9th Circuit Court of Appeals: Still looney after all these years

[C_Fresh]

I'll throw my two cents into this mess. I am a supporter of traditional marriage. At the same time, I don't support the Defense of Marriage Act because I believe the issue is something that should be left to the states. In fact, I'm preferential to the idea that the states don't issue marriage licenses at all but rather recognize any two people who apply for partnership for the purpose of legal benefits normally bestowed on married individuals. Leave 'marriage' to the religious institutions. They can be like honorary doctorates; recognize them if you want to but they don't really mean much officially.

As to the civil rights issue of gay marriage: if you want to argue for equality, are you willing to argue the same equality to other groups who are currently denied marital rights? I think that if there is to be true equality then anybody should be able to marry anybody else as long as they are both consenting adults. I would include relatives and polygamy in this. I have no interest in marrying anyone other than a single member of the opposite sex who is not related to me but why shouldn't someone else be able to if they want? I still draw the line that it must be between consenting adults. Greg, this means you can't marry your German Shepherd because it cannot give consent. It also means that a minor cannot get married to some pedophile because they cannot give consent either.

Arguments against:
1. Marriages between close relatives are not permitted because of the increased risk of damaged genetics - I read a news article a couple years ago that said scientists say that the risk factors don't extend as far out as previously thought and most likely to occur starting with second generation inbreeding. Even if this was not the case, the wide availability of contraception, abortion, vasectomy, etc mean that there is no reason why conception should be an issue.

2. It goes against tradition - Once upon a time so did living with someone without getting married, marrying someone outside your 'race', and same-sex relationships. Just because its tradtional doesn't mean its right. As counterpoint, in some cultures, poligamy is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. This is the same argument that was used against all of them.

NOTE: I'm not actually supporting this but I see it as the logical result from an argument for equality. It does sort of fit with my libertarian leanings but my conservative side recoils from it.