Long run consequences of same sex marriage: who knows?
I have been arguing for some time that we need to take the long run consequences of same sex marriage seriously. I’ve argued that same sex marriage will put incentives into place and set forces into motion that cannot be easily undone or predicted. In particular, I’ve argued that same sex marriage will undermine the principle that biology is the basic way we determine parentage, will marginalize men from the family, transformed marriage from a public institution into a private institution, and finally, will empower the state.
Ahhh, no big deal! what’s a few small things like changing the relationship between the state and the individual and parents and children, when a grand principle like EQUALITY is at stake.
so, now, it is interesting to see this tidbit from the AP:
Under questioning today in teh Prop 8 trial, plaintiffs’ witness, Harvard historian Nancy “Cott conceded under cross-examination that she couldn’t predict the consequences for society of same-sex marriage.”
No duh. Couldn’t, or wouldn’t?
Loading ...
One grave consequence is the delegitimization of the government in the eyes of some people who would otherwise be upstanding citizens.
If they feel they are being compelled to tell the obvious lie that a same-sex couple is just the same as a married couple, their loyalty to society and their respect for the law will be affected. I know mine would be.
If anti-discrimination laws bar their advancement in business and society, they will be less productive in both arenas.
One obvious and much-hoped-for consequence of the SSM-merger would be the stigimization of the core meaning of marriage. And the recruitment of the big hairy hand of Government to enforce the ostracization of those who defend and promote that core meaning.
I do think that Kevin J Jones makes a very strong point. When the Government takes over the foundational social institution of civil society — as if Government created and owned civil society — we are at odds with our governing authority. Marriage is a social institution that provides a vigorous buffer between the State and the individual. If it comes to a choice between our civilization and our Government, the governing authority will eventually regret forcing such a choice on citizens.
We are citizens, not subjects.
As Ronald Reagan famously said: The People have a government, not the other way around.