I've taken a kind of libertarian position, uneasily, regarding polygamy. But this fascinating blog blows all my thinking about this away.
Polyamory is fine, assuming real polyamory among roughly free equals and not sex slavery.
Polygamy, multiple marriage, is something different. It involves a contract, explicit state sanction and support, and has a long history of being associated with the abuse of young women. I would now agree agree it is not a good idea to allow such legal associations.
Now because of its history, Utah has set a very tough standard against polygamy. No state in the US permits multiple marriage contracts. But Utah considers single marriages with multiple related childbearing cohabitants to be common law polygamy, and prohibits that as well.
That goes right at the heart of freedom of association, and many other rights. But I don't even have to be a civil libertarian not to like it. A Federal Court has ruled that Utah's prosecution of such associations is against federal law. Utah has appealed the latest US court judgement in September 2014.
Now back to polyamory. I don't think I'm just speaking for myself when I say that sexual relationships are hard, hard, hard. I have never been in a polyamorous relationship, but I have spoken with some who are, and they say it gets harder still with multiple parters. The negotiation of everything exponentially more complex.
Polyamorous relations are far more common among LGBT than straight.
Polyamorous associations possibly haven't done much, however, for a social difficulty which may be at the root of much crime and social dysfunction. I don't think it's done more for lone wolf hetero males, since polyamorous associations which involve any women are likely to more women than men
That's not a reason to prohibit polyamory, it a reason for new, different, and restored institutions to actually replace traditional society rather than just denigrate it.
One institution which does soothe the pain felt by lone wolf males is legal prostitution.
I am anything but a champion of the market idea for solving everything, especially wrt allocation of social resources. I more take the position that markets may be useful in some circumstances and should be used only in those circumstances, and be appropriately regulated. Prostitution is one of those places where a well regulated market is especially useful.
Should make marajuana centric "coffee shops" also, another social institution that supports lone wolves and brings them into new associations.
Polyamory is fine, assuming real polyamory among roughly free equals and not sex slavery.
Polygamy, multiple marriage, is something different. It involves a contract, explicit state sanction and support, and has a long history of being associated with the abuse of young women. I would now agree agree it is not a good idea to allow such legal associations.
Now because of its history, Utah has set a very tough standard against polygamy. No state in the US permits multiple marriage contracts. But Utah considers single marriages with multiple related childbearing cohabitants to be common law polygamy, and prohibits that as well.
That goes right at the heart of freedom of association, and many other rights. But I don't even have to be a civil libertarian not to like it. A Federal Court has ruled that Utah's prosecution of such associations is against federal law. Utah has appealed the latest US court judgement in September 2014.
Now back to polyamory. I don't think I'm just speaking for myself when I say that sexual relationships are hard, hard, hard. I have never been in a polyamorous relationship, but I have spoken with some who are, and they say it gets harder still with multiple parters. The negotiation of everything exponentially more complex.
Polyamorous relations are far more common among LGBT than straight.
Polyamorous associations possibly haven't done much, however, for a social difficulty which may be at the root of much crime and social dysfunction. I don't think it's done more for lone wolf hetero males, since polyamorous associations which involve any women are likely to more women than men
That's not a reason to prohibit polyamory, it a reason for new, different, and restored institutions to actually replace traditional society rather than just denigrate it.
One institution which does soothe the pain felt by lone wolf males is legal prostitution.
I am anything but a champion of the market idea for solving everything, especially wrt allocation of social resources. I more take the position that markets may be useful in some circumstances and should be used only in those circumstances, and be appropriately regulated. Prostitution is one of those places where a well regulated market is especially useful.
Should make marajuana centric "coffee shops" also, another social institution that supports lone wolves and brings them into new associations.
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