Follow the money (or title rights)

[novapsyche]

I was directed to this page regarding the issues of polygamy and bigamy in the United States. While some people think it's about cultural norms and civil rights, I personally think it's more about property rights and the fact that if people start having multiple marriages, how will land rights be determined?

"Liberty presumes an autonomy of self,” claimed Justice Anthony Kennedy, “that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression, and certain intimate conduct.” Yet Justice Kennedy comprises the fifth person of the Catholic (conservative) majority, which seems to be on track to restrict such freedoms.

I might write more later.

Comments

[hotwire7.livejournal.com]

"if people start having multiple marriages, how will land rights be determined?"

Marriage is a contract between two people, but the state, not either of the people, sets the terms and writes the contract. How odd.

The only way I would get married was to write our own contract (legal as well as social) rejecting as much as possible and wherever needed the state's version.

I think it's nuts to marry without carefully considering the property rights contract issues. It's also nuts to cohabit with any significant joint property without a contract. In neither case will the state's default contract do well by you. I have friends who have been burned on both of these. In fact I have at least one close friend who has been burned both ways!

So what is marriage? Some kind of dumbed down contract for people who don't want to think about the fact that they're signing a contract? I dunno.

Guess I'm feeling cynical tonight. Sorry if I offend, that's not my intent.

Yes I know that the state denies many things to people who are not legally married. I think that's also wrong and a sign of how nuts our society is.