Marrige, same sex only?

[voxelectronica]

I have to disagree with at least some of this. True, the government does not enforce rites, and in fact, you can be married simply by signing a license, without undergoing any ritualistic ceremony whatsoever.

But in order to establish legal boundaries, so that one spouse (partner) can make important decisions for the other spouse during times of emergency, and also to provide legitimate means of inheritence, some form of recognition of the union is required. I suppose that some of this can be accomplished through some form of legal documentation, but until the federal government recognizes such partnerships as valid for tax purposes, for example, the idea of marriage or life-partnership or whatever you like to call it, is required.

I don't believe there should be any tax benefit for marriage at all. I don't see the point in it. I do understand that in American history there was a time and a place for it, to encourage people to procreate and settle this country. We don't need that anymore and have come complacent in the idea that the government should give us something for doing something we would do anyway.

That's why my idea is that *all* legal marriage should be annulled legally. Tax breaks should changed completely and issues of inheritance, burial rights, medical decisions etc. should all be be handled with our current legal system of living wills, power of attorney etc. Those documents should be held up without contest. This would actually benefit the GLBT community!

Yes I believe gays and straights should have equal rights... the right to nothing.

[js207]

I don't believe there should be any tax benefit for marriage at all. I don't see the point in it. I do understand that in American history there was a time and a place for it, to encourage people to procreate and settle this country. We don't need that anymore and have come complacent in the idea that the government should give us something for doing something we would do anyway.

That's why my idea is that *all* legal marriage should be annulled legally. Tax breaks should changed completely and issues of inheritance, burial rights, medical decisions etc. should all be be handled with our current legal system of living wills, power of attorney etc. Those documents should be held up without contest. This would actually benefit the GLBT community!

Yes I believe gays and straights should have equal rights... the right to nothing.

I agree absolutely. If you want to go and put on a fancy white dress or suit and walk down the aisle of a church with your girlfriend/boyfriend/goldfish/kids or indeed alone and recite some vows in front of a priest, that's between you and that church: it's a religious matter, hence nothing to do with the government. Equally, it should have no meaning to the government: no tax breaks or any other special treatment based on whether you have or have not carried out some religious ritual. We should all be treated and taxed as individuals by the government, without discriminating on anything - including marital status.