General Discussion

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

13. There is a societal interest ...

Wed Mar 27, 2013, 07:43 PM

Mar 2013

in encouraging people, especially when children are involved, to form stable, long-term relationships. It's better for children (so we don't, as a society, have to deal with their problems), and it avoids many legal issues that can also become a burden to the state. The government extends benefits to encourage people to marry for many reasons ... and if so, they should extend both the status and the benefits to all.

Whether a couple wishes to marry or not (or divorce or not) for personal reasons is completely beside the point. This is about legal status in the eyes of the law, which impinges on many issues. As was noted in the Supreme Court arguments today, some 1,100 government laws deal with issues that relate to marriage, from taxes to various rights.

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What exactly is marriage good for anyway these days? [View all] TimberValley Mar 2013 OP

Inheritance rights and other legal protections? LiberalLoner Mar 2013 #1

Yes, I knew a couple frazzled Mar 2013 #11

getting rid of marriage is a separate argument. Warren DeMontague Mar 2013 #2

I'm not arguing for marriage to be abolished, but rather TimberValley Mar 2013 #4

why are you wondering this now? Warren DeMontague Mar 2013 #6

The subject is in the news? randome Mar 2013 #21

I don't know. It seems like a convenient attempt at getting "out" of recognizing LGBT marriage. Warren DeMontague Mar 2013 #22

Saves a lot of money on attorney's fees. Luminous Animal Mar 2013 #3

You can't be serious. Sheldon Cooper Mar 2013 #5

But why exactly do we confer those benefits on married people only? TimberValley Mar 2013 #8

there you go again, asking reasonable questions regarding law and its fine points lol nt msongs Mar 2013 #9

and they can get married dsc Mar 2013 #27

Here we go again. same old shit again. William769 Mar 2013 #7

Its like the fucking star bellied sneetches. Warren DeMontague Mar 2013 #18

some want that binding. others do not. 'nough said. nt seabeyond Mar 2013 #10

For most, it's a pact to create legitimate children LittleBlue Mar 2013 #12

There is a societal interest ... frazzled Mar 2013 #13

Mostly to take advantage of tax loopholes .... oldhippie Mar 2013 #14

Oh, for the love of Pete etherealtruth Mar 2013 #15

Above and beyond any legal/financial questions LanternWaste Mar 2013 #16

Best response of the thread! nomorenomore08 Mar 2013 #34

Well definitely taking care of each other when we're sick. talkingmime Mar 2013 #17

Well, it protects the spouse from his/her family. Cleita Mar 2013 #19

After two divorces, I've asked myself the same question liberaltrucker Mar 2013 #20

this is kinda awesome. :) Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #31

You could take the advice Brainstormy Mar 2013 #35

without marriage there is a lot more paperwork La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2013 #23

Marriage is for two people who are in love and want to spend their lives together bhikkhu Mar 2013 #24

seems simple enough 50% of the time anyway (divorce rate). Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #32

I suspect looong ago it was a way of re-signalling your relation to everyone you WEREN'T marrying. sibelian Mar 2013 #25

Government regulations & benefits .. fadedrose Mar 2013 #26

My opinion... davidn3600 Mar 2013 #28

And when love is gone, you can't afford to move out... fadedrose Mar 2013 #29

Your numbers are out of date. The divorce rate has been dropping since the 1980's. pnwmom Mar 2013 #30

"the higher the income, the more likely the couple stays married." indeed. thanks for that post. HiPointDem Mar 2013 #33