Should Polygamy be legal?

Marriage is part of capitalism. Ignoring the moral side of the issue, think only on the economy of marriage. A society that permits multiple spouses also consolidates vast amounts of wealth into single families. A welthy man will attract more wives than a poor man. For every new wife the wealthy man acquires his fortune is increased as she will have a net worth, in addition to her possesions, she will likely have an inheritence from her parents at some point. So this wealthy man marries ten women, all whom now pool their money into this one family, if their is only one child from this 11 person family, the child will inherit a windfall amount of money.

The other economy of multilple spouses is in the avaiability of people. The worlds population is roughly 50/50 men and women. Societies that allow polygamy break the balance as those who wish to have many wives/husbands will reduce the availability of spouses for others. An example is that during the early Mormon migration west young men would be left in the wilderness many, many miles from the camp, with no provisions as a 'test' to see if they could make it back. They most often did not, this was done because there were too few women for wives and to many single men that tended to get angry and resentful at their former friend that married four women while he still is single.

There is no enforced law in the US that prevents you from 'shacking up' with as many men or women as you want. Form a nude commune in Montana and forget about what the government says about marriage.

Just remember that it is hard enough to find that one special person and keep them happy. Now imagine how hard it would be to keep them happy while you are out their trying to find wife number two. And how is potential wife number two going to react when she finds out she is going to be second fiddle in the house. Our society as a whole is not able to accecpt such a practice. Cultures that still pracitice this are always male dominated, women are always suppressed and treated as property.

There are two parts to marriage. The first is the civil law, which grants rights and privileges to partners; the second is the optional religious side.

The laws are designed to encourage couples to stay together and to support one another, thereby reducing the load on the state. I see no reason why those laws might not extend to a polygamous relationship, and could not be codified in law.

Churches must remain free to marry whom they please, under their own rules. The law cannot be amended to enforce polygamy in religion.

These are the same arguments for gay marriage. If two (or more) people are willing to sign a contract that specifies mutual support, one for the other, and which then reduces the amount of support they need from the state, then I'd support it.

To an earlier poster I'd say - the parties in polygamous relationships must be willing, otherwise the contract would be null and void. I doubt that you'll find a collie that is willing to enter into a binding contract. As to rape, murder etc - you won't find too many victims who are willing participants in those either. I do wish people would stop confusing victimization with willing acts.

Lots of men have mistresses. Only polygamists bring them home. That's what polygamy in the US is, live-in girl friends. Actually, they have figured out a better way. They marry each woman, then divorce her before marrying the next. That way each woman can wave a marriage license around, say in an emergency room to get access. No one is going to go look up divorces. Some of the FLDS polygamists from the Texas raids have been charged with polygamy. It is most definitely illegal to marry 2 women at once. A huge problem with real life polygamy is that they live off welfare. You and I are supporting their life style. Fundamentalist Mormons don't hide it. They wear such strange clothing that they can't. You see them around, especially in certain local areas.

As the Supreme court already ruled in the 1890's, it comes down to one simple fact.

The people (we the people) have a governing interest in the state of marriage because property, inheritence, and powers of attorney are involved in the dynamic.

The people have a right to regulate what they have a governing interest in, and therefore it is an act of the legislature, not the judiciary, in this matter.

Convince 51% of America, and it will be legal. Just remember the punishment for having more than one wife is that you have to live with them all.

Lets add to your question:

You want to marry "tons of chicks" as you say, discounting the fact that it would probably be pretty unsavory for any of these "chicks" who get a "husband" who thinks of them as part of a small sexual village rather than a life partner. True?

We can expand on this further by pondering if we should even have ethics, virtue, or morality. If we eliminated such things overnight we would have something akin to anarchy. Each and every one of us could "Do what thou wilt"...

True, you could "marry" a collie, or kill, rape or murder on your very whim, but would this add to the better condition of mankind? Doubtful.

These are the reasons for many laws, and thankfully so.

because the human race used to be the same as animals; reproducing for the sake of the strongest offspring to continue, and for the "competitions" offspring to die trying to gain what the stronger have.

Since we are a CULTURED world now, and do not represent animals, plus the population is overgrown anyway, there is no longer a need for multiple partners.

Besides, there are way too many hereditary diseases and STDs to take that sort of chance anymore. Having all the sex you want isn't making a legacy, it is making you a risk and statistic.

Marriage as a legal term is a contract between equals. In a poligamous marriage, there can be no equality. Someone has to be left out, be inferior, or a lesser equal. That is why the government decided that marriage must be exclusive.

Marriage is just a legal term so assets are distributed to the parties upon separation, including children.

It is the crossover of the religion into the law that confines you to just one wife.

Polygamy would have to be legal in one of the states. Try somewhere in the middle.

It is difficult enough to have one wife in America. A math progression formula. 1 wife = problems. 2 wife = problems squared. 3 wife = problems cubed. Do the math.