Yes, These Old Ladies are Ruining the World

Personally, I still find the whole institution of marriage to be a bit bankrupt. This from a guy who's been married three times to the same woman over the course of 18 years or so.

I never wanted to get married. Growing up, most of my friends came from divorced families. I never understood the rush to get married or, for that matter, the need. In the end, I got married to celebrate the coming together of two people... a way of marking the commitment. The second time was because Singapore didn't recognize what Canadian common law did.

In the end, we need a law, even if it's common law, to delineate property and rights when (and if) divorce occurs. And if tax laws change, it would be used to specify the sharing of taxable assets, etc.

Religion has not and never will play a part of any marriage in which I am involved.

All of this to say... I am pleased as punch that two old ladies can get legally hitched.

 

I didn't realize that the US didn't have recognize common law marriage in some states.

In Canada, there is no immediate tax benefit to being married. There are some benefits that can be transferred to spouses through our registered retirement funds, but I think that's it. I could be wrong.

I agree with what you suggest for civil unions for all and no government legislation for marriage. It's far more equitable.

 

Everyone here knows that if you need an ambulance, you are better off calling a taxi. The ambulances take forever to arrive and then take forever to get to the hospital. For a place as efficient as Singapore can be, it's one of the thing that continues to be a head scratcher.

 

I am happy for them.
What possible threat to the world does their being married bring into effect?

 

I think it benefits everyone if people are allowed to get married. The question is "How much does someone who absolutely despises the idea have to put up with?" I know people who are appalled by the idea. Sorry, it is not your life. However, you can not change someone's mind by a law. Congrats to all of the newlyweds. Good luck.

 

Proponents of the institution as it most widely exists cite jealously capitalistic stability reasons. Mistaken, in my opinion, but blood is thicker than water, & a society propelled by what the majority thinks they can agree on. I think valuing each person outside their re/productive potential could be a firmer basis.

 

Huh, and I thought middle-aged male politicians were souring the marriage game for everybody.

 

I think it's a cooperative venture, Tiny Dick-Two Brain Cells. Perceived permanence seems to be what old folks like.

 

Here in Massachusetts, "gay marriage" is allowed, but there is no Common Law marriage.
Guess we know which group has the better lobbyists...

 

my drool-from-the-corners-of-my-mouth-when-I-think-too-hard theory is that its a legal institution because it encourages a man and a woman (until recently) to come together and produce offspring. whats that you say? kids are an extra mouth to feed? get married and you can have a tax break! but what about all the single parents that do a fine job raising their kids? well the kids who were raised by two parents fought in world war deux, invented the nuke, and discovered penecillin and space travel. more recently, kids are like exaggerated paris hiltons and justin fucking beibers.

ok well what does it matter if the parents are both of the same sex? if it aint broke, dont fix it. straight couples who have been married for life have been raising children for generations and they've turned out fine. what good could possibly come of messing with something that already works? gay couples cannot produce offspring and their tax break is revenue that the government badly needs right now. get rid of gay marriage everywhere, its our evolutionary duty to recombine as much DNA as possible so that we can continue to mutate and adapt to our changing surroundings.

/devil's advocate

they're not hurting anyone, they (hopefully) love each other, its not a big deal at all so they should be able to do what makes them happy

 

Let 'em get married. I have a tendency to think the government has no place in the whole thing, too.

 

every gay or lesbian person should have the option of being as miserable as the rest of us.

 

I'm totally with you on this one. But, as others have mentioned, common law marriage is only recognized in ten US states. (although, hey! it is in South Carolina! Another good reason to move to Charleston! )

Uh...sorry, got distracted for a minute there. Anyway, yeah. I don't feel like it should be a legal thing AND a religious thing...one or the other, please. (side rant--- if I'm seriously injured and in ICU, why does the hospital/law/whoever get to say who can come in and see me? That's just dumb.)