Cato's David Boaz on Stossel for the "Libertarian State of the Union" (2011)

[ThrobertMcGee]

With regard to DOMA, I'd rather that Boaz had said, "Obama should talk about *either* repealing DOMA entirely, *or* revising DOMA via repeal of Section 3" .

( §3 has to do with Federal recognition of individual state marriage laws, while §2 deals with individual states recognizing each other's laws. So junking §3 while keeping §2 arguably has a stronger "States Rights" basis and might be more politically realistic than a total repeal of DOMA.)

[theshaggyshow]

Jon Stossel is a great Man with common sense, in a sea full of shark infested liberals... I hope John has a Glock, because it fires under water

[Thorbie]

David Boaz should be the unofficial head of the libertarian movement in my opinion. He's just so statesman like and reasonable in his views, while being entirely libertarian. He has more presence and credibility than any LP presidential candidate.

[pinegrove33]

Boaz is a frickin hero!

[a4finger]

David Boaz and John Stossel are great

[MooseOfReason]

"Boy I made a whole lot of mistakes. I really don't belong in this job, and I'm resigning."

LOL. Go, David Boaz!

[roaringwaterbay]

agreed, with most of what was said. obama is just another carpet bagger making fake campaign promises--those who voted for him now have history to suggest that they were taken by a new set of lies. sort of like those who believed bush's previous set of lies.

[stetsonwalker]

No I do not think the government needs to be involved with what gays do, but if they choose to use social security, tax deductions and other benefits they need to call the relationship something besides marriage and approach the laws with that name. Understand, I care not what gay couples do (as I say whatever floats your boat) just do it but don't call it marriage.

[stetsonwalker]

Gay marriage is like the Catholic religion stealing the Star of David as their symbol. If the gays want a union of some kind so be it, let them choose and call it something different, a marriage is between a man and woman.

[sniper6081]

@stetsonwalker Are you willing to use government force to do that?

[bfq3000]

@stetsonwalker hey, i've lived in a country that has had legal gay marriage since before i got married (heterosexual) 3.5 years ago. i can assure you that knowing that homosexuals being married legally has had absolutely no impact (positive or negative) on our marriage whatsoever. seriously, who really cares what it's called, equal rights for all before the law must be respected first and foremost

[stetsonwalker]

@bfq3000 Do not take this personal, but I stick to my original posting... call it something else, I will be behind this idea. By the way what country was that? I do not feel we need to follow other countries. We are America, not Europe. We can prevail and without following bur leading the world. We do not need universal health care when you need to wait 2 years to get a heart bypass! My Dad (rest his soul) got a bypass the following morning... in the good old USA! Enough about that, good luck!

[bigpileofcrock]

@stetsonwalker But according to who, and since when? You know, go back just a handful of generations and a "marriage" often involved about four or five people. "Marriage" is purely a social construct, and it's meaning and purpose are dictated by the ever-changing eddies of social development. It gets called marriage.... because that's what it is. I don't see how the lesbians up the street calling their union a "marriage" is going to make me or my wife feel any differently about ours.

[bigpileofcrock]

All that being said, mind you, I would prefer government stayed out of *ALL* marriages, whether it's between one-man-one-woman, two men, a dozen people, or some weird woman and a fish. Seriously. Keep them out of it.

[oTANSTAAFLo]

@bigpileofcrock I'm with you on that one.

[stetsonwalker]

@bigpileofcrock If i recall correctly multi marriage has been outlawed as well. If you were Jewish and the Catholics decided to start using the star of David as their symbol do you think it would bug you a bit?

[AngrySkeptic]

@bigpileofcrock

Plural marriage in the Western Tradition? When?

The Ancient Romans only had one wife. One man and One woman has been the tradition for a very long time.

I happen to support gay domestic partner rights, call it marriage if you wish, but your argument is pretty faulty. I don't like seeing my side make bullshit arguments that get refuted and undermine my position.

[InfernalApocalypse]

@AngrySkeptic

Many, many passages in the Old Testament refer to men taking on multiple wives, generally with ambivalence. Plenty of non-Roman tribes practiced polygamy based on social status. Obviously this didn't happen a few generations back, but the general argument holds that marriage's meaning as a social institution has been malleable.