Prop 8 is to get a ruling today

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

On that note, entirely overlooking any moral issues people have with polygamy, I'm curious what the effect would be of legalizing this form of marriage. We've discussed it before on GC, but those forums always polarize and then dissolve.

I'm thinking, for example, with medical insurance, if you put multiple wives/husbands on your plan, it would just cost more.

I understand that we aren't set up to handle multiple partners in a marriage, so there would have to be some adjustments to handle things like sudden death with no will (i.e. who gets first dibs).

It just doesn't seem that difficult to accommodate the change. They're finagling it anyway. Why not impose some regulations to enforce protection of the multiple wives/husbands?

Rhetorical questions...no derailing intended.

Eh I'd rather talk to you than him.

There are too many things associated with marriage, think... citizenship. You can't have multiple spouses getting that sort of benefit. Taxes become even more tricky. I think people in a poly relationship should set up living and regular wills as well as financial contracts and protections for their relationship but there are too many different types of relationships to set up one template: triads, vees, quads, one couple who also sees other people, etc.

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Eh I'd rather talk to you than him.

There are too many things associated with marriage, think... citizenship. You can't have multiple spouses getting that sort of benefit. Taxes become even more tricky. I think people in a poly relationship should set up living and regular wills as well as financial contracts and protections for their relationship but there are too many different types of relationships to set up one template: triads, vees, quads, one couple who also sees other people, etc.

If you put in a caveat that if you choose to enter a polygamous marriage, you must show the ability to actively provide for said marriage then could it open the door?

Almost like the equivalent of adoption criteria.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

If you put in a caveat that if you choose to enter a polygamous marriage, you must show the ability to actively provide for said marriage then could it open the door?

Almost like the equivalent of adoption criteria.

Who would have to be shown to provide for it? What happens in case of traumatic circumstances?

I'm beyond pro-polyamory, I just don't think it's legally possible the way that the government uses marriage as a social/legal/financial structure. It's totally possible outside of that realm.

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Who would have to be shown to provide for it? What happens in case of traumatic circumstances?

I'm beyond pro-polyamory, I just don't think it's legally possible the way that the government uses marriage as a social/legal/financial structure. It's totally possible outside of that realm.

I agree.

As long as government is in bed with marriage, I don't think any of the slippery slopes can truly come to fruition.

Which is why prop 8 was overturn, and I doubt it will be re-established.

If there were no governmental/private financial advantages to marriage, this would not even be an issue on both sides.