polygamy philosophically and practically

[gustava]

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/06/polygam ... nd_beyond/

[deelaem]

Dog, I hate Salon. They have the crappiest writers there. This one makes some good points, but totally misses it when she wraps up with saying polygamy is about freedom of choice. Freedom of choice for men, maybe. And that's all it will be in the fundamentalist culture of Libya.

[Deesire]

Yes, it's definitely alarming in Libya, given that it's likely to only apply to men with multiple wives.

I have to say, though, I think the points about "lifestyle choice" are valid in North America. Why is the state to decree that I cannot have more than one spouse if I so choose? Or share a husband with other women if I so choose? It bothers me that it's looking more and more like the legal arguments in favour of decriminalizing polygamy will centre on religious freedom. Because, again, why should someone have greater freedom to choose that lifestyle because of their religious conviction than I should (as a non-adherent to any religion) on the basis that that's the relationship I want to choose for completely non-religious reasons? I can see the state having an interest in the situation from a fiscal perspective (for example, allowing only one adult spouse-like dependent per taxpayer rather than giving a greater tax break to a family structure with one income-earning spouse and more than one stay-at-home spouse, but I have serious difficulty with the state criminalizing this situation.

Meanwhile, the Warren Jeffs situation (and other involving indoctrinated, isolated, young people) does make me think that something highly immoral has taken place in these communities and that there is a behaviour that should legitimately be criminalized. But is the criminal behaviour actually the act of having more than one spouse? In my view, that is not the nub of the immorality. Coerced marriage of young people is the criminal problem as I see it.