Divine Wind
Platinum Member
That's the point: if government is going to give benefits to one, they should give to all."Gay marriage" is a euphemism for the 1138 Federal rights and benefits given to married couples. The marriage itself is a religious issue. The rights and benefits (e.g. survivorship, tax breaks, parental rights and obligations, etc) are a secular government issue....Well, when you said you support "gay marriage," I assumed you were referring to government marriage. Is that not the case?
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04353r.pdf
"Consequently, as of December 31, 2003, our research identified a total of 1,138 federal statutory provisions classified to the United States Code in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges."
Appendices 1-4 of the linked PDF list the benefits, rights and privileges.
Exactly, you are referring to government "benefits." Why would a libertarian believe that government should treat any of it's citizens differently than other citizens? What basis is pairing up, straight or gay, a reasonable basis for government to reward you with government perks?
There is nothing libertarian about marriage being a government function at all. And there is a better solution that would be available to every citizen for everything government marriage cures. Taxes should be flat, no one should pay a death tax, paternity should be based on genes not marriage certificates, etc. A private contract could specify any monetary agreement. There is nothing that government marriage is needed for. That is a lot more libertarian than government discrimination for people pairing up
I'm fine with eliminating all marriage tax breaks and other federally-funded (and state) financial breaks for married couples.
How do you propose to solve the problem of children such as deadbeat spouses and survivorship? Don't forget adopted children.