Marrige, same sex only?

[voxelectronica]

But it is the job of the government to protect the minority from the votes of the majority.

No it isn't. That's the job of the Constitution, marriage isn't mentioned in the constitution.

The American Constitution was based on the idea that the dirty masses were not quite smart enough to be really in charge of decision making.

No the constitution was there to make certain rights unalienable. Marriage wasn't one of those rights.

But 2 people regardless of gender to form a union with legal rights is not one of them and the government other than recognizing that a union has occurred between 2, or if you want more should have no say.

This is the problem I have with gay marriage proponents. You agree that the government should not be involved then argue the case that they should. You agreed that the government has no place in marriage and are then go to argue that it's the governments job to protect it.

Well it isn't. The government is not there to protect anyone. There was a time when the police were privatized.

[Diablo]

No it isn't. That's the job of the Constitution, marriage isn't mentioned in the constitution.

No the constitution was there to make certain rights unalienable. Marriage wasn't one of those rights.

This is the problem I have with gay marriage proponents. You agree that the government should not be involved then argue the case that they should. You agreed that the government has no place in marriage and are then go to argue that it's the governments job to protect it.

Well it isn't. The government is not there to protect anyone. There was a time when the police were privatized.

So the Magical Piece of parchment flies around protecting people? No the Government with in the framework of the Constitution does.

Now we have the Unalienable Rights of the Decleration of Independence in the Constitution. The Constitution was formed to define the government and its powers. The Bill of rights including freedom of religion, which is the reason against gay marriage and this ridiculous semantics argument, were added.

I never said they should be involved with religious marriage but civil union that grants x rights and marriage that grants the same rights is the same thing in a legal sense and legality is the realm of Government.

I give up trying to use any sort of reason with you have fun in your anarchy.

[Ragoczy]

No the constitution was there to make certain rights unalienable. Marriage wasn't one of those rights.

Incorrect. The enumerated rights do not deny the existence of other rights held by the People. The Constitution's purpose is to enumerate the powers of government -- any right or power not specifically granted to the Federal Government by the Constitution is held by the People and the States.

I draw your attention to Amendments 9 & 10, respectively:

Amendment Nine: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment Ten: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Marriage doesn't have to be an enumerated right in order for it to be a right held by the people.

[Lisais mine]

you know, I'm a minister. (okay, I'm also pagan) I feel that the government has no right at all to control marriage. it is a religous matter, better left to your priest. if your faith say you can't be gay, then you can't be gay in that faith. if it says you have to eat blueberry muffins each morning or go to hell, you better eat your fucking muffins!!!

keep the gov't out of religion and religion out of gov't, I say. BTW- if anyone is interested in same sex marriage, I live in virginia and close to maryland- I'll marry you. fuck the laws, because they are unconstutional.

[mkemse]

you know, I'm a minister. (okay, I'm also pagan) I feel that the government has no right at all to control marriage. it is a religous matter, better left to your priest. if your faith say you can't be gay, then you can't be gay in that faith. if it says you have to eat blueberry muffins each morning or go to hell, you better eat your fucking muffins!!!

keep the gov't out of religion and religion out of gov't, I say. BTW- if anyone is interested in same sex marriage, I live in virginia and close to maryland- I'll marry you. fuck the laws, because they are unconstutional.

I agree with you, but the reality is as long as the "Religious Right" is invoved in Politics Goverment will always be involved in matters like this
Because the "Christian Conservatives" will always have imput through the Republican Party, they will support the Party and do what ever is need to get their agenda passed, whether this continues to a lesser degree in Jan after the Dems take more control of Congress is yet to be seen
But it seems ot me and this is only an opinion, that the "Chrisitan Conservatives" have a strangle hold on the Republican Party, it is the Parties base, and they need to decide if they wish to continue with this base or move on
The other issue is Proposition 8 is being challenged in California, those ho oppse it and want same sex marriage to remain legal, contend and I agree that this is a State Contitutional issue and that voters themselves do not have the authority to simply propose some and change the law passedo n that, It has to be changed by a Consitution State Ammendment by State Legislators and not just by a Proposition of the voters as was done, they are saying the Propostion is unconstitutional for this reason

[DemianHawthorne]

Probably an unpopular belief but in my opinion, there should be no such thing as government marriage. As far as the government is concerned, everyone (straights and gays) should have civil unions and depending on your personal beliefs and ceremony, you can call it whatever you want. Most homosexual couples in civil unions will call their partner their spouse or husband of wife just like any married couple and many of them will have wedding ceremony as well. To me that is the most fair system for all.