Right to privacy to protect polygamy?

soundoff (3 Responses)

1. Sanjiv
   

   Perhaps for a change, the courts might consider the arguments about public policy that pertain to polygamy. America's obsession with individual constitutional rights has flooded the country with guns and denied us universal healthcare, and now it may open the gates to the decriminalization of polygamy.

   If the issue were public policy rather than individual Constitutional rights, then this would be a no-brainer. If we were talking about whether polygamy is good for women, or for men or children or for society for that matter, then it's reasonably clear that it isn't – it fails on all fronts. The Browns are a model exception, to be sure, but they are not a representative picture of this subculture in which girls are forced into marriage, boys are expelled, pedophilia is covered up, incest is sometimes a matter of doctrine and society is gifted with a surplus of unmarried men, who are historically prone to fight, rob and burn things.

   But this is America – and the guiding principle of the Constitution isn't to legislate according to smart policy – if it was we'd have sensible gunlaws, slower cars and universal healthcare – it's to bend to the rights of individuals. And by that token, you have to give the Browns their due.

   For a full argument for decriminalization, and an expose of what a tyrannical and dysfunctional culture polygamy is, read Secrets & Wives: The Hidden World of Mormon Polygamy (Soft Skull).

   http://bit.ly/hqzdR0

   July 14, 2011 at 2:42 pm |
2. Aki
   

   So a large percent of Americans do not support polygamy. It doesn't matter if it's wrong, or immoral to most people because the state shouldn't be enforcing morals. Morals change, and laws made against polygamy are likely to be debated intensely later if people start wanting polygamy more. It seems that people, in private and without trouble from the state, would be better off if government ignores polygamy and instead goes after violent crimes. We don't need to bother polygamy, that seems to be embedded with our morals more than anything the state should be concerned with.

   July 14, 2011 at 3:28 pm |
3. Sai
   

   I agree even tuoghh it was one of their own satellites it still remains a threat. GPS is the most likely suspect that they would take out if they attacked Taiwan. They can't really take out the Internet since they relied on it as much as we do. And I doubt they will attack us because we still owe them allot of money

   February 22, 2012 at 4:03 pm |