Should your state recognize polygamist marriages?

[Rick]

Life's hard enough with one wife why would I want more?

[liberty]

Now the vote is six to nothing in favor.

Just a guess, but I believe there may be just a tiny bit of chain-jerking reflected in the vote, lib....

Now the vote is ten to one. That is a clear indication that ninety percent of the people want plural marriage with the man as the head of the family. And if we run into a shortage of women we will simply import them form overseas.

Jim are you implying that there may be some irregularity with this vote. I am shocked; surely you can see it as a free and fair election. Proof of this is indicated by the fact that there is one no vote.

Someone here is a mind reader.

[liberty]

Life's hard enough with one wife why would I want more?

Keld, just point out to her in the Bible the words of Paul, “women submit to your husbands”. That should do it. You do have insurance, right?

[loCAtek]

man as the head of the family.

That's what I disagree most with. In other societies, where polygamy is practiced; these unions are not democracies- the wives are not equal partners to the husband. He is the dictator of a small village, where the wives are not true spouses, but servants to a master. Some of the women, only have the union consummated to produce a child and then they serve as just another domestic slave.

[liberty]

man as the head of the family.

That's what I disagree most with. In other societies, where polygamy is practiced; these unions are not democracies- the wives are not equal partners to the husband. He is the dictator of a small village, where the wives are not true spouses, but servants to a master. Some of the women, only have the union consummated to produce a child and then they serve as just another domestic slave.

Do you really think that would happen here. American women are too self reliant. What I think would happen is the divorce rate would go down and spousal abuse at least for women, it might go up for men.

[loCAtek]

...I don't see how. Spousal abuse is pretty prevalent in polygamist societies too. Look at the Middle East. As stated: the man is the dictator- he word is law and he enforces it through physical power/abuse. A self-reliant woman would just leave that situation.

As also stated: why is polygamy always thought of as a man with many wives?
Why not a woman with many husbands?

A: Because it's a sexist concept.

[liberty]

...I don't see how. Spousal abuse is pretty prevalent in polygamist societies too. Look at the Middle East. As stated: the man is the dictator- he word is law and he enforces it through physical power/abuse. A self-reliant woman would just leave that situation.

As also stated: why is polygamy always thought of as a man with many wives?
Why not a woman with many husbands?

A: Because it's a sexist concept.

I am sure that you realize that this discussion is purely hypothetical the chance of it happening is about as likely as the legalization of illicit drugs. But, I believe that if it did happen it would be with the characteristics of our culture. Our marriages tend to democratic as the rest of our society. Family decisions are usually arriving at through a consensus between the husband the wife. I don’t see that changing if the number wives increase. The only difference is that majority could tend to rule.

As far as spouse abuse is concerned it would be reduced by the additional witnesses. I just can’t see three women standing by while a third is beaten.

And if men are allow have more than one wife then there is no constitutional way that a woman can be denied the right more than one husband. The problem is that it would not work for the woman. There is a fundamental difference between the sexes. If a woman had four husbands she would concentrate on one and ignore the rest, that would not work, not considering the natural aggressiveness of men.

Am I wrong?

[loCAtek]

The only difference is that majority could tend to rule.

In current polygamist cultures, that is not the case. They're based on the man, 'head of the household' as you put it; wielding all the power.
There's usually a hierarchy amongst the wives, based on who's the most favored of the husband; to whom is the least; which the women will sublimely or overtly contest each other for the position of No. 1 Wife.
The reward for winning such a contest is, of course, the most attention from the husband, but also the most gifts, the least labor, etc.

A good movie that illustrates this constant power struggle is; Raise the Red Lantern.

Even in the Western world, American polygamist families such as Fundamentalist Mormons, do not operate through consensus; the man doesn't consult any existing wives before giving himself permission to take another. In fact, her tells his women they will accept HIS polygamy, or else he will no longer care for them.
Meaning the women who will accept such a relationship are not self-reliant.

Spousal abuse is often witnessed by multiple family members today. The reason it's allowed to continue is because those members are intimidated by the threat that if they speak out, they, or their children, will be the next to suffer harm.

Usually these kinds of women, are told to just 'take it' and try to not cause HIS further ire, because they are not expected to be able survive independently; they are not considered self-reliant. They are just chattel.