What are your state's "hot issues?"

[oldrooster]

It's legal for first cousins to marry in California....

In Indiana you can marry your 2nd cousin or your 1st cousin 2x removed. 2 cousin is both persons are the children of 1st cousins, 1st cousins 2x removed means in essence your first cousin's grand child. anything closer is a no-no.

 

[kevs-chickadees]

I'll throw my 2 cents in on marriage, I really don't care what my state or any other state thinks of my marriage. I'm only concerned about what my God thinks! As for the "hot issues" in my state it is of course illegal immigration and weeding through those running for office who might be for or against it and to what level.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

That sounds and is great on a personal level, but be aware that many people do care very much about what a state thinks of their union as it can mean everything from determining custody to being able to make medical decisions involving spouses.

 

[dainerra]

Unfortunately, the words that I can say about those who protest at funerals would get me banned on BYC.

Those people have no respect.  Not for themselves, not for God, not for their country, not for their fellow human beings, not for death, or for a life lived serving others.  And in turn, they deserve only revilement.  They make me sputter with anger.

Its a wonder they haven't been SSS.

there was a rumor that they were going to protest a young man from the West Virginia coal country. People were actually hoping that they WOULD show up because there were a lot of plans for them to not be leaving again. lots of empty mine shafts and hollers that don't see the light of day except at high noon. Plus, how hard would the authorities actually look for them?

 

[dainerra]

I think, at least for me that its a non issue cause the state should not regulate marriage in any way. It is a contract between two people an there god. The state should butt out completely.

actually, marriage was originally intended as just the opposite - a purely civil union and legal contract. The church didn't get involved until much much later. Anyone could marry anyone that they wished and documents were only really necessary for those who owned property, to cement the consolidation of assets.

The churches/religion is the group that is pushing to control who can and can not marry.

 

[chickened]

Marriage was also once a form of ownership and the woman was considered property and you could have more than one and it wasn't until Christanity said as a catalyst one man and one woman was best.

 

[dainerra]

almost forgot - our "hot" issues are medical marijuana (with a big bolded statement on the ballot that all "non-medical" use of pot will still be illegal) and allowing casinos.

 

[Joe Jordan]

almost forgot - our "hot" issues are medical marijuana (with a big bolded statement on the ballot that all "non-medical" use of pot will still be illegal) and allowing casinos.

If the government can make a plant illegal, it makes one wonder exactly how "free" we really are. I didn't serve my country just to be dictated to about what I can and cannot put into my own body. smh

 

[RHRanch]

If the government can make a plant illegal, it makes one wonder exactly how "free" we really are. I didn't serve my country just to be dictated to about what I can and cannot put into my own body. smh

Thats not the only illegal plant...

 

[RHRanch]

Marriage was also once a form of ownership and the woman was considered property and you could have more than one and it wasn't until Christanity said as a catalyst one man and one woman was best.

Actually marriage was historically about finances, alliances and monetary gain- the church stance just made it binding to those who might want to leave (and therefore endanger the financial gain of those who were making money off the marital contract) in fact historically children, even adult children belonged to thier parents until they were married and parents had huge influence over who someone married. Who your father wanted you to marry usually had more to do with money and property than anything else. Religion just added another layer of control for those who had power over thier children and wards. This was male and female children who were under the control of thier father, though male children still had the benefit of more freedom after marriage and then gained property and control in the form of new wife, future offspring and potential inheritance when his own father died.

Marriage as we think of it today is a modern concept probably no older than 100 yrs or so old.