Beppie
Reged: Jun 22 2006
Posts: 362
Loc: Sydney, Australia
|
|
So, let's say you're head of state for a day, with the power to change marriage laws-- how would you change them?
For me, I would abolish marriage as a legal institution, and replace it with civil unions for everyone who wanted to have a legally recognised relationship/romantic partnership. This would not have any provision for sex in it. If people wanted to consider themselves married, for religious or any other reason, that would be fine, of course, and it would be up to individual religious groups as to whether or not they privately recognised a union as a marriage-- however, there would be no legal prohibitions against civil unions, nor against combining ANY civil union with a traditional (or non-traditional) wedding service.
Edited by Beppie (Wed Apr 04 2007 05:55 AM)
|
Brooke
AGA Blogger
Reged: Jun 23 2006
Posts: 466
Loc: Pennsylvania
|
|
I would make it illegal for any institution to take a person's spouse's income or debt into consideration when it comes to that individual applying for credit etc. I would change divorce law and allow couples to divorce at anytime and have it be finalized instantly, also for the divorce to be final even if the person applying for divorce doesn't get their spouses approval. I would outlaw common law marriage. I would marriage licenses completely free. And lastly I would make it illegally for anyone under the age of 18 to get married regardless of parental approval and make it legal for any two consenting adults to get married, regardless of sexual orientation.
|
Beppie
Reged: Jun 22 2006
Posts: 362
Loc: Sydney, Australia
|
|
Just curious, why would you outlaw common law marriage? (Not arguing with you, just wanting to know your reasons).
|
Brooke
AGA Blogger
Reged: Jun 23 2006
Posts: 466
Loc: Pennsylvania
|
|
I think I have mentioned this before; but mainly because as someone living with a long term partner, I get penalized for being in that relationship without receiving any of the benefits of marriage. When it comes to me getting WIC or medical assistance I am treated as if I am my boyfriend's wife, his responsibility they insist that I put his income on my forms. However, when my daughter was born we were not treated as if we had a child born inside a marriage, my boyfriend had to file paternity papers, which had to be signed by a witness. I don't have any legal right to any of his money, I don't have any legal right to see him in the hospital if he was critically ill, he can't even put me on his medical insurance. We file our taxes separately, we don't really have a joint checking account, I don't feel like I have the right to spend his money at will or ask him for money for things like my education. Because we're not married and it's not his responsibility. BTW common law marriage doesn't exist in our state and I am still being penalized as if there was.
|
Heather
Be-Musing Momma
Reged: Feb 05 2006
Posts: 721
Loc: Seattle, WA
|
|
I'd take the "law" out of marriage completely. And that really is all.
What protections for ourselves, our families and our partners we need can much more effectively, clearly, and less oppressively be taken care of with good living wills and powers of attorney filing. What protections children in partnerships get should have exactly nada to do with the marital or partnership status of their parents or guardians.
--------------------
If I had to characterize one quality as the genius of feminist thought, culture, and action, it would be the connectivity. - Robin Morgan
|
summergoddess
Reged: Aug 17 2006
Posts: 46
Loc: Ontario, Canada
|
|
Yes,I would change marriage laws to see fit to everyone regardless of sexuality. I agree with everybody's answers (Beppie, Brooke and Heather). All together tied, it would be a great law. Now, we need someone that would be able to legalize it this way for real.
--------------------
Jules
|
Charlotta
AGA Blogger
Reged: Jun 25 2006
Posts: 82
Loc: New York
|
|
I totally agree with a lot of what you all are saying. I personally think that marriage should not be a legal institution, it was and should again be an institution within religious tradition. Everyone should be entitled to a civil union that would be equivalent in rights to what marriage is currently, and if one wants to be 'married,' then they should do it within the church.
--------------------
small hands can still shatter glass.
|
Brooke
AGA Blogger
Reged: Jun 23 2006
Posts: 466
Loc: Pennsylvania
|
|
But isn't that saying marriage can only be real if it's sanctioned by some God? Somehow I don't really see that as fair either. It's like saying my union isn't equal to your union just because I don't choose to believe in a religious doctrine or get married with-in a religious context.
|
Beppie
Reged: Jun 22 2006
Posts: 362
Loc: Sydney, Australia
|
|
Well, I don't think such a law would exclude non-religious marriages too, if one wanted one.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
