in honor of last nights vote

[amos]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxbFLYa0_bw

[Tinker]

[amos]

[Tinker]

[amos]

[Tinker]

It was a good thing. A lot of the wrangling to get the votes that put it over the top was some pretty brilliant negotiation. That one Senator from Staten Island Skelos was really the linchpin.

[amos]

[Tinker]

[amos]

[Azrael]

The people of New York should be proud. I'm certainly very proud of them.

[Endovelico]

I presume you are referring to New York's approval of same sex marriage. Well, in my opinion there shouldn't be any laws on marriage, straight or gay. Marriage is a commitment between two people and the state shouldn't interfere in any way. Those wanting to make an open statement concerning their commitment to a life in common should do it in a private manner, with or without the intervention of a church, a shaman or a leprechaun. Marriage laws had some meaning when the state thought that it should encourage procreation, by giving a preferential treatment (tax wise or in respect of inheritance) to those who would get married, as it was thought that children should only be conceived within the institution of marriage. Presently, children are conceived as much outside marriage as within, and the reason for any state intervention has thus disappeared. In my opinion instead of making same sex marriage legal, legislatures should scrap all legislation on marriage, as it is an intolerable interference on a purely private matter.

[Tinker]

Agreed, but that is not going to happen.

[Azrael]

I agree, too, and, in the long run, it is a good goal; but the way society, visiting rights, parental rights, the tax code and ect. are now, it is a very good vote.

[Endovelico]

[Tinker]

[Captain Murphy]

Restructuring? Put forth some bills and have people vote on it.

I'm okay with having state-sanctioned monogamous relationships. Sometimes it's nice to be constrained by rules and officially acknowledged by society. If you don't like it, you can still have your unmarried monogamous relationships.

[Tinker]