Thread: Prop 8 Thoughts

This is quite a topic and there are several ways of looking at it. We are in a time of change and many of the institutions and attitudes which have been in place for a long time are in need of rethinking. With increasing mobility, the virtual loss of the extended family in much of the developed ( and developing) world, increased longevity and changing attitudes toward sexual relationships regardless of gender mix, we need some new solutions to how people commit.

Few would argue that children are best raised in a positve committed relationship or that persons in positive committed relationships are the backbone of most communities. Personally I don't see that it should matter if they are the same gender or complimentary genders. Additionally I believe we need to rethink marriage as the only legal relationship, especially where child rearing is concerned. For example, if two or three single parents wish to create a household for the purpose of providing their children with a stable home life, they should be able to create a contractural relationship (which is what marriage is legally) which allows them to purchase a home together, ensure that the household is insured and perhaps provide for one adult to be a full time, at home acting parent to all the children, they should be able to do so. Of course this type of arrangement would requre emotionally mature adults- something the world is sadly lacking but there is always hope!

Some writers have suggested that contractural relationships may be in our future, particularly for people who wish to have a child together but not to commit to a life time marriage. This idea involves a contract to have child, to stay together for a designated period of time and the responsibities each would have toward the other and the child. Again this would require emotionally mature individuals who are capable of rational thought and behavior - Maybe these ideas won't work... at least not with people (LOL) might work well for Vulcans. I think I'm fairly rational most of the time but am still a pretty emotional being.

Actually I like the idea of a renewable contract, a couple agree to a year, five years ,what ever and then have the option of renewing or not. It would require that everyone have their own insurances, investments, retirements and separate finances and those who wanted to keep a relationship going would have to work on keeping it fresh, communicating and meeting their own and their partner's needs. For some people traditional marriage is great but for other's of us it's disasterous.

This may not be what the OP was looking for but it's my chain of thought.