs the attetion of the government like the molesters who get slaps on the hand for raping children and abusers of women and children who get let off with a warning.Those people are the ones who suck at "contributing" positively to society! mess with them and all the other dumb jerks out there.

You're right the government shouldnt be involved at all,but they are and thats a sad grim reality.

Answer 8

Marriage is a contract. That's why the govenment is involved. I agree with you though, they shouldn't be.

Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. Civil marriage is the legal concept of marriage.

Answer 9

I agree completely. The government shouldn't keep anyone from getting married or force relgions to recognize certain types of marriages. It shouldn't be involved at all. Gay people should be able to get married just like straight people, but churches shouldn't be forced to perform gay marriages. Gay people should get married by non-denominational ministers, judges, etc.

The government should keep its big intrusive nose out of the private lives of Americans.

Answer 10

I completely agree.. Government should get out of marriage completely.. that means no more tax cuts as well for married couples... only those who have a civil union would get the tax cuts. And like you said.. if one church doesn't allow gay marriage.. good for them.. if the next church does.. good for them as well.